Jim Jones Revue @ The Institute, Birmingham – Friday 11th October 2013
The Temple Room at the Birmingham Institute is a mischievous little so-and-so. On my previous visits to the compact venue perched precariously in the apex of the Institute’s innards, I have found that the “doors open” time quoted on the ticket is by no means an accurate indication as to when the first note will be played. I can recall that on more than one occasion I have arrived just shy of the venue opening its doors, only to be presented with a wait of anything from an hour, to two hours before the first signs of life drag themselves to the stage.
So finally, the Pavlovian conditioning seems to be taking effect as I arrive a whopping thirty minutes after the doors open. On ascending the stairs, my right hand forms a fist and attempts to force itself into my mouth as I realise that the gloriously named support band, The Amazing Snakeheads, have already begun to tear through their set.
The Amazing Snakeheads are a Glasgow based band that have recently signed with the impeccable Domino Records. Such a union will go some way to justifying the enthused press attention that is being thrown their way. The set is heartfelt and thunderous in execution. The vocal delivery from Dale Barclay is an arresting onslaught, soaked with a regional accent — always a much-welcomed sign of sincerity — that certainly seems to impress the majority of the audience. The Amazing Snakeheads immediate future looks like a busy one. Their solitary release containing “Testifying Time” and the harrowing “Truth Serum” will no doubt be added to. If you wish to catch the band live, they will be back around these parts in the not too distant future as they have managed to secure a much sought after spot on the NME Radar Tour.
The Jim Jones Revue make a welcome return to Birmingham. Tonight will be the band’s third date on a UK tour that looks to promote new single “Collision Boogie”, and look to cement the reputation of their last album “The Savage Heart”. This five-piece have always managed to stay on the right side of the line when it comes to “genuinity”. The strain of music that The Jim Jones Revue offer up could so easily see them pipped as nothing more than a group masquerading at playing the blues. I often feel that more than most, the genres of blues and reggae are merciless in exposing the slightest hint of faux posturing.
No such fears here. The great thing about this band and their performance tonight is that they deliver a relentless and thoroughly honest show. One of the most appealing aspects of any band lies in that sense of a gang mentality. The Jim Jones Revue, be it through their undoubted fashion sensibility, their wholehearted joy in rocking you to your core, this bunch really do look and sound like the gang that you’d do anything to be a part of.
Jim Jones takes centre stage, flanked by his bullish cohorts. Determined to give the audience a raucous night, exhibiting the same intensity that makes the likes of Joe Strummer, Nick Cave, Screaming Lord Sutch and Rory Gallagher such addictive viewing. With the band surrounded on all sides by towering amps, some of which are visibly strapped together. Shackled to the stage for fear that they might be forced upward as a consequence of the bludgeoning noise being pumped through them. At one point during “Collision Boogie”, it actually looks as if the stage is pivoting from left to right as the group tumble around in the midst of their frantic toing and froing.
Highlights of the night include “7 Times Around The Sun” and “Its Gotta Be About Me”, both driven by Henri Herbert’s vigorous rattling on the piano and Jim Jones’ voice, which tonight sounds like he’s got a cauldron of burning tar at the back of his throat. Let us just hope that there is a new album in the near future, and another chance to immerse ourselves in the delightfully dirty Revue.
Review by Chris Curtis
Photographs by John Bentley