Michael Manion

I’m not really sure what the premise of the Download Festival was or if it even qualifies to be a festival since it was held indoors at the Gibson Amphitheatre. Something was seriously amiss, but I really didn’t care since I was going to see the Chain, man. I arrived during Gang of Four’s set which was totally entertaining and not because of the music. The amphitheatre was half empty and the crowd was so diverse–it felt like a pep rally at an adult high school. Gang of Four played “Man in Uniform” in the middle of their set and at the end, too. Oh, that made me laugh.

After Gang of Four, the stage hands rotated the stage for Jesus and Mary Chain too quickly and the band was forced to begin their set with the background music still on. It was silly. But the brothers Reid rolled with the folly and just ripped into “Snake Eyes” with all the determination and assumption of a real gig, and I was quickly reminded to forget the weirdness of the event and focus on the legend that is Jesus and Mary Chain.

JAMC played the hits including my favorite “Cracking Up” and “Sidewalking” and even the new song “All Things Must Pass,” which fit perfectly into their repertoire and didn’t seem a departure from their original sound. Actually, they played it twice in a row because that’s what kind of gig it was. And I must say, the shyness of Jim Reid during the late 80’s has transformed into a current confident aloofness that gives the band a super solid feeling. His brother, William, still rocking the token poofy hair, has rounded out a bit (is he on the same meal plan as Robert Smith?), but still just embodies all dimensions of cool. Thank you JAMC, I love you.

– Jennifer Brandon