I can't recall how or exactly when I came across Reverend and the Makers, but I know it was the track "Heavyweight Champion of the World" that first got my attention.
I later picked up a 'best of' CD and liked a lot of their stuff, the sound and the quirky, down to earth lyrics matched to Jon McLure's gritty vocals.
I had planned to see them a couple of years ago, but the tour was cancelled, so when I saw an album release gig upcoming via Banquet Records, I paid my £16 for a CD and a ticket, one of the best value live music deals you can get.
The gig was to be held at Circuit, which is the renamed Pryzm, in Kingston on Thames.
Unusually for one of these album release events, there was a support act, Lauren Housley, slated to start at 8.
I arrived about 7:45 and expect to find a near full house, as the doors had opened at 7, but when I walked in the place was nearly empty and I easily found a space on one of the raised areas, directly opposite the stage.
It was hardly packed by the time Lauren and a man with a guitar and a hat (who turned out to be both her husband and one of 'The Makers') took to the stage.
Apparently, they usually perform as a full band (Lauren Housley and the Northern Cowboys) with a blues-y sound. I found her a bit screechy at times and I can't say they were very much to my taste, but they got a good reception, generally.
They did a 30 minute or so set and then there was the usual stage antics as a drumkit was unveiled, other equipment was moved around and a final soundcheck was carried out.
Just on 8, the lights went down and the theme from Rocky played.
'The Makers' came on stage first, realistically 'Reverend And The Makers' are Jon McClure and a various number of musicians, today made up of the suport act's guitarist, a drummer, Laura Manuel on keyboards (and, later, trumpet) who is a long time member of the band and Jon's wife and a quite waif-like woman on bass guitar.
A few seconds later a tall fellow in a beige raincoat came onto the stage, 'Reverend' Jon, and we got going with the title track from the new album, 'Is This How Happiness Feels?'.
It was very much of the usual style, if a little mellower than some of their material I was familiar with.
They followed it up with a couple of tracks I did already know, "Open Your Window" and "Bandits" (A particular favourite of mine).
Jon bantered good-naturedly between the songs, now showing off his trademark suit, having shed the raincoat after the first song.
"Haircut" was a new song I did know, as I'd seen it on TV one morning when he and Vicky (no relation) McClure were on talking about a project they'd launched together. It's a bit light on lyrics, but it's a good singalong R and TM song.
Commenting that he's been accused of writing a lot of songs about "Shaggin", which he put down to wishful thinking, next up was a song about shagging, "I Want You So Bad".
Surprisingly the next song was their iconic hit "Heavyweight Champion Of The World", which sounds great on a hi-fi and just as good live, but I did wonder whether playing it so early would be a mistake.
The familiar "Shine The Light" dispelled that fear slightly as did the new track "Heatwave in the Cold North" a couple of songs later, which was instantly catchy.
Jon then spoke about his father's death, an event that had led to the late release of this album and that cancelled tour a couple of years earlier and he played a song he said was about his father, "27 Past Midnight".
"Forever", "Fucked Up" (dueted with Robbie Williams on the album and he told an amusing story about how they came to write it) and "Late Night Phone Call", from the new album, followed and all sounded good on first listen (the great thing about these bargain priced album launch gigs is that for under £20 you get the gig AND a CD; a little more buys you a vinyl LP usually!), so I look forward to hearing the recorded versions of them all.
"Out Of The Shadows" and "He Said He Loved Me" were old favourites and we finished on the crowd pleasing "Silence Is Talking" with its very 90s "baba-bababa-baba-ba-ba" hook and overall sound, which had everyone bouncing and chanting along.
The band were great, sounding like they do on recordings and that bass player really threw herself into it - Check her out in my video clips!
The audience loved it, the set was a pleasingly long 75 minutes or so and then Jon led us all outside to perform two covers on an acoustic guiter in the street!
It was a very cool thing to do, but, sadly, I found it very hard to hear him in the street.
Still, Reverend and The Makers had been on my 'to see' list for a few years and this gig absolutely did not disappoint!
They're on tour later in the year, so go see them if you like what you read and hear here, Jon promises that will be a "proper party!"
SETLIST:
Is This How Happiness Feels?
Open Your Window
Bandits
Haircut
I Want You So Bad
Heavyweight Champion of the World
Shine the Light
No Soap in a Dirty War
Heatwave in the Cold North
27 Past Midnight
Forever
Fucked Up
Late Night Phone Call
Out of the Shadows
He Said He Loved Me
Silence Is Talking
Encore: (Outside the venue, Jon solo on acoustic guitar)
Shoot You Down (The Stone Roses cover)
Rudy a Message to You
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