The Jesus and Mary Chain / Rock City / Nottingham

Dec 18

Dec 18 The Jesus and Mary Chain / Rock City / Nottingham

1985 was the year of many great album releases, but perhaps none were more influential on me personaly than “Psychocandy” from the Jesus and Mary Chain. It’s hard to believe its almost 40 years ago. With their black clothes, big messy hair and that iconic feedback riddled sound, they stood out as something very different from the soft electro pop of the day.

First up though we have a set from CIEL. I had seen CIEL before supporting Blood Red Shoes at The Fleece in Bristol and thoroughly enjoyed their indie shoegaze sound. Lead singer Michelle Hindricks has certainly grown in confidence since then, and delivered a stunning performance, combining shimmering guitar tones with an emotional rawness.

Joined by Tim Spencer on drums and new guitarist Ruby Taylor they sounded tight and they certainly didn’t disappoint as they ripped through an 11 track set with ease. CIEL deliver some fantastic melodies and a chorus-driven sound, shown off best in the fan favourite Baby Don’t You Know and in the closing number Fine Everything, which had the crowd singing along heartily. For me, the highlight of the set was Shut in my Body which was sensational.

CIEL have grown since I last saw them. The sound feels richer and they’ve certainly grown in confidence. A great performance all round.

Setlist

Seeking (Single 2022)

Circles (Rather Be Alone EP 2023)

Swallowing Your Pride

Far Away (Not in the Sun, Nor in the Dark EP 2022)

Naked

Feel Again

Talking on the Phone

Shut in my Body (Rather Be Alone EP 2023)

Baby Don’t You Know (Not in the Sun, Nor in the Dark EP 2022)

Call Me Silent

Fine Everything (Not in the Sun, Nor in the Dark EP 2022)

The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride in 1983 by the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid, who are the two founders and only consistent members of the band since its formation. The Reid’s are recognized as key figures in the development of the shoegaze and noise-pop genres. The Jesus and Mary Chain had twelve top 40 entries and two top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart in the course of their career.

The lights dropped and the crowd cheered. The smoke machines kicked into life filling the air with smoke as the band stepped out, in to a minimalist backlit green stage, to be followed by Jim and William.

As always William stood at the back in the gloom, the backlight highlighting his mop of curly hair, whilst Jim took his position at mic stand. Apparently, neither wanted to be the frontman or in the spotlight so they flipped a coin and Jim got the job as vocalist !

It’s dark, smokey and atmospheric as the guitars struck up and the first feedback hits us as they start off with Jamcodtaken from their latest album “Glasgow Eyes”(2024). I’ve missed this unique sound ! Most of the set is taken from their icon 80’s albums “Psychocandy” and “Darklands” and this years release “Glasgow Eyes”.

To the delight of the crowd, they follow this with their iconic hit from “Darklands” April Skies and despite the gloom, you can make out the smile on Williams face, clearly enjoying the experience. The band have never been known for being energetic on stage, and back in the day had a reputation for facing away from the crowd in shows (guitars aimed at the speakers to ramp up that feedback), but somehow despite the static nature of their performance, it is packed with energy. This partly comes from their iconic fuzzy feedback laden guitar style, but also from Jims vocals, which seem as good today as ever. And its loud and raw… not Sunn O))) but visceral and loud, boy it was loud !

Whats great is the setlist jigzags back and forth between newer material and classic tracks with ease, with Chemical Animal (Glasgow Eyes 2024) followed immediately by Some Candy Talking (Darklands 1987) creating this great feeling as the crowd listen intently to the great new material, before exploding into life singing along and jumping to the classics. The lights are fantastic, creating the perfect environment for the music. Mostly backlit with strong colours green red or blue, with intense white spots creating a stark, industrial environment, the best accompaniment for their unique harsh tones.

As the main set draws to a close, we enjoy In a Hole (Psychocandy 1985) followed by Sometimes Always for which they are joined on stage by Michelle from CIEL on vocals, before the iconic title track Darklands (1987) and Never Understand (Psychocandy 1985). The audience are lapping it up, older fans singing along to every line, while younger audience members lap it up, enjoying the shoegaze style.

Returning for a three song encore, of course, the much anticipated classics finally make an appearance, with Just Like Honey (Psychocandy 1985) for which Michelle rejoins the band on stage on vocals, followed by Taste of Cindy(Psychocandy 1985). These bring the full force of their feedback heavy guitar sound to the fore, before they finish the night with Reverence (Honey’s Dead 1992). The ending is monumental, with an extended and hypnotic version of Reverence the pace quickening, it brought the set to a crushing crescendo.

The only shame was there was no place for the hit Happy When It Rains but the set list covered the band’s expansive repertoire with a selection of the best of their more recent material.

A stunning night. The Jesus and Mary Chain put on an exciting and powerful set, and shoed the Nottingham crowd why they have been so influential to so many other modern bands. The classic tracks such as April Skies, Just Like Honey, Some Candy Talking and Taste of Cindy still stand out as impressive songs and remain as good now as ever, and the newer material such as Chemical Animal and Venal Joy are developed that iconic sound and driven it on to new heights.

A night to remember

Setlist

Jamcod (Glasgow Eyes 2024)

April Skies (Darklands 1987)

Far Gone and Out (Honey’s Dead 1992)

Happy When It Rains (Darklands 1987)

All Things Pass (Damage and Joy 2022)

Chemical Animal (Glasgow Eyes 2024)

Some Candy Talking (Darklands 1987)

Cracking Up (Munki 1998)

Nine Million Rainy Days (Darklands 1987)

Pure Poor (Glasgow Eyes 2024)