The Warfield came alive with The Jesus and Mary Chain playing a solid set from their album Psychocandy, as this tour marks its 30th anniversary. Arguably one of the most prolific bands to emerge from the early 80’s, The Jesus and Mary Chain carved the mold for the emergence of the shoegaze movement, laying down a path for bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. A sound characterized by strung out guitar chords, The Jesus and Mary Chain marry energetic drums with a dreamy glaze of granular melodies. A satisfying blend of rich, decadent synth pop and weighty cord structures, The Jesus and Mary Chain played popular tracks which included “The Living End” and “Cut Dead” as they wound their way through the album.
Not saying much to the audience once they took the stage, the band remained clouded in a blanket of fog, giving the crowd a teaser by playing tracks off their other albums before diving headfirst into the disarray and one-two punch of industrially softened sound that is categorized by Psychocandy. The singer’s airy, rustic vocals filled up the venue, as each note pulled at the booze-drenched, cigarette laden heartstrings of every thirty year old that was dancing and singing along in the audience. Starting off with one of their classics, “April Skies” the energy in the air started to build, shattering in feel-good, fuzzy coagulations of glittery melodies that set the tone for the evening. Artfully grungy and weathered, each member looked like a snapshot of their former younger selves, as their leather clad outfits were nostalgic of the frazzle haired, angsty spirited Scottish lads in early J & MC music videos.
A traditional, yet exciting light show gave the performance a vintage edge as guitarist William Reid and singer Jim Reid would often be hidden in a sea of smoke, creating a translucent barrier that dismissed the need for an introduction between each song. Truly all about the music, The Jesus and Mary Chain kept interactions with the crowd at a minimal; then again, the need for lengthy concert small talk seemed unnecessary as each song was received with uninhibited dancing and wide eyed wonder. Slight feedback throughout the set didn’t seem to bring the party down, as the band powered through one number after the next without many breaks in between.
What felt like a necessary injection of sunshine on the chilly San Francisco evening was inevitably brought on by their rendition of “Just Like Honey” that sent waves of warmth through the crowd; the initial drawn out, syncopated drums foreshadowing the magic to come. There was nothing stale or “old” about the performance, as The Jesus and Mary Chain revived and resurrected the well-loved album, sans on-stage sibling rivalry. You could say these rebels have grown up- just a little.
The Jesus and Mary Chain will be heading to Europe and then will be playing FYF festival in Los Angeles this August.
