Right Here, Right Now, Jesus Jones Completed Their Previously Postponed Show At Evanston’s SPACE

Mar 29, 2024 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By James Currie

Jesus Jones was one of those bands in high school and college years that made an impact as being something original, new and part of my generation. The late 80’s and early 90’s produced music that was ours, not our parents rock n roll or older brothers and sisters 80’s hair metal. This new wave of hybrid music hailing from the UK was as interesting fun as you could get in college clubs and dance halls. The new sound mix of danceable tracks fuzed rock music with house, techno and EDM creating this new alternative dance music that also had tinges of the industrial sound coming from the Chicago Wax Trax collaborative.

Tonight, one of the leaders of that new sound, Jesus Jones, made its return the the US and fulfilling a previous promise to play. Now on their 35th Anniversary tour, they have a much larger tour in play. This show originally was scheduled to play last year but due to the American visa process debacles, it was moved to today. Today, Jesus Jone’s played their highly anticipated show on Chicago’s northshores of Evanston in the downtown suburbs crown jewel club, SPACE. The intimate venue only holds about 250-300 people and this turn out was packed to the back walls as fans from all over the Chicagoland area turned out.

As I waited patiently in the front row against the stage with my trusty camera, I made a couple new friends. A lovely woman on my right informed me that she goes out to shows all the time. That this was her life. Even as a teen, her parents questioned how much she went to shows. She said, “This is just me, my life” and further stated, “I can’t imaging not going to concerts. Here I am in my 50’s and still doing it. I guess I’ll never grow up. Jesus Jone’s is just one of those gotta get out a see and hear live bands, so here I am.” I asked what her first show was she told me Duran Duran and ever since then it’s been none stop. A gentleman on my left pretty much stated the same that concerts are a way of life for him and that small club shows like this at SPACE are what he is passionate about. He said, “Honestly, I really only know one song from Jesus Jones, but that’s good enough for me to get out and see them live. I love this place so I already know it’s going to be a good one.” The lights dim, the crowd amps up and the band takes the stage. The band from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire took the stage and we came to attention welcoming the electro British beats.

Front man, Mike Edwards (60) greets the house stating, “We’re a tribute band playing some hits tonight, but to be honest, many of you probably don’t know that we never went anywhere.” The band never went away. Since they started back in 1988 they’ve been playing live (mostly in the UK) and releasing music throughout this time. To some critics they are considered one hit wonders, but tonight disproved that to all.

They started with “Move Mountains”. Their first song off their first album, “Liquidizer and continued on with tracks throughout their catalog including the “hits” most mainstream market would know like “International Bright Young Thing”, “Real, Real, Real” and of course “Right Here, Right Now”. The later of which, was not the encore or final song of the night proving they have much more to offer than just the MTV 120 Minutes hit.

One of the first things I noticed about this performance was this band is out to prove they aren’t just a one hit wonder, or a band trolling out the oldies. They were fierce! Musically and aesthetically, they were on it, tight, great audience interaction and had the prowess of bands much younger. Flanking both sides of the stage were Jesus Jones’ anchors. Al Doughty on bass on stage right and Iain Baker on keys stage left. Doughty (58) bounced around the tiny stage like a spider monkey. Jumping off the monitors and skyhopping with the best of them. Baker (59) smashing his keyboard and swinging it around like it was bad punishing the digital ivories with no content.

Hidden in the back, barely visible even from the front, was Gen (60). The original drummer back in the seat driving the band along. Amazing the sounds he produced with such a small kit and tight space.

Guitarist Jerry De Borg (64) was mister cool. Sharing center stage with Edwards, he never lost his composure grinding out his guitar effects for all to marvel.

Singer Mike Edwards sounds a good as ever. The songs like they sounded 35 years ago. He played off his bandmates brilliantly. Kept the songs lively and truly completed the sound of Jesus Jones proving again that age is but a number for these striking lads.

As good as this show was, I can’t help but fantasize how much greater this could have been in a larger venue with even more fans. Something outdoor maybe. Like at Riot Fest. The crowds would have really went wild. The sounds much fuller. The stage much larger for the band to command. Fingers cross this may come to be someday as they would be a great fit for that festival.