The Jesus And Mary Chain and The Psychedelic Furs, Alt-Rock Legends, make a beautiful noise in New York

Two of the most beloved and popular bands of the ’80s post-punk era — and coincidentally fronted by two brothers each — shared the same stage on Saturday night at New York’s Brooklyn Paramount. The joint tour of Jesus and Mary Chain and Psychedelic Furs touched down in the Big Apple for the second of two nights that paid homage to their glorious past and recent, forward-looking work.

Led by Scottish brothers Jim and William Reid, the Jesus and Mary Chain performed a mind-blowing array of classics and new material from their latest excellent studio album. Glasgow eyes. Since its historic debut in 1985 PsychoJAMC forged a memorable body of work that combined influences like the Velvet Underground, The Stooges and ’60s girl group/Phil Spector with dark, ominous lyrics – evoked by Jim’s deadpan, weary vocals and Jim’s feedback-soaked guitar. William. They were all on full display during an hour of glorious JAMC rock that kicked off with “Jamcod” – one of the songs from the new record – followed by popular favorites like “Head On,” “Blues From a Gun” and “Some Sweet Talking.” Even the reflective “Sometimes Always” (with singer Frankie Rose – who opened both shows that night – playing Hope Sandoval’s part from the original studio version) took on a more urgent, live-rock intensity; Meanwhile, the new songs, like “Venal Joy” and “Chemical” Animal, blended perfectly with the older songs. The band’s set ended with the classic “Just Like Honey” and the explosive epic finale “Reverence”. Especially seeing and hearing them live, JAMC arguably provided the blueprint for many future alternative bands, including Nine Inch Nails and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

In contrast to JAMC, Psychedelic Furs’ music, featuring co-founders/brothers Richard and Tim Butler, had a slightly lighter tone, but no less bold. Just like the band that preceded them on stage, the Furs opened their set not with a popular song, but with a relatively recent track. In their case, it was “The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll”, from the band’s excellent 2020 comeback album Made of rain. After that, the set consisted mostly of popular Furs material (“The Ghost in You,” “Love My Way,” “Heartbreak Beat” and signature song “Pretty in Pink”) and deep cuts from the album (among them “ Mr. Jones”, “Pulse”, “Only You and I” and “All That Money Wants”). Their hour-long set ended on an exuberant note with the uplifting “Heaven,” from their 1984 album. Mirror movementswhich turns 40 this year. Singer Richard Butler remained a magnetic presence with his distinctive raspy vocals and was accompanied by the robust bass work of his brother Tim. Nearly 50 years after the group’s formation, the Furs’ music – the vital soundtrack for teenagers growing up in the 80s, as portrayed in the films of John Hughes – still felt fresh and relevant.

The Jesus and Mary Chain

Song list:

Jamcode

April skies

Head on

Happy when it rains

All things must pass

Chemical Animal

Some sweets talking

Far and away

venal joy

Blues from a gun

Sidewalk

In a hole

Sometimes Always (with Frankie Rose)

Nine million rainy days

I like Cindy

Just like honey

Reverence

The psychedelic skins

Song list:

The boy who invented rock and roll

So end

The ghost in you

Everything money wants

Just you and me

Wrong train

I love my way

Everything about the Law

President Gas

Beautiful in pink

Mr.Jones

Pulse

Beat of heartbreak

Paradise