The Brian Jonestown Massacre

Barrowland Ballroom, 6 February 2025

We’ve been fortunate to see The Brian Jonestown Massacre a few times over the past couple of years, each time at the iconic Barrowland Ballroom.

Almost thirty-five years since they started out, they can still fill this hall with devotees young and old.

In truth, the previous couple of gigs were akin to watching a tv drama unfold. The extended re-tuning of guitars between songs and the inevitable falling out on stage with one or more of his band mates were all part of the ‘show’ that Anton Newcombe and his touring band put on. If it was expected, then he never disappointed on that score.

Last night though marked a possible transition. No dramas. No wow moments to share.

With a set list drawn from the band’s extensive back catalogue, there weren’t too many opportunities for the band and audience to merge as one in a choral sing song, Anemone the one shining light that let the crowd join in.

The audience itself was a mix of the young and the old, those who have followed Newcombe since the early days and a younger generation who see something unique in a band who don’t fit into any discrete genre.

There’s a bit of several genres in the mix. Psychedelic, Shoegaze, Indie-rock.

Looking around the audience though, feet were shuffling, heads were bobbing and the applause that ended each track was heartfelt too. We were all immersed in the event.

There may have been seven, sometimes eight musicians on stage, yet it never felt that the sound was overpowering. Guitar solos were kept to a minimum with each song tailing off like the album it came from.

The set-list had been pre-ordained. The band were due on at 9pm sharp to be off by 10:45pm. There was little scope therefore to squeeze in all the set-listed tracks and add a bit of frill to them.

Anton Newcombe himself doesn’t have the strongest vocals on the music scene, yet he conjured up a performance that required the audience’s full attention throughout the set. If we were all hoping for an explosive encounter at some point, on that score he did disappoint.

Individually and collectively, there was very little interaction with the crowd other than the occasional verbal applause from Joel Gion. Should that be expected? Is the aloofness all part of the show?

Whatever the reasons, musically it was probably the best of the gigs we’ve seen the band play, and the lack of drama didn’t diminish from the strong musicianship across the group providing entertainment that will be remembered for all the right musical reasons.

While many waited after the last song for a band encore, it never came. The curfew curtain was drawn. The band were long gone and, as we departed into the chilly February night, it was with memories of a good night spent listening to some good music by some seriously good musicians.

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Support Act – Project Gemini

Unlike the headliners, Paul Osborne, the Project leader, was only too happy to enthuse about his time on stage with his bandmates and what a pleasure it was to play the famous Barrowland stage.

It wasn’t all hollow words either as the four piece rolled through several toe tapping, head bopping tracks. Like The Brian Jonestown Massacre there are elements of folk rock, psychedelic and indie rock. At times there was even a hint of late sixties early seventies cinematography soundscapes.

Their time on stage may have been short yet, for this writer at least, they have provided a mental note to see again at some point in the future.

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