For some reason, despite this being its debut album, The Jokers and ‘The Big Rock & Roll Show’ seem strangely familiar, in a way that its ready-formed musical brilliance has almost assumed itself into our presence. Hey! I do not have a problem with that. My only fear is that instant success may breed a similar issue to that which struck at the last big thing that we all wanted to survive, The Darkness.

The influences are from largely similar backgrounds and, while the musicality verges more towards Led Zep than Queen, there are enough hints of trans-Atlantic ‘cock-rock’ (if you will pardon the rudeness) in the presentation that the band even references Kiss, Hendrix and AC/DC as its key interests. The band line-up consists of Wane Parry on lead and backing vocals, Paul Hurst on all guitars, his brother Simon on bass, keyboards and backing vocals, with Chris Bate on drums and percussion.

What sounds like a high-end recording studio effort, such are the production values edited into this CD, is something that makes me feel proud, from my days spent in recording studios. The lads, supervised and mixed by no less an authority than AC/DC’s Mike Fraser, actually produced their oeuvre in Paul Hurst’s living room, with duvets hung up at the windows and walls to deaden extraneous noise. I remember the concept well…

Following a disappointment at a mixing facility in Liverpool, the guys contacted Fraser and struck their collaboration with him. However, do not think for one minute that this is a ‘tribute’ band, the music and lyrics are all original and so is the concept for this introductory shot at fame. It is intended to sound like a big event and it does. Just nine original tracks fill the CD and from V.I.B.E. to Studio 54, culminating in Hell to LA, each track is a genuine killer and there is no wasted opportunity to showcase this four-piece’s outstanding talents. From their earliest Liverpudlian aspirations to become the biggest rock and roll band in the world, The Jokers can afford to stand tall and receive the accolades. This band is very much on its way. Fulsome rock and roll with a contemporary twist.