With Level Up Festival just around the corner I figured that I should get properly acquainted with some of the bands playing that I'm not so familiar with . One such band is Just Say Nay. Just Say Nay are a nine piece ska punk band from London and Kent. Their last new release came out in October of 2017 and is titled Logistical Nightmare. I assume it is named so because of the difficulties in having so many people in a band. Now, normally we wouldn't review something that came out so long ago but this EP was so much fun – I just had to!
Logistical Nightmare begins with the song Pass The Cloud. The beginning of the song showcases pretty much all you need to know about Just Say Nay's sound. Some shredding guitar and some irresistible brass grab your attention quickly and it's not long before your feet are tapping and you’re fighting the urge to get into a full skank. Go on, just do it anyway, it's fun. I loved how the song shifts between tempos seemingly at will, given the song a bit of a "who knows what's going to happen next" vibe. This again is perhaps being down to having so many members. Interestingly with so many people in the band, the song doesn't feel cluttered and like Just Say Nay are trying to shoehorn the all the different parts in for the sake of it. It does feel very natural. Up next is the song Jiggy Bean which is a total summer time ska punk banger. Lead singer Jak Coleman's chilled out sweet vocal is perfect on the song, particularly on the chorus where you are transported to one of those wonderfully relaxed summer barbecues. There is a section when the speed of the song really picks up, it's as if somebody punched the red button and the JSN horn section jumped into light speed.
KPSD begins in a similar way to Pass The Cloud with some shredding guitar and wonderful brass. The brass section are the undoubted stars of the show during the song's opening. Really adding a fun bounce to the song. From there the song transitions into a bit more of a serious sounding song where Jak sings about trying to improve himself as a person, as well as trying to live the best life possible. There is an urgency about the song which I really enjoyed, showing that Just Say Nay are just as capable of playing a more chilled out style as being able to add some oomph to their music. The fourth and final song on Logistical Nightmare is named Mr Plank Goes To Town. It starts out with some more superb horns – seriously are there many better horn sections in the UK ska scene that Just Say Nay's? When they're not blowing your mind when they're at the forefront of the song, you can hear them adding this superb extra layer of sound in the background with Jak's vocals. The song features a superb mix of fast ska punk and the odd touch of reggae that gives the song many ups and downs. It takes you on a bit of a rollercoaster ride that will have you singing your heart out and dancing as if your life depends on it!
Logistical Nightmare is a great release from one of the best up and coming ska bands in the country. It shows a group of amazing musicians and songwriters who have come together to create something really awesome.
Stream and download Logistical Nightmare here: https://justsaynay.bandcamp.com/
Like Just Say Nay here: https://www.facebook.com/Jsnska
This review was written by Colin Clark.
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