Review and Photos by Paul Broome


I'm sure there's many in the audience tonight that could sympathise with bassist Al when this date was postponed from last November due to an unscheduled hernia, so it was a kind of double celebration when Jesus Jones arrived back in Birmingham just a couple of months late to promote their recently released two CD collection of "band favourites and rarities".


And just to raise the mood of celebration even more, in support was techno-punk turned troubador and novelist Jim Bob. Get a group of late-30s/forty-somethings in a small room together, play them a Carter classic and there's a likelihood that within 5 seconds the majority will be singing along at the tops of their voices. Such was the case in the Institute Temple bar last night, with Jim Bob alternating more recent material with acoustic versions of USM tracks like 'Anytime Anyplace Anywhere', 'The Only Living Boy in New Cross' and 'Glam Rock Cops'. There aren't many better ways to start a Friday night than this - although, good as it is to see Jim Bob alone, I'm personally hoping that with Carter recently re-ignited as a live force, he'll be back in town with Fruitbat in tow some time soon.

Jesus Jones have always been somewhat of a polarising force - personally I've been a fan since first hearing 'Info Freako' back in the mists of my teenage years. Their amalgamation of rock and techno was seamless, innovative and infectious. But it was always on stage that the band really made sense, thrashing and gyrating like a ten-legged human incarnation of ecstasy. Twenty odd years later, and they haven't lost it - they also seem to be aging better than most of their peers (Mike Edwards has obviously soundly secured his portrait in the attic), as are the songs.


From the opening salvo of ‘Who? Where? Why?’, 'Move Mountains' and ‘International Bright Young Thing’ the party is in full-swing, the years are shed in the audience and we're all right back there - sans jobs, sans families, sans responsibility - bouncing like the teenagers that still hide behind our grey hair and pot bellies. But, despite Mike's little digs towards the passing of the years ("I wrote this one when I was the same age as your children", introducing 'Welcome Back Victoria'), this is far from being just a trip down memory lane, Jesus Jones remain a vital force on that stage. They have an attitude and energy that most bands half their age lack, and they have the material to back it up.


By the time we get to the end of the encore - 'What's Going On' and 'Blissed' - the entire room is full of blissed out sweaty punters, ears ringing, massive grins stretched between them. Forget the history, do yourself a favour and remind yourself today just how fucking good this band is.