By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
September 23, 1991
For all that’s been said about its innovative use of sampling, Jesus Jones ultimately is a taut rock ‘n’ roll band that gives concertgoers something worthwhile to look at, as well as listen to.
Returning to Chicago for a sold-out gig Friday night at the Aragon Ballroom, the British group performed a confident, polished set that showed how much it matured musically since first touring the U.S. a year ago.
Performing most of the songs from its breakthrough LP “Doubt,” Jesus Jones created euphoric rock ‘n’ roll that blended pop, acid house and heavy metal. A good-looking band that hasn’t allowed style to substitute for substance, Jesus Jones worked up a sweat entertaining its audience. By the time they closed the show with a haunting version of “Blissed,” none of the musicians was completely dressed.
Although vocalist-songwriter Mike Edwards has a clever way with words, the group’s strength is its solid musicianship. While his lyrics were lost in the venue’s muddled acoustics, the sound of Edwards’ voice and the purity of the guitars rang out crisp and clear. When he yodeled “Are You Satisfied?” the audience answered back with enthusiastic slam dancing and modified stage diving.
Their young, fashionably disheveled disciples turned out in droves wearing hoodies and Beatles bangs to bear witness to the fast-paced 70-minute show, which was almost identical to the one performed last May at the Vic. But whereas many groups seem dwarfed by the larger venues they eventually graduate to, Jesus Jones was right at home at the Aragon.
If anything, the active London-based musicians looked like they’d be even more at home on an even bigger stage – something not far off in their future.
Edwards in particular adapted well to the larger hall. Last summer, bassist Al Jaworski’s sinewy gyrations stole the show. This time around, there was no doubt Edwards was the frontman.
“This is the biggest gig we’ve done as headliners,” Edwards said, before launching into “International Bright Young Thing.” As the song became a singalong at the chorus, Jerry DeBorg added potent power to the live rendition, slicing away at his guitar while Jaworski’s throbbing bass succinctly complemented Gen’s pulsating rhythms.
With a show like this one, they’ve made it awfully difficult for other bands to even try keeping up with the Joneses.
The British quintet Ned’s Atomic Dustbin opened the concert with half an hour’s worth of material from their album “God Fodder.” Led by vocalist-hair thrasher Jonn, the barely twentysomething musicians moved around like whirling dervishes as they turned in solid, swirling versions of sarcastically funny songs.
