Review: The Jim Jones Revue live @ Leeds Brudenell Social Club


 

The Jim Jones Revue live in Manchester, September 2014 (Photo: Gary Mather for Live4ever)

The Jim Jones Revue live in Manchester, September 2014 (Photo: Gary Mather for Live4ever)




To be a great story, there are three things you must have: A beginning, a middle, and an end.

But the real key has always been the ending, and this is what so many bands put no thought into. Many have come to such ignominious ends, with no real thought for their story, their legend. The history books are filled with explosive starts, promising middles, and then…just nothing.

The Jim Jones Revue, though, are not those bands – they have always appeared to have a appreciation of their story.

Their formation is one of classic pedigree, having come together in a magical way in a room and exploding from there. Since then, they have walked the path of a band inspired by the true spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. And now, as the song says, ‘The end is near’… It is common knowledge that the Jim Jones Revue know their way around a live show, so much so that maybe everyone had begun to take them for granted. But a ‘farewell’ show (hideous phrase), is not a just a show, it is a farewell. The show, although central and still key, is almost a passenger. Tonight is about passion and emotion, about giving something back to a loyal following, people who have become like friends over the years, and bowing out on a high. This is ending your story in style; exiting as you entered, and giving those who matter a kiss goodbye. And this is one hell of a farewell kiss.

The JJR plan of attack for the evening seems to be quite simple. It is, put simply, attack. They are every incendiary form of cliché you can imagine; all guns blazing, giving both barrels, thunderous, like a BB gun shot to the arse cheek, etc etc. It’s a very vivid picture they are painting.

Everything you could want is in the mix, the amazingly fraught and inspired ‘Cement Mixer‘, as well as equally wild renditions of true JJR insanity such as ‘Burning Down Your House‘, ‘7 Times Around the Sun‘ and an insane ‘Dishonest John‘.

This is how they say goodbye, by grabbing the lapels and screaming directly into the crowd’s faces. But it is a scream that will be missed by so many. No other band takes what once was and makes it so relevant. JJR give rock ‘n’ roll back the passion that it was robbed of so many decades ago. Any anodyne sheen has been peeled back, and the band take music to its rawest and most primal beginnings. Tonight is simply about music, not style, not genre bending, or experimentation. This is the most fundamental and purest type of performance.

The crowd for their part is also here to say goodbye. Live, the Jim Jones Revue have always been a two way conversation, a dialogue. The audience is as much a part of the show as the band and the music, and tonight is no exception.
Realising this is truly the end of the road is emotional for all, and the two encores highlight just how seriously the band are about not wanting this story to end. et end it must.



This may be the end of the road, but thankfully we will always have their story, their legend and their music. Unlike so many others they did not just fade away. They are writing their own ending, telling their story in their own words.

And like the rest of their story, it has been an amazing tale, which now comes to a fitting end – on stage, giving absolutely every last sweaty and amazing ounce.

(Dylan Llewellyn-Nunes)

Visit our live gallery from the Jim Jones Revue’s ‘farewell’ to Manchester at this link


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