Live Review

John and Jehn – Captain’s Rest, Glasgow

• 18th Nov 2010

A small crowd assembled in the dimly lit basement of the Captain’s Rest for French duo John and Jehn’s first visit to Glasgow. The London based pair were given a warm Scots welcome, however. And by total coincidence, France were beating England at football on the tv in the bar upstairs as they played. That’s serendipity or something.

The attendance was in double figures, but only just, when Glasgow trio The Miss’s took on the task of getting things started. And a fine job they did too. With just an acoustic guitar to accompany their rich harmonies, the girls told tales of relationships gone bad, but with just a touch of humour. Assorted percussion effects were then added to the mix, giving a rich and more soulful sound. The Miss’s have real talent.

Another Glasgow band, B-Movie Junkies, were on next and they produced a fine set. They have a bass heavy sound, lightened at times by subtle keyboard parts, that crosses from pop into new wave. Singer Sharyl Alexander is very much front and centre of their music. Her vocals were strong and dynamic, aided by a great stage presence that has just a touch of that old punk attitude to it.

Lyrically their songs were perhaps a little repetitive at times, but this is clearly a talented group of musicians. The band is in the midst of line up changes at present, but when things settle down they will be well worth another look.

John and Jehn played a 45 minute set that was both interesting and entertaining. With more effects pedals than are usually seen in such a small venue they created an atmospheric range of sounds, mixing electronic experimentation with twin vocals to create a sound somewhat reminiscent of early Souxsie and the Banshees.

With two lead singers and an array of guitars that were passed between them, their craft and musicianship was clear to see. John and Jehn (or Nicolas Congé and Camille Berthomier as their mothers will know them) have a real chemistry and trade off each other as they play, each almost daring the other to go further into the sound.

Their new single, Down Our Streets, taken from the second album, Time For The Devil, was a highlight of the set. A keyboard intro gently set the scene before the guitars and vocals joined to produce what is a very catchy pop song. Shakes was also a fine track, with breathy vocals over a heavy bass line before the keyboard effects built and finally a treble heavy guitar riff took the song to a climax.

The audience may have been small, but they enjoyed John and Jehn’s classy set. Electronic pop was skilfully mixed with arty, almost avant garde effects to create an 80s sound with a strong, driving beat that held it all together.

Perhaps on their next visit north the French duo will find a bigger audience awaiting them.