FRESH from the release of their newest album Every Now And Then, Jagwar Ma return to Glasgow in mesmerising fashion with a triumphant gig that cements their status as a truly compelling live act.
Having built on the success of their debut Howlin’, the latest album captures the sounds of a band who are only getting stronger, mixing anthems with entrancing jams while boasting a sense of accomplished musicianship. Known for their homages to the Madchester scene, they attract a mixed crowd to the Art School who are keen to embrace a night of acid house throwbacks and feel-good summery vibes.
As the first night of their UK tour, this is the first opportunity to see many of the new tracks live and they don’t disappoint. Starting unassumingly with the airy sounds of ‘Don’t Make It Right’, it isn’t long before the heavy synths and pulsating electronics kick in and set a tone for the evening. While frontman Gabriel Winterfield provides a focal point with his compelling, earnest vocal delivery, it is Jono Ma who maintains the rhythm of the night behind him with his looping grooves, frantically working away with samples and programmed drums with hugely dense arrangements that are able to control the flow of the set. With tracks often elongated, their fleshed out psychedelic wig outs are perfect for the live setting with Ma able to distort songs as he sees fit in DJ-style, recalling a Stone Roses gig with their extended jams.
The leading single of their new album ‘OB1’ gets the first big reaction of the night with its powerful harmonies and infectiously upbeat chorus. It appears to inject energy into Winterfield who begins to project out to the crowd and become visibly taken over by the music. An angsty take on ‘Man I Need’ from Howlin’ follows, sounding meatier and more forceful when fleshed out live, before new track ‘Give Me A Reason’ provides a highlight of the night. Poppy, blissful vocals shine over syncopated beats, starting off fairly stripped back before layers of instrumentation and echoed refrains brings us back to the psychedelic sounds that we’re used to. Starting off with a devilishly infectious melody, it falls into funky pop territory before divulging into a swirling heady wig out, sounding like a modern day ‘Fool’s Gold’. Dancing breaks out and it’s not long before the crowd are moving ‘to the left and right’ as instructed.
Gradually winning the crowd over with each song, old favourite ‘Come Save Me’ has the room finally losing themselves as they’ve threatened to all night. Its sweet Beach Boys style vocals and catchy, anthemic chorus are impossible not to love, showing the band at their most poppy and fun. Keen to make the most of the swelling atmosphere, it is accentuated in true Jagwar Ma style but stays true to its strong melodies and singalong refrains throughout. An energetic and spirited take on ‘Slipping‘ closes the main set which incites a massive crowd reaction before an excellent encore featuring new favourite ‘Ordinary’, a random Talking Heads singalong and a triumphant take on ‘The Throw’. Following a low-key start, the party atmosphere is in full throttle by this point having cleverly roused the crowd with each song. It’s as if the set follows a classic party narrative; the beginning and end are so very different.
With little chat in between, Winterfield allows for a moment of sincerity among the fun by taking a moment to thank everyone for ‘making their dreams come true’. Discussing the nervousness of bringing out a new record after so long, it seems they have nothing to worry about if tonight is anything to go by. Every Now And Then sees the band revel in their influences even further while simultaneously adding greater scope and depth to their music. More than just nineties revivalists, they are able to deftly balance the old and the fresh; bringing together influences from different genres, nations and time periods in expert fashion. A band that must be seen live to appreciate, it all comes to life in true technicolour, hedonistic fashion.
