Jesus H. Foxx – Live at the Bowery, Edinburgh, Friday 27th March 2009
I haven’t mentioned Jesus H. Foxx much on these pages and that is because, if I’m being brutally honest, I had my doubts about them as a band. They were good, and they were lots of fun, but for the most part it seemed to lack a bit of something. The music could be very uniform and one-paced over the course of a whole gig. I wasn’t entirely convinced by the lyrics either; whilst they seemed to use them effectively as an instrument to provide rhythm and melody, they seemed to fare less well as actual words. They were using vocals, basically, rather than lyrics, if you know what I mean.
Well since then I’ve ended up chatting to the band from time to time, talked to other people involved and generally got to know them a little better and, you know what, they had similar concerns themselves for the most part. They weren’t entirely happy with playing an entire set of short, spiky pop songs and also weren’t entirely happy with being pigeonholed as the angular indie rock support band of choice for Edinburgh. They didn’t have the haircuts, for a start.
Over the last couple of years they’ve really worked worked hard to develop their sound, and they now sound like they are turning into the kind of band they want to be. No disrespect to earlier stages in their development, but to hear them talk about the music now, there’s a very solid, very believable confidence about them. Their new recordings sound extremely promising, so I was really excited to see them live for the first time in ages and judge for myself.
And in the end? Well, I was very impressed indeed. The music just sounds more sophisticated. They’ve shuffled the lineup a little, varied the pace greatly within their set, and they sound much more like a band who know where they’re going these days. There’s depth, I suppose I’d call it. They still have that bouncy, energy to call upon, aided by the raucous battering of twin drumkits, but they really are able to shift things around. The cornet is a welcome addition to the sound as well, as are the female vocal harmonies. It just all rounds things out nicely and gives a real presence to the music.
So now I am looking forward to their upcoming EP release really rather a lot. I reckon Jesus H. could make a real impact this year if they play their cards right. They have a base level of public awareness, general support from the grass-roots within the city, and now a good fistful of exciting new tunes they should really be able to make a splash with. And they’re from Edinburgh. And they aren’t alt-folk. Imagine!
Jesus H. Foxx – I’m Half the Man You Were (Old Version)
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Jesus H. Foxx – I’m Half the Man You Were (New Version)
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P.S. Apologies to the other bands on this bill, but I was finishing the Pictish Trail Toad Session and only arrived at the venue very late. So I’m not ignoring them, I just didn’t get there in time.
You know, i think i was getting these dudes mixed up with Aka The Fox. Are the latter still around, anyone?
i love your future reviews.
About time that you caught up with the rest of use Toad!
thats better
CuntyBear
ARTFAG!
Toad -why do you link to this blog via you avatar? are we not here already?
Wouldn’t it be a bit weird if he linked somewhere else?
nah….to a interesting link somewhere else maybe fun
Random link of the day!
Yeah – I kinda like that.
Matthew! Do this what Tom and me just said! Now!
and not to the fucking ballet
What he could do is link his avatar to whatever the headline thread is about.
So if it’s a band review it would obviously be their MySpace.
But if it was one of his random unpredictable rants he’d have to be a bit more creative..
Except that I never fill in the link. It is part of my WordPress user preferences and I am not changing it every time just to keep you cunts entertained. Also, I retain this login when I comment on other sites, so it makes sense to keep it.
Now shush.
Dance, monkey! Dance!
I remember once in Glasgow when Micah P. Hinson was playing and people started calling out tracks, as happens when folk love a band. He sneered ‘What, you think I’m a jukebox? I ain’t your monkey.’ at the crowd, and some wag flipped a pound coin at him. I’ve never seen someone’s face look so dark.
I really wanted to go and explain to him that in Scotland that was actually humour, but didn’t dare. Fortunately, it actually was a good crowd, so by the end of the gig he seemed to be mostly happy again, but Christ it was touch and go for a second there.
Glasgow crowds fuck me off big style…..
