After a relatively long break, indie favourites Mystery Jets have returned from the United States armed with new album 'Radlands', due for release on the 30th April. As part of the return to promote their fourth studio album, the London outfit have embarked upon a UK tour, which visits the more intimate venues across the country. With a slightly different line up to the last time they toured, the Jets arrived at a sold out Tunbridge Wells forum to showcase why they are so popular in the indie-pop world.
Before the Mystery Jets, support group Peace walked on stage to warm up the already pumped up younger members of the audience. With the manifesto, "MUSIC TO GRIND, ROLL & SMOKE / MUSIC TO FUCK YOU IN THE HEART” the four-piece from Birmingham were just the act needed to get the crowd riled up. They have been compared to bands like Wu Lyf and Foals but they have more about them than comparisons to those acts. Their blend of dark melodic indie is well rehearsed and you can tell from very early on in the set that they are very assured and confident. With support slots alongside The Vaccines, this recent run of gigs with the Mystery Jets and the main support on the Manic Street Preachers European tour approaching, this confidence is justified.
They are a tight outfit led by Harrison Koisser, a young man who could not look more like a front man if he tried. Sporting a heavy fur inspired jacket, the young lead singer’s voice fits perfectly over the band and as the impressive set progresses, he shows more and more range. The final two songs of the set are the standout numbers. Penultimate track ‘Bblood’ has a guitar riff to excite anyone, and combining this with Afro-beat drums and the continuing growling vocals of Koisser, makes for a fantastic listen. Final track and recent single ‘Follow Baby’ is the song of the set, helped by the crowds familiarity of the song, a thrashier guitar part is matched by vocals shrouded in angst and emotion, a brilliant end to a great set. Although the band did not communicate with the audience that much they really let their music do the talking and it is safe to say things will only get bigger for these boys.
The capacity crowd at the Tunbridge Wells Forum are getting agitated as the soundman/roadie continues to come onto an empty stage just as you think ‘this is it.’ After several appearances, the man disappears, the lights go off and the sound of classic guitar music from the south west of America fills the room. As the band, enter one-by-one the cheers get louder for each of the five members, as the soundtrack peters to an end, the delicate guitar riff of new single ‘Someone Purer’ kicks things off. The new single gets a good reception particularly the catchy chorus, which more diehard fans recite fully. The familiar vocal harmonies that are ever present with Mystery Jets songs gives the less familiar fans a chance to ‘woop’ along to get the set off to a good start.
 Older track ‘Half in Love with Elizabeth’ spark the already vent up crowd into a frenzy, the venue is almost lifting off as the happy younger fans at the front frantically bound around whilst joining in with any vocal harmony on offer. The more synth infused title track from their third album ‘Serotonin’ keeps that terrific energy going. Lead singer Blaine Harrison addresses the crowd for the first time to tell the crowd they were going to hear some other new tracks from their forthcoming album. Since the last tour and even after the recording of the fourth album the setup of the band has changed with fan favourite and bass player Kai Fish amicably leaving the band. Fish has been replaced by Peter Cochrane who on first look seems to fit nicely alongside his new band mates, which now includes cowboy hat wearing Mr Matt Parks on the pedal steel. Cochrane looks a little nervy but delivers when it comes to playing the bass lines that Fish created albeit without the same levels of energy and charisma that Kai exerted.
The first new track ‘Greatest Hits’ opens with an intro reminding me of the Steelers Wheel classic ‘Stuck in the Middle of You,’ however this is where the comparison ends. It’s a very happy track that bobs along very nicely with the acoustic guitar of Blaine showing that American influence, that has inspired 'Radlands'. Complete with some sing-a-long “Sha la la’s” the crowd almost treat it like an old song, a clear sign that they have still got it. Following up with ‘The Hale Bop’ the clearly American influenced track allows Will Rees to take on main vocal duties. Sporting a stars and stripes shirt under a leather jacket, lead guitarist Will’s vocals have a different tone that fits in nicely at this point of the set. The tempo remains upbeat and fast and the high pitched backing vocals from various other members of the band give it an almost gospel feel.
Introduced as a “love song” by Blaine older track ‘Melt’ goes down well and leads very nicely into the title track from the new album ‘Radlands.’ The track builds up beautifully from the soft guitar intro and lone vocals of Harrison into more climatic chorus’ full of emotion and feelings before settling back into those soft tones that define the verses. Another new track ‘Sister Everett’ is dedicated to the “wonderful” support act and “bros” Peace. It is guitarist Rees who again takes on the lead vocal role but it is the funky bass line from new bassist Cochrane that gives the song a real funky edge at the start. The song takes another sort of gospel turn full of apparent religious connotations with “Sister Everett” and “Mother Mary” having the lead roles in the story of this song. The new songs are greeted with mass applause and appreciation but an airing of ‘Veiled in Grey’ is lapped up by the excited fans, particularly at the front of the tiny venue.
As if the crowd were not already worked up enough the unmistakable bass line that defines ‘Young Love’ sends the place into overdrive. Every word of the song is bellowed back at the band as the track, which has to be considered one of the best indie anthems of the last 10 years, goes down a treat. It’s a really good moment in the set and how best to follow that up than with ‘Two Doors Down.’ A track from a similar mould as ‘Young Love’ Blaine encourages the packed out venue to participation but there really is no need for an invitation as the audience vocals actually kick the song off. A clear split in the crowd means the bounding younger members at the front are in their absolute element as much as the more reserved members towards the back who are bawling the lyrics back just as powerfully.
Penultimate track ‘Show Me the Light’ continues the frantic storm that the last few songs have created and as the set is coming to a close the Forum is at fever pitch. The atmosphere has been fantastic throughout and there are not many better sights than seeing this brilliant small venue rocking. Closing the set with a new track could potentially put a downer on the atmosphere that has built up but in ‘Lost in Austin’ there is no danger of this happening. Although it is a slower number, the build-up is patient and meaningful and the passionate vocals of Harrison during the chorus’ give the song a real powerful edge. It is a special song that evidently means a lot to Harrison and although the majority of the song keeps the more mellow tone, it is the big chorus’ that really stand out. A really good closing track to what has been a very good gig from the departing Jets.
After a brief break away from stage, the Mystery Jets gives the hollering fans what they want by returning to an enormous response. This reaction is matched perfectly by song of the night ‘Alice Springs.’ From their third album, this song is executed to perfection and the various sounds that shape the song bounce off every nook and cranny in the building. It is nothing sort of brilliant and emphatically cements itself as the best track of what has already been an impressive set. The song is followed up well by ‘Flash a Hungry Smile’ and final track of the night ‘Flakes.’ The fan favourite sees the 200 strong crowd swaying from side to side in appreciation of ‘Flakes.’ A top draw encore leaving the fans feeling satisfied as they leave Tunbridge Wells Forum.NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
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