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The Jesus And Mary Chain – Sidewalking
Coachella
Indio, CA
4/27/07
Probably the biggest rock related highlight of 2007 was the reformation, if only temporary, of the mighty The Jesus and the Mary Chain. I was fortunate to see them four times on their stateside junket. Their set consisted of about two songs off of each album plus a new (and excellent) song along with a Syd Barret cover of “Vegetable Man”. Heaven to me, but onstage things seemed to be a bit rocky. The Reid brothers’ tempers are well documented and breaking-up onstage (again) felt like a palpable possibility. The first three times I saw them, on numerous occasions, it seemed they were only a porcupine’s wink from snapping and storming off stage. This video, taken at Coachella, is one of those points. If you listen carefully to the end of this sloppy execution of “Sidewalking” Jim Reid punctuates the set with “that was a travesty”. The fourth show (second night at Webster Hall) that I saw marked a considerable improvement in onstage demeanor and it even appeared that the Reid brothers were actually starting to have a good time. I sure hope those good vibes continued such that they head into the studio and record new material.
Download: The Jesus And Mary Chain – Sidewalking (Live Video)
I think I can see myself in the crowd shots! It pays to be freakishly tall.