Buzzin Music

Jesu at The Luminaire Kilburn, London 18th September

With high expectations, the second trek to Kilburn in just over a week, this time to see Jesu starts badly as the two worst support bands I have had the displeasure to witness start off proceedings.

The opening duo Caino were so spectacularly bad people were openly laughing. I could hear his guitar being strummed over the amplified sound and his attempt at anguish was akin to an 8 year olds. “There is no light” he screamed. The only word I could think of to describe their performance, rhymes with ‘light’. And the less said about the violin, guitar and oboe trio, Kayo Dot, the better. Boring to the point of annoyance. I could have played the violin lines and I’ve never even touched one before; truly dreadful.

This didn’t leave me with much hope for Jesu. Justin Broadrick has continually changed his music, from being involved in Napalm Death, Head of David, Godflesh, Techno Animal, and now Jesu. I have trademarked my observation that each Jesu song really does sound like a cross between Rides “Polar Bear” and Godflesh.

The sound improves as soon as Jesu start. An almost hip hop beat emanating from the laptop catches our attention immediately. Justin’s effects laden guitar then joins along with the thumping distorted bass joining to make “Hard to Reach” the start of just over an hours worth of shoegazing classics. Or did it.

Sometimes I wonder what Justin wants Jesu to be. One minute he can write a pop song worthy of the charts like “Bright eyes” but instead chose to end proceedings with a 35 minute track that’s quite progressive and decidedly un-poppy.

I can tell Jesu enjoy doing the shorter songs and it makes for a more enjoyable evening. Justin thrashing out to “Silver” shows he knows it is the best thing he has written yet.

Will the real Justin Broadrick please stand up?

‘Conqueror’ still remains on repeat on my iPod, and the title track is played so powerfully the chap Caino looked genuinely ashamed as he sat with his large pile of vinyl for sale. I didn’t see any customers though. He has much to learn from Jesu.

For a two man operation, the sound is full and polished, however, for me, it misses a live drummer. I think it makes all the difference. I still very much enjoyed it though and so did the sell out audience. Making my way back to Uxbridge, I had to endure hundreds of people at Wembley Park fighting to get back from Coldplay. I know who had the better night…..