I honestly don’t think this was malicious. It was very confrontational humour, but Weegies can be like that. I’ve never really had a problem with Glasgow crowds myself, although I’ve never had my favourite band talked over before either.
and before anyone goes….but Tom you shout shite at bands…yes i do….but i know when to shut the fuck up….in Glasgow its de rigeur for some cunt to try and be the best pal of the band performing…..does me nut in….a couple of one liners are ok….but some pished up twat shouting some intelligible Glasgow shite is not my idea of fun.
It’s not just bands you shout shite at…
cheers…..
…i think!!!!!
I remember The French Quarter and their weegie radge mates nattering (When I say “nattering”; think junior school playground at lunchtime) all the way through the Glissando set that they had just supported for Trampoline at The Wee Red.
Now, many people reading this will be aware that Glissando aren’t my usual cup of Lapsang Souchong, and – on a personal level – I probably wouldn’t rush to see them again. However, dozens of other people had paid a fiver to get in that night so they could listen to, enjoy and appreciate what are a very quiet and atmospheric band.
I thought it was fucking rude, and utterly unacceptable from a band who had just appeared on the same bill.
It’s not even as if The French Quarter are actually any good..
ouch!
Jesus H. Foxx will be delighted to see the level of interest in their music that this thread has generated.
‘Oooh, look lads, 23 comments about…
…erm, total nonsense really.’
Well I thought they were good anyway.
do you like the ned-tastic French Quarter Mr Bear?
i always thought they were good……which i’ve drunkly told them on more than one occasion.
welcome to late show Mr Toad
I can’t really leave comments during the day, Chutters, so I kind of have to let you lot get on with it these days. I’ll chip in when I can.
Jesus H Foxx are one of my favorite bands in Scotland just now.
And therefore the world.
I missed this gig, and so haven’t seen the new line-up (is someone really playing a cornetto? Wouldn’t that melt?), and so didn’t really feel the need to comment. But I imagine they’ll be playing again some time in the not too distant future.
Friday at Sneaky’s.
What you should do is compile a weekly round-up of all the forthcoming gigs in the area.
Then you could publish it on some sort of web-based publishing diary-type interface tool.
Then you could encourage the general public to leave feedback and perhaps encourage banter and allow it to develop into a witty and humourous commentary.
Yes, that would be good.
That sounds shit, Dylan.
Who would read that?
Q-do you like the ned-tastic French Quarter Mr Bear?
A-nope
Losers, Bart.
Sad, sad losers.
Q-do you like the ned-tastic French Quarter Mr Bear?
A-nope
thank fuck for that…..i thought i was going to have to reassess our friendship
Jesus H Foxx are possibly the most exciting prospect of this year, michael’s let me hear most of the EP and it’s a fucking belter, and as matthew said “it’s not alt-folk”. can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a guitar band!
bart-come to the launch night on the 16th…it’ll be ace if this gig was anything to go by.
Q-do you like jesus h foxx mr bear
A-yup
Three-post Mentalism!!!!!!
(sorry, it had been a while)
wtf is alt folk………it’s all fucking music…..i’m up in arms……
what is mainstream folk
Mainstream folk mainly goes like this, doesn’t it, Tom?
Just that.
Over and over again.
and alt folk?
Bleep bleep, look at me, I’m an emo leprechaun.
oh all clear now!!!!!!
That’s the title for the next Meursault album sorted then.
Look At Me, I’m An Emo Leprechaun
No, I think that’s reserved for Chris’ solo project.
Is now a good time to mention the forthcoming Broken Records / Eagleowl side project?
No.
Cos that’s a prog funk odyssey, so has no relevance to this thread.
Because this thread is the very epitome of relevance…
Me and occasional Kays guitarist Chris are planning to start a prog / art rock band where we appear on a backlit stage where the front is entirely covered with a white screen, so the audience will see the entire performance in silhouette.
Nice.
Jesus H Foxx FTW
i’m a cunt
told you
*Weight of truth kills thread.*
and i came here thinking i was perhaps missing something…. oh nevermind
There have been a few occasions when long comment threads have indicated fascinating conversations on this site, Tart, but they have been few and far between. Statistically, I think it’s safe to apply the formula that the limit of the probability of a thread being infested with total garbage approaches one as the number of comments increases.