Jesse Sykes And Sweet Hereafter - Borderline, London, 26/4/2004
by Daniel Cressey
published: 19 / 4 / 2004
intro
Melancholic singer-songwriter Jesse Sykes struggles with equipment problems at the London Borderline, but Daniel Cressey finds her able to turn it to her advantage and to perfect the art of misery
At some point in the past someone must really have done a number on Jesse Sykes. When she comes on stage and starts to sing you realise that her heart hasn’t been broken: it’s been ripped out and trampled, then put through a shredder. This incredible sadness infects every corner of the night’s performance. Thankfully while some artists make a meal of their misery, Sykes never strays into self pitying ‘woe is me’ hysterics. It’s also possible to forgive her intense sincerity, simply because she does write such wonderful songs. There is nothing radical or innovative about the night’s songs – all bar one drawn from the mournful alt-country of new record ‘Oh, My Girl’ and previous album ‘Reckless Burning’ – but it would take an exceptionally talented group to write and perform a better set. The first half of the show is characterised by near perfect sound and very little crowd interaction. Sykes’s ethereal voice is complemented by her arresting elfin beauty and her band are so tight that - barring an amp failure - the first few numbers are a little too perfect. You could be listening to ‘Oh, My Girl’ at home if you closed your eyes But after the violinist’s amp problems the gig gets a little more raw and a lot more exciting. How many gigs have actually been improved by equipment failure? As Sykes voice becomes slightly raspy it reaches new levels of agony and the heartache is turned up a notch. Ex-Whiskeytown guitarist Phil Wandscher’s razor sharp solos take on a more aggressive tone and while the second half is a bit rougher round the edges it is all the better for that. The band also starts to look like they are enjoying themselves. Sykes frequently thanks the crowd for their applause and we discover one possible reason for her misery as she asks if we buy our CDs at HPV. Anyone who confuses UK music retailers and infectious sexual diseases is unlikely to live a happy life... Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter are a rare group. Misery has rarely been so enjoyable or so perfectly realised.
Picture Gallery:-
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsWorld Party - Interview
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Steve Harley - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Ruts - Life After Death ? : A Profile
Leprous - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart