The Jesus and Mary Chain

The latest gig on our A to Z musical adventure was ……

What to expect from The Jesus and Mary Chain after all these years? 40 to be precise as the advertising bill boards pronounced. A question no doubt asked by a few of the audience who meandered into the Usher Hall in Edinburgh to see them.

This was a gig that attracted a fair proportion of fans from the release of Psychocandy in 1985. Going back those 40 years, how many would have predicted reading ‘The Jesus and Mary Chain at the Usher Hall‘ in the same sentence?

Have those intervening years been kind to the band, their reputation and their live performance. On last night’s showing, the answer is an emphatic YES!!

With their latest album Glasgow Eyes, just released, the band made a clear statement of intent with their opening song, jamcod. A visceral blast of sound which set the tone for the rest of the band’s extensive set.

Some tracks were new, with renditions of the opener, Chemical Animal, Girl 71 and album opener Venal Joy forming a solid list of tracks that will appear in setlists of the future with as much anticipation and expectation as the classic tracks from the heyday of The Jesus and Mary Chain mania.

And, like many acts, the fans come to expect they will hear their musical heroes dip into the back catalogue. The Jesus and Mary Chain were no different in that respect. What may have been different was the sheer professionalism that was brought to bear on each song.

Mark Crozer on bass, drummer Justin Welch, guitarist Scott Von Ryper. They maybe not be as well known outwith The Jesus and Mary Chain community, however, they are instrumental, no pun intended, to the sound that emanates from the stage, enabling Jim Reid to carry every song with purpose. And what of brother William? Ensconced at the side of the stage, his guitar playing was as true tonight as it had ever been.

They leant on all their recording output for the set, with Psychocandy and Darklands providing the foundation material to lead us all on a revival journey that showcased the best of their 40 years together.

Neither Reid brothers have ever seemed comfortable with their star status. Jim even reminded the crowd that he doesn’t do a lot of crowd interaction during gigs. To get a name check on the song about to be sung was almost as far as it got. In fairness, there was sincere thanks for turning out to see them and to Rachel Conte and Fay Fife for duetting on three of the numbers throughout the night.

The highlights were many, All Things Pass, Some Candy Talking, Reverence and the imperious Darklands were my own personal favourites.

An excellent gig, as already mentioned above, the band are team tight and playing their best shows in years.

Support Act

Aircooled took the warm up mantle and did a fairly good job of entertaining and engaging a growing audience as they played their set.

Aircooled are Justin Welch (Elastica, Piroshka, JAMC), Oliver Cherer, Riz Maslen (Neotropic) and Katharine Wallinger (The Wedding Present, Viv Albertine) and the album features extra percussion from Pablo Cook (The Mesqualeros).

They are no strangers to the music scene and, though their set was relatively short, highlighted tracks off the latest album. One which may be worth closer attention away from the live atmosphere of this gig.

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About the venue

Date 27 March 2024

 Usher Hall, Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH1 2EA

The Usher Hall is a concert hall in the West End of Edinburgh, Scotland. It has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,200 people in its recently restored auditorium, which is well loved by performers due to its acoustics.