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This is the kind of birthday party I like - the guest get the gifts. All who come to South Street Arts Centre receive a free single by Wire Jesus, who are first signings to the new Josaka label. Now where's the birthday cake? Josaka founder Kevin Harrington, ever the efficient organiser, is keen to get the bands performing on time, so thoughts of Victoria sponge and icing make way for the musical kind of treat.
Openers Libor Spacek sound like a rock opera performed in an asylum. Grand piano synths mix with shredded John Lydon-style vocals. Atonal streaks merge with dramatic surges. And disjointed doom washes over the all-out thrash fest. The trio of ambitious young men perform with their usual angry vigour, and unusually the drummer steals the show, if only because the black Trilby-sporting chap looks like Dean Martin. Sibling Of Sleep is by far the most outstanding track, and the set could do with more rhymically varied songs, but overall this is a very promising band. Next to raise a drink to Josaka are the incendiary Johnsons. This is a band who are great to watch, even if you're not a fan of their punk-fuelled pyscho rock. Looking like Wolverine crossed with Tankgirl, the diminuitive wildchild frontwoman is a sight to behold. She also looks like she's in the wrong band, as the others - much older men, one with a quiff, another with a pudding hat - look like they're in a hillbilly rock outfit.
Their performance as a group however is impressive. Blood-curdling screams, yelps and rasps from the frontwoman (who at a guess champions Siouxie Sioux
and Karen O) cut through snarling bassy riffs and jerky rhythms. Her constant operatic screeching becomes somewhat tiresome however, and they can come across as cartoonish, especially with lyrics such as "it's just a little prick so bend over" in Bad Sister. but in their last song the band show all their talents. As she makes a death-defying leap from the amp in her platform goth boots she roars out a powerful voice like Janis Joplin's - if only she'd sung like that from the outset. Barely catching my breath from the exhileration, on come Jewels and the Jacuzzis with a sound that evokes a Morcheeba breeziness with a dub reggae beat. It's music that paints a picture: a beach sunset, a nearby straw hut serving fruit cocktails - this isn't just reggae lounge music, it's sun-lounge music.
They venture excitably into groovy funk and songs with sassy pop punches. There's a whole melange of sounds buzzing within this group, even the harmonica makes a star appearance. It's a superb show and makes us all forget the horrid cold weather outside. But it doesn't end there. There is of course headliners Wire Jesus, who just somehow waft in an air of serenity and spiritual calm when they quietly and smilingly walk on stage. One of Reading's top bands, the harmonic folk-pop collective are the first to sign to Josaka's new label. And tonight they show us all why. To me, they're as magical as
Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream - singer Amy playing Titania the Fairy Queen and co-singer Michael, along with the rest of the band, part of an elfin troupe (no Bottoms present thankfully).
My rather flowery imagery is slightly marred here by their backdrop of oil rigs - which is also the cover art of their new single. And also tonight their floatiness is given more of a crunch with rockier guitars. Are they shedding their ephemeral vibe? If they are then they should certainly 'go for it', as tonight they sound the best I've ever heard them. They're buzzing, they're beaming, they're effortlessly brilliant. They save the best until last - the inevitable encore sees the band play the A-side to their single The Intruder (Make It Better). The crowd roar and clamour
for a second encore, but sadly there's a curfew. It's a top ending to a top night. Happy birthday Josaka! | 
