The Jesus and Mary Chain, O2 Institute, Birmingham - review
Back with their first album for more than 19 years, The Jesus and Mary Chain returned to the O2 Institute in Birmingham armed with their distorted guitars and crooning vocals.
Brothers Jim and William Reid and co descended on the Digbeth venue on Friday evening - exactly a week after the release of new record Damage and Joy.
Their seventh release but first since 1998, the crowd were treated to a set packed with over 20 tunes both new and old.
The JAMC were last in Brum two years ago at the same digs to celebrate 30 years since the release of seminal debut album Pyschocandy.
This time they opened with first track off the new record Amputation before storming through classic April Skies from second album Darklands much to the delight of revellers at the front.
It was followed by the likes of Head On and Blues From a Gun as the band hid on stage motionless in a sea of thick fog.
With flashing strobe red, white and green lights gracing every corner of the room, the crunching guitar of Some Candy Talking and chaotic rendition of The Hardest Walk were highlight moments.
They smashed through the atmospheric Some Candy Talking before finishing the set with Halfway to Crazy and the majestic Reverence.
The majority of the critically acclaimed Psychocandy was saved for the encore but some ending it was.
A six (yes, SIX) song encore saw the boys from East Kilbride crash out with the likes of Just Like Honey, The Living End, You Trip Me Up and Taste of Cindy.
The Jesus and Mary Chain might be well into their 50s but the fantastically turbulent sounds still hit the spot.
It doesn't look like much is gonna get in their way either. Bring it on.
By Tom Oakley
