Mystery Jets

As the Mystery Jets take to the stage, there is an air of expectancy and anxiety among the crowd. The Eel Pie collective have certainly established themselves among the indie-faithful, and with three albums to date, they already have an array of hits at their disposal.

Harrison and co. don’t fail to deliver. In full swing tonight and opening just as they do on their latest album Serotonin, with a version of ‘Alice Springs’ that is all stabbing drums, heavy guitars and choir bursts – a quiet reminder of what the Mystery Jets are about.

Once a five-piece, the Mystery Jets' most distinctive member Henry Harrison (father to guitarist, Blaine) no longer plays. Touchingly though, the rest of the band pay tribute to their former colleague by singing Happy Birthday. But what they lack in Henry’s experience, they certainly make up for with an explosive mix of 80s influenced pop-fuelled music.

“Are you ready for a dance?” shouts Rees. The crowd oblige and the Mystery Jets burst into After Dark, an up-beat, dance number produced by The Count & Sinden. Rees and Harrison temporarily switch vocals while the samba beats, classic cowbell and jangly guitar riffs combine to create a flurry of dancing and wooing from the crowd. Much to the audiences delight, the song continues fluidly straight into Hideaway as the Public Enemy-style sirens and warped synths maintain the vigor of the Mystery Jets' energetic performance.

The quartet parade through songs from their 2008 release, ‘Twenty One’, with many highlights like ‘Young Love’,’ Flakes’ and’ Two Doors Down’ while ‘Flash A Hungry Smile’ and ‘Show Me the Light’ demonstrate the brilliance of their latest work. Curiously, while highlights from ‘Twenty One’ and ‘Serotonin’ prevail, they play nothing from their debut album, ‘Making Dens’, the release which seemingly established them as the unique band they are. On tonight’s evidence, they undoubtedly still possess an eccentric charm. For better or worse, it seems like the old jeers of ‘Zoo Time’ no longer entertain a thought for the Mystery Jets.