13/10/2022 | Jesus Jones | Review by Kev White |
This writer was born in 74, so the late 70s, throughout the 80s and early 90s was a key influence and musical education. So, the times when opportunities arise to see bands from that era are pounced on.
Jesus Jones are one of these bands and the opportunity to finally get to see them live at a superb venue which is a local regular haunt, just 12 minutes walk from home and on a school night, how to live dangerously! was, just too good to miss.
Originally billed as the 'Doubt' album 30th anniversary tour, actually 31 years since the record's release and the inevitable delays thanks to the COVID pandemic, the tour though featuring tracks from the aforementioned seminal LP was also a celebration of Jesus Jones' long and illustrious history. The group to date have been far more prolific than this writer realised still actively writing and recording new material.
The current line-up is Mike Edwards (vocals/guitar), Jerry De Borg (guitar), Iain Baker (keyboards), Al Doughty (bassist) and Gen (Simon Matthews) (drums), which is largely unchanged since the group's formation in the late 80s in Wiltshire, a remarkable feat!
Right from the start of their career Jesus Jones have never been scared of experimenting and mashing up music genres, a case in point being the opening superb number of tonight's gig 'Zeroes and Ones' which was a collaboration with The Prodigy which is up there with other famous cross over collaborations such as the legendary Run DMC/Aerosmith cover of the latter's single 'Walk This Way'.
Banter between band and audience was kept to a minimum with the guys choosing to blast through an 80 minute set of classics as well as deeper cuts. Whilst Jesus Jones have always taken their art seriously, they are equally all about having fun and this rubbed off on the fans this evening.
Right from the start of their career Jesus Jones have never been scared of experimenting and mashing up music genres, a case in point being the opening superb number of tonight's gig 'Zeroes and Ones' which was a collaboration with The Prodigy which is up there with other famous cross over collaborations such as the legendary Run DMC/Aerosmith cover of the latter's single 'Walk This Way'.
Vocally Edwards has hardly changed, and is still sounding great after all this time. The whole band is really tight and who clearly enjoy playing together.
Set highlights included 'Are You Satisfied?', 'Bring It On Down', 'Magazine', 'Right Here, Right Now', 'The Devil You Know', 'Move Mountains', 'International Bright Young Thing', 'Real Real Real' and set closer, 'Info Freako'.
Not only was the show tonight a trip down memory lane but also served as an eye opener of band with a back catalogue worthy of further exploration by this author. A cracking night!