It’s a testament to Anton Newcombe and the Brian Jonestown Massacre that after 20 albums, 5 compilations, 5 live albums, 14 EPs, and 22 singles (and almost as many former members) that the collective are still able to play to an almost sold-out Brixton Academy, 35 years after their formation. Delivering a sprawling, hypnotic performance that reaffirmed their place as one of psych’s most captivating live acts, they took the Sunday night crowd on a transcendent journey through their vast catalogue.
Opening with ‘Maybe Make It Right’, they immediately immersed the audience in their signature swirling guitars and hypnotic rhythms. From there, they launched into ‘Vacuum Boots’ and ‘That Girl Suicide’, a one-two punch of early material that set a nostalgic tone for the evening. The sonic landscapes grew in stature with ‘Do Rainbows Have Ends’ and ‘#1 Lucky Kitty’ both showcasing the band’s ability to balance dreamy melodies with the American’s group’s undercurrent of restless energy.
Newcombe, ever the enigmatic frontman, was in fine form, his vocals exuding both intensity and effortless cool, with his well-oiled machine of a band playing with an effortless synergy, each member contributing to the intricate layers of sound that filled the reopened venue.
‘When Jokers Attack’ and ‘Anemone’ were undeniable highlights and came together halfway through as a solid one-two punch that really got the Sunday crowd going, the latter sending waves of euphoria. Joel Gion meanwhile, his presence as iconic as the songs themselves, was wielding his tambourine as the momentum built through to Nevertheless and Pish, a more recent track that has become one of the band’s best.
Joakim Åhlund, longtime collaborator and Swedish musician, then joined the band onstage for ‘Vad Hände Med Dem?’ before the closing stretch featured ‘Forgotten Graves’ and ‘A Word’, before ‘Super-Sonic’ ended the night on an exhilarating high. The final chords echoed through South London as the band left the stage to thunderous applause.
The Brian Jonestown’s ability to create an immersive live experience remains unparalleled and this Brixton gig was a masterclass in psychedelia, intensity, and raw musical craftsmanship.
For the first time in two years, American singer-songwriter Jesse Malin returns to London after suffering a rare spinal stroke in 2023 that left him paralysed from the waist down, abruptly halting a career built on decades of restless touring.
In September 2024, a tribute album titled ‘Silver Patron Saints’ was released, featuring reinterpretations of Malin’s songs by fellow rock and roll royalty including Bruce Springsteen, Counting Crows and Billie Joe Armstrong. As with the tribute album, proceeds from Malin’s two London shows will go directly toward supporting his continued medical treatment. These Islington Assembly Hall gigs were a homecoming, and the feeling in the crowd was of pure love and affection.
We were presented with Jesse seated in the centre of the stage, however after a handful of songs, he stood up and the crowd went crazy. As a natural orator, he piled us with plenty of candid comments and intimate stories putting us all at immediate ease with his fragile state. Renown for his signature blend of rock, Americana, and punk, his 2-hour set of 24 songs had a fair few tracks from 2015’s ‘New York Before the War’ as well as highlighting different eras of his solo career, with nods to his punk roots in D Generation and Heart Attack.
Not only running through fan favourites, Jesse Malin and his band hit us with a few covers, ‘Sway’ by The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith’s ‘Free Money’ and one from The Pogues (If I Should Fall From Grace With God), as well as bringing legendary British folk singer-songwriter Billy Bragg on stage to sing ‘Ameri'ka’ and The Clash’s ‘Rudie Can't Fail’. We also had The Only Ones frontman Peter Perrett following on from Billy with their 1978 hit ‘Another Girl, Another Planet’ and a heartfelt message from him to Jesse.
You could tell his fans weren’t just there to hear the songs they loved. They came to stand by an artist whose vulnerability and courage have become as vital to his story as his lyrics. Jesse thanked everyone for coming out for him and, even more miraculously, walked (zimmer frame-assisted) off stage to raucous applauds.
Set list:
1. I Would Do It for You
2. Oh Sheena
3. Addicted
4. Downliner
5. If I Should Fall From Grace With God (The Pogues cover)
6. Room 13
7. Turn Up the Mains
8. The Way We Used to Roll
9. She Don't Love Me Now
10. Free Money (Patti Smith cover)
11. Brooklyn (Bellvue song)
12. The Archer (Jesse Malin & The Saint Marks Social cover)
13. State of the Art
14. Black Haired Girl
15. All the Way From Moscow (Jesse Malin & The Saint Marks Social cover)
16. She's So Dangerous
17. Sway (The Rolling Stones cover)
18. Wendy
19. Meet Me at the End of the World
20. Shining Down (with Aaron Lee Tasjan)
21. Ameri'ka (with Billy Bragg)
22. Rudie Can't Fail (The Clash cover) (with Billy Bragg)
23. Another Girl, Another Planet (The Only Ones cover) (with Peter Perrett)
24. You Know It's Dark When Atheists Start to Pray
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