The Jesus And Mary Chain - Live at The Forum!

Who:  British Sea Power + The Jesus And Mary Chain

Where:  The Forum, Kentish Town

When:  27 Oct 2008

A lot of people highly recommended me British Sea Power.  I searched for their videos on YouTube.  I listened to their songs.  I went to their concerts.  But I still can't get myself to like them.  I think they're boring even though their intentions are good.  Their small set piece as the opening act for Jesus & Mary Chain was very poor, though part of it due to the (unusual) terrible sound in the Kentish Town Forum.  We could hardly hear the violin.

The Jesus And Mary Chain came onstage, to my great pleasure.  Enough of BSP, I really tried (but you still should check them out, opinions may differ). 

Anyway, JMC opened with a song I didn't know but then straight to "Head On".  That was a magical moment for me.  I've waited 30+ years to see that song live.  Shivers through my bones, jumping all over the place and shouting as loud as I could "... as soon as I get my head around you...".  Some new stuff was thrown in among the crowd favourites such as "Psycho Candy" and "Just Like Honey".  Towards the end:  "Happy When It Rains".

It seems the sound check had to be done really fast (if done at all) because, just as British Sea Power, the sound during JMC's performance wasn't all it could be.  The sound engineer was probably fresh out of sound 101 crash course.

There were 2 songs I missed:  "Darklands" and "April Skies".  Still, even with that crazy woman that climbed onstage to sing a couple of songs (and ruined them) and the poor sound quality, the words of "Head On" still echoed in my mind, with no surprise as it truly reflected how I felt after the concert was over: "... and the way I feel tonight, I could die and I wouldn't mind..."

Simply amazing, nostalgic magic!  A teenage dream come true.