Mystery Jets + Jeremy Warmsley @ The Barfly – 26th June 2008
It’s a rainy Saturday in Birmingham and the walk to The Barfly is a horrible one. With the door staff refusing to let me in with my guest pass I’m left standing in the rain in a queue with the other few hundred people who braved the weather to see the Mystery Jets. But this didn’t seem to dampen the mood, with everyone still smiling and eagerly waiting to get inside.
In the dry the first support act, Regards could be seen doing a final sound check before beginning their set. The young looking band are very tight musically, playing fun and catchy indie tracks and seemed popular with the crowd, with the front row dancing away.
Next up is Jeremy Warmsley and his band. There was a long delay in their set beginning with technical difficulties with what seemed all the instruments. When the set began, you couldn’t help but question if the delay was worth the wait. Although the band are clearly competent musicians, there was something missing. It all sounded a little empty and incomplete, a feeling that was clearly shared with the crowd too, as little movement could be seen, despite the bass player dancing around and clapping in attempt for crowd participation. With all this said, it was Jeremy himself that shone with the last song of the set. Beginning as a solo, keyboard driven song coupled with a stunning vocal display, it feels like this is how all the songs played tonight should have been performed. The simplistic nature of a talented musician and strong vocalist would work so much better than the awkward hollowness when coupled with a bass and drummer. If Jeremy is to play a solo gig, I would highly recommend seeing him perform.
Next up are the Mystery Jets. The lights dim and the crowd break out into a deafening scream that couldn’t help but make me smile. Everyone here tonight was clearly excited to see the guys play and they didn’t disappoint. From the start the crowd could be seen dancing and by the time they played the opening chord sequence for the second song of their set, arguably their biggest single to date, Two Doors Down, the singing coming from the crowd overpowered the band themselves. The guys play a fantastic set to the dripping wet crowd who had stood patiently for so long in the rain to see them perform, but all of that no longer seemed to matter to anyone, as they play song after song, never once dipping in energy and keeping the crowd smiling throughout the evening.
Review and photos – Keith West