Review: JAMC

Jesus and Mary Chain play the London Roundhouse

12 March 08 - Plenty of bands have decided to bury old hatchets, and those proclamations never to go back, in the past few years.

The Police and Pixies must have made plenty of money from reforming, and My Bloody Valentine's dates in London, Manchester and Glasgow this summer have long since sold out.

But interest in the reformed Jesus and Mary Chain seems to have waned; two night's at London's Roundhouse were last week reduced to one - with all tickets valid - and it still wasn't a sell out.

The lack of interest is rather surprising. Scottish newcomers Glasvegas have already created a massive buzz in 2008; starting a record company bidding war, and even picking up an NME award, all on the back of one Mary Chain clone single. And The Raveonettes and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club still both do a healthy trade.

So their influence lives on, even if their fans are a little reluctant to come out and see them.

It's a shame, because seeing the Mary Chain at the Roundhouse reminds you just how accessible and mainstream a band they are, or should be.

This older version of the band go easy on their trademark feedback, allowing the pop core of their songs to come through. Which would perhaps have made more sense if they'd won over Police sized crowds, but instead it's a little disappointing in front of the hard-core that are out to support them.

But no matter; with the band opening with Psycocandy's Taste of Cindy and The Hardest Walk and bringing out Darklands and Reverence in the encore, as well as introducing a husky voiced female vocalist for Just Like Honey, there is more than enough to satisfy the fans.

And with new material on the way, they'll have time to drum up a little more interest for their next UK date.

Lucy O'Doherty