I agree about Veiled In Grey … the gig was already going well, but when they played that one, it all just seemed to step up a gear. It’s such a brilliant song about the very British tendency to skirt around awkward topics. I remember one time they closed a show at the Shepherd’s Bush empire with this song - not the most obvious choice you might think, but it worked so well because the way they play it, it really rocks!
Mystery Jets were one of the first bands I fell properly in love with that I still listen to today, and 3 years ago, I booked tickets to see them for the first time in a tent in the middle of a square in Manchester with about 150 other people.
That was one of the first gigs I’d been to where I made the decision to go, payed a measly 5 pounds, counted down the days for months, and then queued for over an hour to make sure I was at the front. Despite the fact nobody started queuing until about 20 minutes before anyway. It remains one of the best gigs I’ve been to, I got crushed up against the stage and was bruised for weeks, I wept like a child in Flakes and my throat hurt in ridiculous amounts from singing every word.
But it was worth it.So now, 3 years (and thankfully a heap more maturity) later, seeing Mystery Jets take the stage at Brixton Academy was quite a big deal for me.
I felt just an overwhelming sense of pride at the fact this band I’ve loved since I was about 14 were playing such an incredible, and prestigious venue.
I was actually in a pretty foul mood most of the day and evening of the gig, due to some ill advised drinking the night before. But as soon as they came on stage I felt brilliant. The set, with it’s desert back drop complete with setting sun, mountains and stars was beautiful. The setlist was a perfect mix of old and new (with the exception of no Making Dens, but I’ll forgive them of that), they were as musically tight as I’ve ever seen them, the crowd were singing every word and dancing like their life depended on it and the little addition of Henry was lovely.
Highlights for me had to be Veiled In Grey, probably my favourite song of theirs. It’s usually the highlight every time I see Mystery Jets and never fails to put a huge smile on my face and make my feet sore from too much dancing. Lost In Austin was another. The only way to describe it, even though it makes me sound idiotic, is HUGE. It was brilliant.
But when it came to the very end of the night, when I didn’t think I could dance much more or sing anything else, Flakes was played. I already adore this song and seeing every single hand in the air and hearing every single person singing along was emotional enough. Until the confetti starting raining down. At that point there were tears in my eyes and a smile plastered across my face that I still haven’t been able to get rid of.
What a night.
