July 31, 2024

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Powerstation: July 30, 2024 (13th Floor Concert Review)

The Jesus and Mary Chain, in the 1980’s would regularly be asked what they would be doing in five years time? Inferring the band was going to be a flash in the pan (like many acts) 40 years on since the release of their first single Upside Down the band, well the Reid Brothers, are still making music, have a second Top Ten UK LP under their belt (Glasgow Eyes 2024) are still touring the world, and seem as prophetic and timeless as always.

40 years together and 36 since they first played in Aotearoa, the Tamaki Makaurau show was at this very same venue, The Powerstation, November 1988 (Fun fact The Straitjacket Fits opened for them) I was there.

Elliot & Vincent

Elliot and Vincent At last, after many hits and misses, a local support act that is bang on, their mystique and mana suitably added to tonight’s billing, and a chance to see them on a big stage, through a big sound system, was not to be missed.

They look so cool onstage, as I walk in they are onstage at 8pm, the mix takes a while to balance drums are too high, guitar too low. but by the third song they have balance, man and woman have balance.

There is power onstage Elliot is feeding off the room, the moment, the crowd. A song, Check it out (maybe the title) is a powerhouse, a stand-out, the chorus creates angst in the room. Even without a bass there is deep rhythm, Elliot’s vocal inflection creates rhythm.

The time spent playing clubs and small venues pays dividends, as Elliot’s vocal inflections and agit-pop drumming, melded with Vincent’s gestured guitar riffing, resounding in the room. The audience buys into the band, they are sold.

The Jesus & Mary Chain

The intro to Jamcod brings the band to the stage, the Reid brothers plus bassist, drummer and a second guitarist, it’s sound preeminents the sound tonight, it’s rock n roll, eclectic, it’s going to be a show, and it promises to sate all the audiences expectations, they want history, they get history, mostly.

There is a problem, this may come back to bite me, I may never get a review pass again, but while Jim, Jim Reid looms like a a darkened priestly figure onstage (fuck he looks good for a 60-year-old) the songs are silo’d, there is a seeming lack of kinetic energy between them.

Yes, a lot of favourites are played, Jim even preempts with language “you’ll know this one” and attempts to connect with the audience, however it still feels stifled between songs. The sound is good, the band sounds great, the songs are complete, even when they are reimagined

There are many sweet moments: Some Candy Talking and when female vocals lead on Sometimes Always (I think that’s right) in fact the set is an equitable balance across JAMC catalogue, no complaints there. But where is the energy?

Jim Reid introduces the ending, the encore is coming, if the audience makes enough noise. This is when the night hits a high, the encore has an energy not seen on stage…. BEFORE. It is an extended set, three songs a false start then I Love Rock N Roll becomes I hate rock n roll, it says it all.

An extended guitar riffing energy comes late in the game. “I hope you enjoyed the show” The last song… almost post-Velvet Underground sounding, of course… It’s Reverence… High upon high is achieved as Jim Reid prowls the stage… the last 20 mins of the night are taonga… treasure… almost gold.

Simon Coffey

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Aaron Christiansen:

The Jesus And Mary Chain: