I never thought that I would be at The Fleece for this gig… People couldn’t have been more excited for it on this cold January night, taking it all in with a pint at the Seven Stars pub next door beforehand was a sight alone.
Seeing so many friends in there laughing just made for an ideal start to the night and we couldn’t believe that the singer of the headline band David Yow was sitting right behind us, watching on. I couldn’t bring myself to talk to him there as I didn’t want to spoil the surprise that we soon got.
Then we went into The Fleece for the opening band Lice (10) and I was stunned from the start. They were both heavy and hilarious going from one genre to another seamlessly.
Then we went into The Fleece for the opening band Lice (10) and I was stunned from the start. They were both heavy and hilarious going from one genre to another seamlessly.
Honestly there was something there that everyone could enjoy from insane Jazz drumming, David Bryne-esque screams and yelps, pounding bass, a noisy guitar and of course the all important throbbing synthesiser.
They reminded me at points of some of my favourite bands including Talking Heads, Butthole Surfers, Nine Inch Nails, Devo and even fucking Ween! They acted as the perfect start before the chaos began.
Then at 20:30 on the dot, The Jesus Lizard (10) walked on stage as casually as you like and bashed out one hell of a set! Opening with the anxiety-inducing Seasick, everyone in that room started moving as one as a wave of heads banged uncontrollably to the off-kilter groove.
Then at 20:30 on the dot, The Jesus Lizard (10) walked on stage as casually as you like and bashed out one hell of a set! Opening with the anxiety-inducing Seasick, everyone in that room started moving as one as a wave of heads banged uncontrollably to the off-kilter groove.
My eyes might have deceived me but it looked like Mac McNeilly, their drummer was standing up, beating the drums as if they owed him money. This was only the calm till the storm as then for the next song Gladiator, David Yow at the ripe age of 64 jumped off the stage to surf the crowd in a moment of pure insanity.
As Yow washed up back onto the stage, The Jesus Lizard then exploded into Boilermaker, my favourite song of theirs. They unleashed an animalistic performance in every sense of the word.
Now this wasn’t just a reunion tour for nostalgia bait, it was done with purpose as late last year, the band released their new album Rack which was their first in 26 years after 1998’s Blue.
As Yow washed up back onto the stage, The Jesus Lizard then exploded into Boilermaker, my favourite song of theirs. They unleashed an animalistic performance in every sense of the word.
Now this wasn’t just a reunion tour for nostalgia bait, it was done with purpose as late last year, the band released their new album Rack which was their first in 26 years after 1998’s Blue.
Rack is great and these songs interspersed with older ones worked so well together, if anything they are more melodic which adds more depth and range to The Jesus Lizard sound that we all know and love.
Overall, all of the members of that band are well into their 60’s and they performed like it was their last night on earth but they’ve done this their entire career and that’s what makes them the legendary band that they are.
Overall, all of the members of that band are well into their 60’s and they performed like it was their last night on earth but they’ve done this their entire career and that’s what makes them the legendary band that they are.
The Jesus Lizard have been pushing the envelope and making music to be played from the bottom of a well from day one.
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