I’ve seen Ladytron once before, about four or five years ago at the GUU and it was one of my most disappointing gigs. Terrible performance, restless crowd and a fire alarm going off midway through their set that dumped us all outside in the rain.
The reason I’ve given them another chance was that after years of promise they’ve finally delivered an album that proved they were capable of more than just the occasional decent song. The album, Velocifero, may not be perfect but it’s one of the best from what’s been a disappointing year for music.
Support was from the fantastic shoegaze/pop band Asobi Seksu, whose album Citrus I’ve been enjoying for what seems like forever. Thanks to the London trains running behind we only caught their closing song, but it made a big impression with loads of chaotic noise. It gave some extra life and kick to music that can occasionally sound lightweight and I’ll definitely be going to see a full gig by them when I get the chance.
Ladytron came on about half an hour later and things didn’t start well with the vocals being so low in the mix that they were – unintentionally – unintelligble. This carried on for the first three or four songs until someone finally realised and brought the drums down to a reasonable level. Unfortunately it was too little too late and from where I was standing the band had already lost the crowd.
That’s not to say there weren’t any highlights, but they were few and far between. Old favourite Seventeen was good and a few of the newer songs towards the end of their set were also decent, but it wasn’t enough to salvage what on reflection was a pretty awful gig.
The Jesus and Mary Chain are one of those bands that I missed out on first time around thanks to my age (they were massive in the ’80s) that I absolutely love now.
Loud, dark, drenched in feedback and at times complete bastards, their legacy was not just for their music, but also their live shows – tales of near-riots, playing with their backs to the audience, on-stage fights between members of the band and even walking off half-way through a set all contribute to a fearsome reputation.
I’d already seen them once before at last year’s Meltdown festival which was curated by Jarvis Cocker of Pulp (this year it’s Massive Attack at the helm, but the line-up seems a bit shit) and as good as it was, the Royal Festival Hall wasn’t the ideal venue. It was basically like a theatre, with high ceilings and all-seated, so I was pleased when we turned up to the Roundhouse with it’s stripped-back an more authentic feeling space.
Something I didn’t pick up on at the Meltdown gig but which was more noticeable in this smaller venue was that William (Reid, guitarist and brother of singer Jim) was being helped out by another guitarist. It didn’t take anything away from it, but I must admit I was surprised he needed it, as he sounded as good as ever to me.
Opening with Never Understand and The Hardest Walk from Psychocandy, the ringing feedback which is their hallmark makes a welcome and sustained appearance, the atmosphere is great, I think most of the crowd lull into nostalgia and believe it’s 1987 or thereabouts and so begins a great gig.
I don’t have a complete setlist but Some Candy Talking, Taste of Cindy, Just Like Honey, Sidewalking, Far Gone and Out and the once-banned Reverence were all played, with only Far Gone and Out sticking in my mind as sounding a bit rough around the edges.
A cover of Pink Floyd’s Vegetable Man made a rare appearance, along with a mumbled comment from Jim about it killing Syd Barret if he hadn’t already been dead. That’s what the Mary Chain consider humour.
More importantly though two new songs, All Things Must Pass and Dead End Kids, sound surprisingly good for a band who’ve been apart for so long. Let’s just hope it’s a sign the long-rumoured new Mary Chain album will actually happen.
This was a good, highly enjoyable, gig. Sure, some of those who were there first time around may not agree, and who knows, had I been there then I might have thought that too. As it stands, I’m loving their gigs and hope they’re around for years to come.
Long live the Mary Chain!
