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The
Guildhall seems to be alive with anticipation. Tonight, Jayl headlines
a show in support of Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
Supported by a coterie of acts including Jimmie Bone and Gloucester-based
Bottlebag, this promises to be a night of great diversity.
The crowd begins to flow in, quickly transforming a lifeless hall
into a living sea of vehemence with the assistance of thumping drum
'n' bass from DJ Detox with DJ Recon and MC Gamma D.
Jimmie
Bone (right) takes humbly to the stage. Jason McCluskey stars on
drums for his first of two sets tonight; Steve Haughey plays guitar
with passion and vibrancy.
First
on the agenda, prolific and weighty, is Fifth Continent. This instrumental
atmosphere of dark tales flows expertly into Open Your Mind.
Overtones of Pink Floyd are present, allowing the beauty of the
melancholic yet embracing music to shine: "Life can be beautiful,
if you leave it behind."
Someone (As Mad As Me) is an instantly catchy bitter ballad of despair
and hope. Credit has to be given to the band for such an incredible
level of cohesion on stage.
If
there are two tracks in this set which jump out as obvious singles
and crowd pleasers, they would be the aforementioned Someone (As
Mad As Me), and this next track: Queen Of The Summer.
Legend is a fantastic musical tribute to Scotland, enveloping the
listener with strong imagery; we are confronted with a true soundscape.
Finally we are introduced to Alphabet. In contrast to the rest of
the set, Alphabet is up-front and riff-heavy. We bid farewell to
Jimmie Bone as the band triumphantly leave the stage, no doubt pleased
with the crowd reaction to their set.
Funk
Now,
in the middle of the evening, we are to receive Bottlebag. Their
blend of hippy style and expert musical abilities appeals to all
present.
They seem to have a large following at the show and are welcomed
on stage warmly to roll into Amnesia.
...the audience begins to really connect
with the band
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| Talon
Patience |
With
Andy Wood on guitar and vocals, Beresford on percussion, Chipeye
on drums, Jo on guitar and vocals, Syd on bass and Ed on guitar
and vocals, it is safe to assume the rich nature of Bottlebag's
music.
They play a kind of jazz with strong insinuations of reggae laced
with rich vocal harmonies and smooth guitar lines, with enough funk
to get everyone moving.
As the set slips through Can't Get Enough and Ugly Jealousy the
audience begins to really connect with the band.
The music makes you want to smile, with The Bruise and Mary extending
the feeling into new realms. They seem to have perfected their mix
of styles and really seem as one on stage, not an easily attained
feat.
The vocal abilities, not to mention the instrumental talents of
every member involved are, yet again, at the highest level.
More highlights include Thank You and the final track of the night,
Lazybones - a fantastic finishing piece which sets off their mood
and style perfectly, making us feel we should all be a little happier,
maybe a little lazier: "When you're scared you're easy to control/
When you're in debt you're easy to control/ and when you're comfortable
you do exactly what your told..."
Evolving
The
Jayl team, constantly evolving throughout the set, consists of Jimmie
Bone on bass guitar, Simon Hazell on guitar, Jason McCluskey on
drums, Terry McKenzie on percussion and Natasha Styles and Jayl
on vocals.
The band is assisted by a dance team from the Cirencester Creative
Dance Academy consisting of Milly Bates, Lottie Selwyn and Sophie
Gooding.
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Sophie
Gooding
(photo by Kati White)
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They
are graced by guest appearances through the set from Andy Wood,
guitarist and singer for Bottlebag, Luke Mundy on Congas and Ruth
Mundy performing mesmerising poi dancing.
The variations of so many art forms combine themselves into one
grandiose extravaganza!
As
soon as Jayl takes to the stage, one can sense an immediate theatrical
edge to the show.
As the evening goes on, it begins to read like an industrial opera
showcasing a poet, tormented by and simultaneously embracing the
world around him.
Uproarious
The
show kicks off with Sorcery, a wild but accessible track with elements
of rock and lyrical trance. The crowd reacts with uproarious energy,
controlled masterfully by Jayl like a ringmaster taming the lion.
Messages are clear in Jayl's lyrics - this is the "anti-bulls**t
revolution". The set list is compiled carefully - Sorcery is
followed by Sweet Baby Shark, with its pounding drums and vocal
harmonies drawing the listener into abstraction.
A chemistry on stage between Jayl and Natasha Styles is obvious.
Between songs, Jayl is at ease with the crowd, almost conversational.
The set pulls the listener in with Magnificent, a kind of tour de
force, the observer awe-stricken by the solo dance of Sophie Gooding.
Dramatic
The
rich timbre of Evoke includes Luke Mundy on congas and the beautiful
Ruth Mundy performing a dazzling show of poi.
Four Beasts In One is graced with the amazing vocal talents of Liz
McCoy, it tells a dark but romantic story of the world as we should
know it, dramatically portrayed in dance by a masked Sophie Gooding
and Lottie Selwyn.
The band exits, leaving the crowd screaming
for an encore they are not to receive.
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| Talon
Patience |
Forevelien
is a gentle and beautiful show of great power and sweeping melody,
showcasing the immense talent of Simon Hazell on lead guitar and
Andy Wood on rhythm guitar.
Jayl leads us all, aghast, into the final track of the night. Dare
is heavy, laden with meaning and driven by the passion of the full
band, a perfect ending for a night no one will soon forget.
The
night at the Guildhall ends with an introduction by Jayl of the
entire team, deservedly crowned by the applause emanating from the
mass of audience before them.
The band exits, stage left, leaving the crowd screaming for an encore
they are not to receive.
Not until next time Jayl takes to the stage, at least, when I am
convinced it will be on a stage far greater than the Guildhall.
Review
by Talon Patience
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Jayl
and his troupe headlined the Guildhall's Amnesty/Greenpeace benefit
gig. The concert was a massive success with a substantial amount of
money - and awareness - being raised for the charities.
