Some gigs take a surprisingly long route before they finally happen.
I originally had tickets to see The Jesus and Mary Chain at the Barrowland, which felt like the perfect venue for a band whose music has always balanced beauty and noise so effortlessly. Unfortunately, the concert was postponed during the Covid era and by the time the rescheduled date arrived, attendance came with requirements that I wasn’t willing to go along with. As a result, I sold my tickets and resigned myself to missing the show.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of the story.
When The Jesus and Mary Chain announced a date at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, I managed to find a single resale ticket. The downside was that there was only one available, meaning Emma had to sit this one out. Given the number of gigs she’d accompanied me to over the years, I suspect she survived the disappointment.
Before the main event, we were treated to a set from support act Aircooled.
It’s fair to say they received a mixed reaction.
Support bands often face an uphill battle when opening for an established act with a devoted fanbase, and Aircooled certainly discovered that reality first-hand. Some people seemed genuinely enthusiastic, while others appeared determined to spend the set waiting for the headliners. Such is life in the support-slot business.
As for me, I was more concerned with securing a decent position.
Fortunately, I managed to claim a spot right down at the front, giving me an excellent view of the stage and allowing me to film the full concert from close range. Considering how difficult it can sometimes be to find a good vantage point, this felt like a small victory before the music had even started.
When The Jesus and Mary Chain finally appeared, they immediately reminded everyone why they remain one of Scotland’s most influential bands.
From their earliest recordings, the Reid brothers managed to create a sound that combined melody, feedback, pop hooks and pure attitude in a way that inspired countless artists who followed. Hearing those songs live remains a unique experience. Beneath the layers of noise are some genuinely beautiful compositions, and the contrast between the two elements is what makes their music so compelling.
The Usher Hall audience responded accordingly.
Well, most of them did.
At one point the evening briefly took a detour into less musical territory when a fight broke out in the crowd. Why people spend money to attend a concert only to start punching each other remains one of life’s enduring mysteries. Fortunately, the disturbance was short-lived and the focus quickly returned to where it belonged: the music.
As the concert drew to a close, I thought the evening’s surprises were over.
I was wrong.
In one of those moments that only seem to happen at gigs, William Reid attempted to throw the setlist directly to me. It was a glorious opportunity. The sort of thing music fans secretly dream about.
Unfortunately, my hands had other ideas.
The setlist arrived, I fumbled it spectacularly and watched my prize escape. Years of preparation had clearly not equipped me for the pressure of catching a piece of paper.
Thankfully, a steward took pity on me, retrieved it and handed it back.
Disaster averted.
Looking back, this turned out to be one of those concerts that contained a little bit of everything: a long-awaited performance, a controversial support act, a fight in the crowd, a front-row view and a setlist rescue operation.
Not bad for a gig I almost never attended.
The videos and photographs below include the full performance from my position at the front. And thanks to a helpful steward, I even came home with a souvenir.
The Photos
Cheers!
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