Jim Jones is an artist who clearly relishes causing consternation among his followers. Having disbanded the mighty Jim Jones Revue at the end of 2014, his return with new band, The Righteous Mind, via the video release of 1000 Miles From The Sure – a kaleidoscopic reading of country music – wrong-footed a number of people convinced that Jones had given up the ramalama for good.
Yet, as evidenced by tonight’s performance at the climax of the band’s debut UK tour, you second-guess Jones at your peril. While the sheer, visceral onslaught of his previous band has been dialed back a shade, Jim Jones And The Righteous Mind paint from a wider palette as they gloriously draw from a deep well of roots influences that include blues, gospel, a cappella chain gang chants and psychedelia. Garnished with a sense of voodoo menace, the ingredients all make for a heady and intoxicating stew.
Explosive opener Aldecide and current single Boil Yer Blood find Jones in familiar territory as the band unleash their sonic force, but it’s with Til It’s All Gone and the percussion-heavy grooves of No Fool that the new vision comes sharply into focus. Augmented by Bad Seeds’ drummer Jim Sclavunos – sitting in for an indisposed Phil Martini – the rhythms become increasingly hypnotic as they methodically draw the audience in. The triptych of Shallow Grave, Save My Life and 1000 Miles From The Sure bring the pace down yet increase the tension as Jones croons with both menace and authority, while Gavin Jay moves from electric to stand-up bass.
By the time they reach the electrifying finale of Walk It Out, Jim Jones And The Righteous Mind have whipped up an eager crowd dancing to music they’ve never heard before. At this rate, it’ll soon be as loved as it’s known.
