Mystery Jets

Scala, London - 24 Apr 2008

by Jon Fletcher

Mystery Jets emerge from the novelty shadow for their second coming

"Singer Blaine Harrison continues to emulate Robert Smith’s look, though the band’s sound these days is often more Bananarama than The Cure"

The bar in Scala is eerily empty when we arrive and for a brief moment, we wonder whether the Mystery Jets’ return will be an almighty flop. When we walk into the main room, it’s immediately clear that the opposite is true. Despite the fact that bland inter-band electro is still being pumped out while the stage is set up, the auditorium is heaving, fans packing the steps at either side and crouched uncomfortably on the seats at the back underneath the low ceiling.

The enthusiasm is understandable – Mystery Jets’ sophomore album ‘Twenty One’ is a pop tour de force and the promise of hearing 80s-influenced songs like ‘Two Doors Down’ live is enough to persuade fans to forgo queues at the bar in favour for bagging a good position to watch the band.

The levels of anticipation are initially not matched by the band’s performance, album opener ‘Hideaway’ sounding oddly muted, but it’s one of only a few low points and the new tracks are soon rolling out in top form. Singer Blaine Harrison continues to emulate Robert Smith’s look, though the band’s sound is often more Bananarama than The Cure. The energy of tracks like ‘Half In Love With Elizabeth’ is enhanced live though ‘Young Love’ – a duet with young folkstress Laura Marling on record – struggles to live up to its easy going appeal without her.

By the time the band close on ‘Behind The Bunhouse’ – the beguiling, climbing, understated closer of the second album – they’ve done more than enough to sate the audience. Their return for a few songs from debut album ‘Making Dens’ feels more like a genuine encore than most and by the time they finish on ‘Zootime’, the band are almost drowned out by the audience.

There was a time when it felt as though the Mystery Jets were too steeped in novelty to ever be credible in the long term. All that stuff about hailing from Eel Pie Island and having Henry - Blaine’s silver-haired dad - strumming away on guitar felt like quirky bluster. He may have now retired from touring duties (though he joins the band on stage during the encore to assist with ‘You Can’t Fool Me Dennis’ and is still involved in the song writing), but you can’t help but feel that this is a band revelling in a new found freedom. On stage tonight, it works like a dream.

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