Thursday.6.September.2012

Little 5 Points, Atlanta, GA

Review

So, at long last, the day was here. I was heading out, once again, to see The Jesus and Mary Chain. I have seen them several times in the past, and each show has been different. What would this time bring?

Tracers and i arrived at the Variety Playhouse around 7:30 PM. Inspector Jason was already there, along with his buddy Officer Bill. Mr. Pharmacist had even driven up from Columbus, GA to see the show. In fact, the venue was packed with people EvilSponge knew. Well, it was packed in general. I am not sure if i have ever seen The Variety so crowded.

There was a generally upbeat party-like atmosphere in the venue. And then the first act started to play.

This was a three-piece instrumental heavy metal act called Psychic Paramount. They were not bad, but i have heard other bands do exactly what they were doing, and do it better. For example, the Detroit band Paik are very similar, and much more interesting. I kept hoping that PP would step up their game a bit, but instead the music just plodded along for 40 long minutes, never really going anywhere and never wowing me. Fortunately there were lots of people to have shouted conversations with.

Oh, yeah: good point. Where was Brent Hinds when we needed him?

At any rate, Psychic Paramount finished, eventually. And then, the Reid brothers took the stage. JAMC played as a 5-piece tonight. William Reid only played guitar, and he looks a little pudgy, which is good because that likely means he is not on any really hard drugs right now. And he still has the tall, teased JAMC hairdo though, something which made me very happy. Jim Reid only sang, and his hair is shorter. He was wearing a sportcoat over his t-shirt and jeans, so he looked almost respectable. The band was rounded out with a drummer, a guitarist playing Jim's parts, and a bassist. The brothers did not fight or even appear to argue. Jim joked about being drunk, and forgetting words, but in general they seemed to be having fun.

Between Planets, from the underrated Automatic album was a great surprise. This album track fit in well with a surprisingly danceable set from The Jesus And Mary Chain. Aside from a rather underwhelming female guest appearance on Just Like Honey, the entire set from The Jesus And Mary Chain moved at lightning speed as the Reid Brothers joked with the crowd before blazing into each song with surprising vigor. This was an amazing night.

They ended the main set with Reverence, of course, and then came back and played 15 minutes of songs from really early in their career played through a wall of squealing feedback while the packed Variety crowd bounced up and down. The version of Never Understand Me that ended the show was loud, distorted, and in my opinion, the perfect way to end the night.

It was a short set, but fun. The hired guns are talented, and i do really like William's guitar work. I had a great time.

Snakedriver
Head On
Far Gone and Out
Between Planets
Blues From a Gun
Teenage Lust
Cracking Up
All Things Must Pass
Sidewalking
Some Candy Talking
Just Like Honey
Happy When It Rains
Reverence

Encore:
The Hardest Walk
Taste of Cindy
Never Understand