Jehnny Beth / Rough Trade / Bristol
Tonight was a night I was not going to miss ! I first saw Jehnny Beth back in early 2022 at the O2 Academy in Sheffield when, along with Big Joanie, she supported IDLES on their UK tour. That night I was blown away with her live performance and have been looking forward to seeing her again ever since.
Jehnny Beth is a French musician and actress now based in London since 2006. She came to prominence as one half of the indie rock duo John & Jehn, and then more globally as the frontwoman of the English post-punk band Savages. She released her debut solo album “To Love Is to Live” in 2020and she has worked with the likes of Trentemøller, Gorillaz, Noel Gallagher, IDLES and Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream. In 2021, she released a duet album with Gillespie titled “Utopian Ashes”.
Jehnny has just released her new album “You Heartbreaker, You” on Fiction Records, Recorded and produced by longtime co-creator, and partner Johnny Hostile at their 20L07 studio in France.
So, tonight we’re here at Rough Trade Records in Bristol to see Jehnny perform the new album as part of her in-store launch show.
Stepping up on to the stage through the crowd all the songs on the new album get an airing (not in tracklist order) and there are one or two extra gems thrown in for good measure. Jehnny has always had that punk spirit at heart, revolutionary, sexual and boundary breaking, and the new album is no exception to that, but it brings a new element, an almost industrial feel to its sound. It feels more structured in a way, less edgy punk and as a result the live experience is incredible. But at it’s heart, it remains as visceral, abrasive and cathartic as a live experience as always.
Opening track Broken Rib starts us off right screaming out over pounding drums, Jehnny’s voice moving between soft and delicate and loud and brash building to a tumultuous crescendo. Else where the album delivers in other ways too, with No Good For People resonating with many, a passion and message from the heart about true feelings and emotions. This is something Jehnny does so effectively.
Out Of My Reach is a real highlight from the night at times dense and at other times wavering, but all pulling together to combine into a massive sound in the chorus sections.
Almost a live anthem for living large and to the max, High Resolution Sadness is a classic punk rollercoaster and a right joy live whilst the final track of the night I See Your Pain slows things down and has a much more dramatic feel to it.
I have to say the new material is incredible live. Always an energetic live performer, Jehnny brings life to everything she sings and sings with a smile on her face. It was nice to also hear How Could You (from 2020’s “To Love Is To Live”) in there, probably my favourite song from that album. We also get a stunning version of the Björk track Army of Me which Jehnny makes her own.
But the song of the night has to go to Inversion. Jehnny tells us that while writing and recording the new album they were listening to New York post-hardcore band Quicksand and in tribute she performed Inversion, ginving it a brilliant punk makeover. It was raw, powerful and intense from first note to last.
Jehnny Beth was in her favourite place, on stage, delighting a crowd…. And she did it brilliantly. “You Heartbreaker, You” is a great album and well worth a spin.
And Jehhny will be back on stage in London with two shows in London at the end of October, at Electrowerkz on the 30th and the Camden Assembley on the 31st. Don’t miss out !
Setlist
Broken Rib
High Resolution Sadness
I Still Believe
No Good for People
Army of Me (Björk cover)
Obsession
Stop Me Now
How Could You (To Love Is To Live 2020)
Reality
Out of My Reach
Inversion (Quicksand cover)
I See Your Pain
