Credit: underexposed.org.uk

May 30 2006
King’s College, London

Look closely enough and you just might be able to see the angel and devil which sit brooding on each of Anton Newcombe’s shoulders. Brian Jonestown Massacre’s live performances are governed by the twin rulers of their Californian ringmaster.

Depending on which muse takes him, Newcombe leads his circus through moments of pure genius, petulance and even shoe-gazing boredom. Newcombe shuffled on stage with the devil for Brian Jonestown’s claustrophobic gig at King’s College.

Wearing a Sherlock Holmes deer stalker hat, he accepted the applause then did nothing, except absentmindedly bait the crowd as he fixed his microphone: “Talk amongst yourselves. Do you want me to just entertain you?”

Some clearly did and shouted for the band to play a song. Amateurs – didn’t they know heckling Newcombe is like feeding fresh meat to a tank of piranhas?

“Fuck yourselves. I don’t do what English people tell me to do. We have a truck load of Albanians who are going to kick your ass.”  

Suddenly after 10 minutes of slurred banter, Newcombe flicked a switch and hurled his patiently waiting band-mates headlong into the set with humming opener “Whoever You Are.”

Collin Hegna’s intoxicating bass weaved with prodigal guitarist Ricky Maymi’s seemingly directionless riffs, Daniel Allaire’s clashing drums and Newcombe’s stoned-out vocals.

Joel – the San Francisco equivalent of Bez – is also back in the band and stood centre stage, smoking through his huge bearded jowls with tambourine in hand.

Together the band plundered their brilliant back catalogue, inspired by the Stones, Ride and Spacemen 3, drawing the crowd in with classics
“When Jokers Attack,” and “Servo.”

Brian Jonestown Massacre’s scuzzy psychedelia relies upon the triple guitars of Newcombe, Maymi and Frankie Teardrop and their ability to conjure a sense of oblivion.

In a musical landscape where Arctic Monkey’s three-minute spunk is the norm, it is rare to watch a band like Brian Jonestown absorb themselves in such hypnotic guitar journeys. And when they get it right, their music is a hot shot that lasts long enough to make you forget where you are and who you came with.