Mystery Jets
w/ Jeremy Warmsley + We Are Trees
18.10.06 @ Glee Club, Cardiff

Assembled as we are, a bunch of proles from all walks of life but mainly of a life that follows UK indie music with a passion, and especially the pursuits and antics of those bands who hail from the magical and mystical world of Eel Pie Island in lowly London. Assembled we are in the plush surroundings of the “Premier venue for comedy in Cardiff” to witness The Mystery Jets on their “acoustic” tour (The amount of lighting and modern finish on everything in this venue really spits in the face of no electricity) with support from Jeremy Warmsley. The only comedy on show tonight is from the local outfit that like to go by the name of We Are Trees and sing songs in the vein of Simply Red with a mild Welsh lilt.

Jeremy Warmsley takes to the stage with the fallout of polite chatter settling as he rips straight into mega single of the year ‘5 Verses’. No full band backing, just minimal massive delightful voice and understated guitar strumming. Between song banter is nervous and funny and ever so slightly awkward at times serving only to endear you to the man onstage, singing tales of woe and hope that fit moments to fill the gaps of wandering thought about the menial issues of the day. A run through of all the singles from the recently released album (a fact mentioned at least four times this evening and with good reason, it is a fine album to own) and switching between keyboard and guitar for accompaniment. The magic of Jeremy is the way he captivates the audience with his vocal range, crafted melody and turn of phrase, jaws are dropped and eyes are filled with awe. A triumph of British musical talent that is appreciated with such warmth on this most special of occasions is capped with a gorgeous performance of ‘I Believe in the Way that you Move’. Truly the perfect end to a set that displays the remarkable ability of Jeremy to slip in and out of solo and full band mode. Catch him while you can and you too can take home a happiness and satisfaction that all is well when you have Jeremy and his collection of songs.

On to the main deal, the concept of this tour, titled ‘The Powercut Serenades’ is a short tour of “different” venues for The Mystery Jets to bring their oh-so-magical music on a tour that befits the quieter moments of their extensive repertoire and to bring new light through reinterpretations of classics, such as ‘The Boy Who Ran Away’. Such an overly red-lit venue with its extravagant fixtures and fittings gives an impression of whoever booked the tour venues ever so marginally missing the point. That said, the MJs work with it and kick off with an extended intro to their greatest B-side ‘Scarecrows in the Rain’. The rest of the set incorporates their recent Syd Barret covers which were put together for a recent Syd tribute event and as is the nature and purpose of this tour, also affords the luxury of playing old gems and new material. This is more a treat for the collected audience than a self-indulgence for the band. ‘Behind the Bun House’ is a sombre and reflective song that comforts on so many levels and is perfect MJs converging lines of melody and harmony into one cacophonous rapture. A request for more was duly met with an encore of ‘Soluble in Air’ which drops such an ache of satisfaction and delight upon all that everyone is putty in their hands.

Review by James Ainsworth