LIVE: The Jesus and Mary Chain – Newcastle O2 Academy 18.02.15

This year sees the thirtieth anniversary of The Jesus and Mary Chain‘s debut album, Psychocandy. Regarded as a classic within its genre, the record shaped the direction of alternative rock in the 80’s and 90’s, with bands such as Sonic Youth, The Pixies and My Bloody Valentine influenced by the blistering noise-pop of the Reid Brothers. Following on from shows in November, the band is currently celebrating by playing the album in its entirety on a nationwide tour.

Warming up for the band in Newcastle are The Membranes, led by bassist John Robb. While the band delivers a set of solid and menacing post-punk, they struggle against a lack of ‘hits’ and a sparse crowd, not that their frontman seems to mind. Robb, bass slung low, struts and grooves across the stage and eventually wins the crowd round with his charm and tales of interviewing the Mary Chain back in the mid-80s.

With the crowd growing in size and dry ice swarming the venue, the band takes to the stage. Far from the antagonism that defined the bands early period, Jim Reid politely informs the crowd that the band will play a short set of hits followed by Pyschocandy in full.

No more time is wasted as the band kick straight into classic singles ‘April Skies’ and ‘Head On’. Pints are thrown and smiles are a mile wide as the old punks pogo down the front, lost in the melodies that defined their teenage years.

Concluding the first set with the Madchester via The Stooges squall of 1992’s ‘Reverence’, William Reid leaves lead guitar duties to a backup player. Only his shock of greying, frizzed hair visible in the dense stage smoke, he spends the song and most of the set hunched over his amp, wringing shrieking distortion out of his instrument and blanketing the songs in wild, untamed feedback. Fans flock to the bar for ear plugs. As Jim Reid howls “I wanna die just like Jesus Christ”, the floor shakes with the sheer velocity of the volume. It is a genuinely thrilling and remarkable sight to see a band three decades into their career create such an intense live experience.

After a short break and with the thunder crack of ‘Just Like Honey’s’ iconic Phil Spector drums, the beautiful noise of Pyschocandy is recreated in full under the thick red stage lighting. Dreamy acoustics of ‘Cut Dead’ aside, the thunderous sonics of the album never let up. Ramones chord changes and teenage confusion collide in chaotic shards of barbed, sweet pop throughout, with ‘Some Candy Talking’ and ‘You Trip Me Up’ being highlights. As the lights come up and the hail of feedback subsides, witnessing the visceral power of Pyschocandy live reminds the stunned audience that, even 30 years on, three chords, a leather jacket and a LOT of noise are all you need for truly great rock and roll.

Callum Sullivan

Callum Sullivan

Callum Sullivan

Callum Sullivan

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