29th May 2010
Reviewed by Rob Sellars
Ok, consider this: you have Mystery Jets, finally making their return to the world after a short break following their second studio album, Twenty One. Then you have a multi-storey car park located in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne. And finally you have a load of Chevrolet’s turned on their sides in all sorts of abstract angles. This is indeed the Chevrolet Spark Unscheduled Tour, completely free and featuring the marvellous return of Mystery Jets. The idea behind the tour is to host a series of pop-up gigs around the country, where each week residents of selected cities are given the chance to vote for their city to be the next on the tour. They then get to decide where in their fair city the gig will take place, with the only pre-requisite being that it has to be out of the norm. And it is under that condition that tonight we have all landed on the top deck of Dean Street Car Park. With a small stage at one end, and the new Chevrolet Spark’s the only vehicles in sight, it almost seems regular that gigs should be taking place in car parks these days. The much appreciated free Red Stripe does its bit towards this as well of course.
A small and intimate crowd welcome out the band, who return this July with their third studio album, Serotonin, two years after Twenty-One. With single Flash A Hungry Smile being released to test the water, reactions are positive and tonight’s expectations are high. Safe to say they far from disappoint. Speaking to the band earlier in the day, guitarist William declared that their new tunes are more quintessentially Mystery Jets, suggesting that with this album they have captured their own unique sound more than ever before. And with a healthy smattering of new songs in their set, it is easy to see what they mean, as they build on the 80’s electro sound of their second album, to create something altogether more polished and epic, inherently British, but with a massive dose of Americana infusing their sound.
The set is a crowd pleasing balance between past hits, including ‘Two Doors Down’ and ‘Young Love’, fan favourites, including a staggering rendition of ‘Behind the Bunhouse’, and samples from the new album, which suggest perhaps their third release will be the one to finally propel them to the success they so evidently deserve. Gigs such as this offer the music fan a chance to experience their live music a little differently, and tonight, thanks to Mystery Jets and Chevrolet, other bands and venues alike maybe have a little catching up to do.
Showing posts with label Mystery Jets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mystery Jets. Show all posts
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Mystery Jets @ The Cluny 19/04/08
If someone says ‘Mystery Jets’ I say “Arrrggggghhhhhghghgh!!!!!” - this is a good 
reaction, by the way. I can safely say I had been looking forward to this gig for exactly a million years. One of my favourite bands in one of my favourite venues: YUM. And yummy it was, this mouth-watering evening started off with a nibbler from local lady Beth Jeans Houghton, think Regina Spektor with a dash of Laura Marling - delish. Dished up next were Little Comets, without expecting too much, these boys did more than pleasantly surprise; they blew my frickin’ socks off. Filled to the brim with scrummy, poppy, chantey, dance-y goodness; I wanted to order seconds.After appetisers like these I was greedy for more, Mystery Jets were my main course and desert rolled into one neat, tasty set. From the
sweet depths of their older tracks such as ‘Diamonds in the Dark’, to the juicy highlights of upcoming single ‘Two Doors Down’ they delighted and charmed the 350 capacity room. Having heard that previously the band invited a crowd member onstage to sing Laura Marling’s part in ‘Young Love’, I was slightly disappointed when Blaine sang the part himself and I was unable to display my amazing vocal talent! (Cough cough). As with most over 18 gigs the crowd were slightly reluctant to ‘jam out’, but with a ‘Zoo Time’ encore even the coolest of cucumbers couldn’t resist to burn a few musical calories.
Review by Marzena Dabrowska (photos by Solveig Werner)
reaction, by the way. I can safely say I had been looking forward to this gig for exactly a million years. One of my favourite bands in one of my favourite venues: YUM. And yummy it was, this mouth-watering evening started off with a nibbler from local lady Beth Jeans Houghton, think Regina Spektor with a dash of Laura Marling - delish. Dished up next were Little Comets, without expecting too much, these boys did more than pleasantly surprise; they blew my frickin’ socks off. Filled to the brim with scrummy, poppy, chantey, dance-y goodness; I wanted to order seconds.After appetisers like these I was greedy for more, Mystery Jets were my main course and desert rolled into one neat, tasty set. From the sweet depths of their older tracks such as ‘Diamonds in the Dark’, to the juicy highlights of upcoming single ‘Two Doors Down’ they delighted and charmed the 350 capacity room. Having heard that previously the band invited a crowd member onstage to sing Laura Marling’s part in ‘Young Love’, I was slightly disappointed when Blaine sang the part himself and I was unable to display my amazing vocal talent! (Cough cough). As with most over 18 gigs the crowd were slightly reluctant to ‘jam out’, but with a ‘Zoo Time’ encore even the coolest of cucumbers couldn’t resist to burn a few musical calories.Review by Marzena Dabrowska (photos by Solveig Werner)
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