Closing their extensive, globe-spanning tour of 'Radlands', Mystery Jets chose the prestigious but surprising venue of the Southbank's Royal Festival Hall for the grand finale- all seater, and not particularly known for hosting concerts of this type. As the show drew closer, the band were billing it as the 'chance to see a Jets show quite unlike anything before'. I was slightly concerned, as not having seen Mystery Jets before and being very keen to, I thought I'd be perfectly content to see the same show everybody else had got. My fear that we'd be getting pared down/alternative/acoustic versions of songs was thankfully wide of the mark as we were treated to a bumper 19 track set, and special guests on several of the songs. The band made reference to being nervous about the gig beforehand and initially the all-seated hall made for an odd atmosphere. Beckoned to stand by guitarist William during the second song, any doubts held by band or audience were quickly erased. I have never been at a gig and enjoyed being part of such a fervently adoring crowd. It made for a communal, celebratory atmosphere. Standing in row B to the right of stage it could be seen on the faces of William, and Blaine at the keyboard that they knew they had us at 'Hello London'.
Radland's first single 'Someone Purer' was a perfect opener. The Americana guitar-picked intro, accompanied only by Blaine Harrison's vocal, before the driving drum beat kicks in and propels the song to the first explosion of guitars and the statement-of-intent lyrics, commanding 'deliver me from sin, and give me rock and roll'. It's a rousing start and followed by a joyous 'Serotonin', during which the entire capacity is bought to their feet with an encouraging smile and gesture from William Rees. It's a nice moment as up to then there'd been a general air of 'not knowing how to behave' in the slightly formal surroundings. Permission given though, nobody sat down again for the rest of the night.
Things were taken up a notch with 'Flash A Hungry Smile' the most singalong 'let's spend the night together' song this side of... 'Let's Spend The Night Together'. The drums seeming to me to have a bit of extra punch, and a little flourish in the guitars but the best was yet to come- seamlessly interrupting the end of the song by launching in to 'Jet' by Paul McCartney and Wings. Anyone who knows me will have some idea of the size of the grin this caused to be stuck on my face for the following three minutes. Really cannot emphasise enough how much I was enjoying being in that room at that point in time.
Flash A Hungry Smile / Jet;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eSqkfkBcow (Liverpool, 14/11/2012)
Next up was the Kink-y 'Greatest Hits', which I'm tempted to describe as a crowd-pleaser but with this band, and this crowd, weren't they all? The 'sha la la's' enthusiastically belted out and clapped along with. The first of the evening's special guests were introduced after that, the Marfa Lights Gospel Choir filing on to give backing to a run of four 'Radlands' songs. Can't say I really thought they were necessary (or noticeable) on 'You Had Me At Hello' or 'The Ballad Of Emmerson Lonestar' but were good on 'The Hale Bop' and 'Sister Everett'. I love 'Radlands' as an album, my favourite of the year quite comfortably and the way these songs were received it was clear I'm not alone. Maybe it was fitting to have a gospel choir as with this audience, they were preaching to the converted. The campfire-tale of 'You Had Me At Hello' was listened to with a hushed awe, the country-and-western disco of 'The Hale Bop' danced along to. A second guest appeared for 'Sister Everett', Johnny Lloyd from Tribes. He stayed for 'Veiled In Grey', the first song of the night from 2008's 'Twenty One'. Mystery Jets are a static band on stage, they let the songs speak for themselves and this track shows their abilities perfectly. Gorgeous, warm guitars building to a big wall of sound finish. I've used the words 'joyous' and 'communal' already and I have to mention again just what a good crowd it was. Smiles all round on people's faces. It really did feel like a special occasion as opposed to just another night of the tour. Title track 'Radlands' and 'Take Me Where The Roses Grow' followed and were performed equally as perfect as all that had gone before.
If Mystery Jets had a signature tune it would be 'Young Love', which picked up a lot of radio play and featured Laura Marling who went on to Mercury Music Prize and Brit Award recognition. She's not introduced prior to the song, instead walking on and taking to the microphone just in time to do her bit. A knowing bit of stage-craft as people are kept guessing as to whether she'll be there or not. To be honest, she didn't seem too in to it, standing with a look of disinterest but maybe that's just her way... She stays for 'Flakes', a beautiful song and an amazing moment as we sing along, arms aloft, swaying in time. A highlight amongst highlights as Blaine sings it with such emotion.
Flakes (with lyrics) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcCkbIeXQho
We arrive at the close of the show with the last two tracks of Radlands. (The only one not to be played from the album, for no discernible reason to me is, 'The Nothing'). 'Lost In Austin' is 6 minutes of majesty. At the risk of overstating it slightly, hearing it live is absolutely transcendent. Utter perfection. Musically, lyrically, emotionally. Huge, huge song. When they finish, they inform us that the next song will be the last one. I can't help but shout out 'play that one again, then!'. They in fact end with Luminesence, bringing us down to Earth with the downbeat, yearning, lost-love lament.
'You still swim around the canals in my head like cocaine
And yes it feels good, but not half as it would had you stayed
The older I get, a step closer to forgetting your name
But I won't,
No I won't'
Setlist (via Setlist FM- http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mystery-jets/2012/royal-festival-hall-london-england-7bda3ed4.html);
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Jet (Paul McCartney & Wings cover)
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The Hale Bop (With The Marfa Lights Gospel Choir)
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You Had Me At Hello (With Choir)
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The Ballad of Emmerson Lonestar (With Choir)
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Sister Everett (With Choir and Johnny Lloyd of Tribes)
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Veiled in Grey (With Johnny Lloyd of Tribes)
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Take Me Where The Roses Grow (With Sophie-Rose Harper of The Night)
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Young Love (With Laura Marling)
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Flakes (With Laura Marling)
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- Encore:
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