Review: Mystery Jets

Band kick start tour in Manchester

14 April 08 - Are we in love? Will it last? Does she really like me?

The Mystery Jets posed these questions of young love dilemmas as they kicked off their tour at Manchester’s Night and Day Café on Sunday 13 April, in what proved to be an intimate but exuberant gig.

The eccentric indie rockers drew a sensitive and arty crowd, who happily sang along to thumping riotous tracks Half in Love with Elizabeth and a rapturously received Two Doors Down.

More subtle and subdued tunes, Veiled in Grey and Flakes, transformed the atmosphere and captured the crowds melancholic side.

This tour sees the departure of founding band mate and Blaine’s dad, Henry Harrison. Although co-writing many of the second albums tracks and promising to support the band from the mosh pit, there was no sign of him at the venue.

"The eccentric indie rockers drew a sensitive and arty crowd"

Fans seemed split on whether his presence on stage was missed, many citing it as a natural progression for finding their own sound.

The new sounds of the second album, Twenty One , see the Jets moving away from prog rock of the Making Dens album to more melodic and playful vocal harmonies with bold 1980’s worshipping synth sounds.

Most of which were lapped up by the Manchester audience, hungry to see the Jets continue to push out confident and bold tracks.

As their wacky arrangements and playful 1980’s parodies prove, The Mystery Jets are still very much in touch with their experimental childhood side and even if they are not sure about being in love - the fans surely are.

Set list
Hideaway
Young Love
Half in Love With Elizabeth
Flakes
Hand Me Down
Diamonds in the Dark
Veiled in Grey
Two Doors Down
Behind the Bun House

Encore
There Was a Boy Who Ran Away

Victoria Baker