29 January 2023 (gig)
30 January 2023
There are certain gigs that just burn a hole in the calendar, and this one has been sitting there for months, waiting for small landmarks like Summer, Christmas, New Year, and a considerably big birthday to get themselves over and done with so the Brian Jonestown Massacre could bring a touch of psychedelic wonder to Falmouth again.
We're talking beforehand about what they might play, and I realise that I don't really care. With most bands, there are certain songs I really want to hear, some I'm not bothered about and some I'll be gutted if they don't play. With the very odd exception, where Brian Jonestown Massacre are concerned, I just want to hear them and see them again. They're about to release their 20th album, whatever Anton chooses from this back catalogue is fine by me.
Let’s cut to the chase, any band that walks on stage with no less than four 12-string guitars mean business. The stage is hardly big enough for these guys in terms of physical space or ego, but the seven of them manage to squeeze on and kick into #1 Lucky Kitty from last year’s Fire Doesn't Grow on Trees album.
The sound man has done a good job tonight, there's a lot to put in the mix here, and it's just mesmerising from the off. As Joel recognises a few songs in when he thanks us for coming, this is the first date of the European tour and they're a little rusty, so there are a few little breaks here and there where the guys have quick discussions, but that's just fine. The band look relaxed and happy, and of course, cool, super fricking cool, it almost drips off them.
Close your eyes and get lost in the whole repetitive cacophonous joyous noise of this band.
Anton is a taskmaster, he demands perfection from his musicians, no matter what concoction of drugs they have all partaken on a particular day. Nobody gets a bollocking from him (a few years ago he stopped midway through a song to have a go at a band mate for missing a note) tonight so he seems to have chilled out a bit, however a member of the audience does get it in the neck for criticising his guitar playing!
We get a selection of tracks from last year's superb Fire Doesn't Grow On Trees album, the highlight being The Real, and several I don't recognise, probably off soon to be released The Future is Your Past. The highlight has got to be the hypnotic BJTM classic, Anemone. As I said though, this band don't do fillers, so the mid gig trip to the bar is a well-timed sprint.
There's no other band I know that can stick the tambourine guy out front and get away with it, Joel is captivating in his elegant nonchalance as always. Go and see them!
Why only 4 out of 5? Last time they played for 3 hours! But none of us are getting any younger, eh?
