About Sound

This article was written sometime in 2021 for a zine that was sadly never published. I had kind of forgotten about it, until the recent news of a Jump The Undergoud reunion. I haven’t changed a word!

Much is written of Newport’s rich musical past. The 90’s, in particular, is often reminisced about to the point it’s difficult to go a few weeks on social media without reading something about Kurt & Courtney, or the slightly awkward Seattle comparisons, and of course the phenomenon that was the globally renown TJ’s.

As someone who focuses their attention very much on the present and future of the Newport music scene, I can sometimes find myself getting irrationally annoyed about the constant reminders about how great the past was in this city. I wish to re-iterate; it is completely irrational. History plays a huge part in shaping contemporary society and Newport’s musical heritage is something to be immensely proud of, but I do feel the endless looking back about what went before can hinder what is most important, which in my opinion is the now. Maybe I’m a little too young to fully appreciate this period, even a little envious perhaps.

So, what am I going to write about? The future I suppose…well actually, no, I’m going to write about the past, albeit a past more recent than the halcyon years of the revered 90s. And no, the irony isn’t lost on me!

I give you the noughties, and more specifically, a Newport based band who were seemingly on the cusp of glory and although never fulfilled their true potential, created a huge buzz and some wonderful memories that still mean so much to so many nearly 15 years on. That band was Jump the Underground, a group of lads who created a mini legacy that, in my opinion, isn’t recognised enough.

Despite its drop-off in the last decade or so, guitar music was riding the crest of a wave in the 00’s. NYC’s The Strokes were the coolest thing since, well, they were the coolest thing. The Libertines, although a lot more chaotic due to the hectic, drug infused lifestyle of frontman Pete Doherty, were Britain’s answer, but garage rock bands were popping up from everywhere; New Zealand, Sweden, Australia. They were ten a penny and if you were of a certain age and/or of a particular inclination…it was bloody great!

I wasn’t particularly mindful of any music scene in the ‘Port back in 2006. TJ’s demise was looming, spilling its last few gallons of Red Stripe onto the much-pounded dancefloor/pit, but other than that and my awareness of Le Pub, I wasn’t really acquainted with any scene. I wasn’t even from Newport, give me a break!

I was introduced to the band when I met lead guitarist Antony Partridge through work and we soon bonded over the love of music. Without wishing to sound too cringey, I was a little envious of Ant. Not only was he in a band, but he lived with his bandmates and was living the life that I secretly craved, but had neither the courage or ability to achieve myself.

After very little persuasion I checked out his band on MySpace and was glad that I didn’t have to pretend that I liked the music. Catchy, guitar driven tunes about real people and situations sung with gusto and fervour by frontman – and owner of a five-in-one haircut – Antony Smith, then going by his stage name Wylee. Even though they tried to be cool, it still somehow was cool and we all know this isn’t how cool usually works!

What struck me about Jump the Underground was the devoted and 100% up for a good time fanbase they had built up. In a short space of time, I watched the band play a bunch of headline gigs in TJs, Cardiff Barfly, the old Le Pub and a couple of festivals. There was always a buzz around these gigs, a sense that something special was happening and to be just a small part of it felt huge. This is what it feels like to be part of something before the masses get hold of it.

Nothing encapsulates the spirit of Jump the Underground more than the trip to London on March 24 2007, a date I’ve managed to pinpoint due to a mate with a freakishly good memory for dates. Soho Revuebar was the venue, a nightclub famed for all sorts, including…well just Google it! That day, the band took with them two packed coachloads from Transpose (now One Louder Studio) in what was, tunes aside, the strongest suggestion yet that the band had glory in their sights. My recollection of the day/night/following morning isn’t exactly clear, but the best experiences are often the ones that aren’t possible to fully piece back together, right?

Despite their potential, things didn’t quite work out for Jump the Underground, imploding before anything more than a couple of singles was ever released. But I guess the beauty of rock and roll is that you don’t know what’s going to happen next, serving as a reminder for us to appreciate and cherish the moment.

The four lads, including bassist Woody and drummer Mike left an indelible mark for a bunch of like-minded people and songs such as ‘In Her City’, ‘Charlie’ and ‘Pretty Young’ are, for people like myself, as much of a soundtrack to that era as ‘Last Nite’ and ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’. They weren’t strictly Newport (only Woody is Newport born), but they epitomised the city’s spirit.

Shortly after the band split in 2009, the three members sans Partridge formed Dirty Goods. The music may have shifted from indie rock to alternative dance, but the punk spirit of their former band was retained. Rock ‘n’ roll never too far away. Like their previous band, Dirty Goods malformed prematurely, but last year surprise released their full album, now under the guise of Nights.

Since those heady days, all four of the band have stayed true to their creative roots, albeit in different capacities. Antony Partridge and Woody are hugely excited to launch their new band, New Arcadia, whilst Antony Smith, now going by the pseudonym of Consumersmith is a successful visual artist. Mike meanwhile has moved onto the big screen as a filmmaker/director.

Chances of a reunion are slim and although they are very much the trend right now, Jump the Underground were always very much about the moment rather than sentiment. As the band’s singer recently commented “some things are best left as memories” and I’d be inclined to agree. Let’s write the future and welcome it as much as we embrace the past. That said, I’d still go and watch them if they did reunite…and I bet I’m not the only one.

Gavin Facey – written sometime in 2021