The Jackets & The Future Shape of Sound - Photos & Videos from Le Beat Bespoke at Nambucca London April 21st 2019

The Jackets at Nambucca - photo copyright Retro Man Blog

The Future Shape of Sound sure know how to put on a show and they opened the final night of the Le Beat Bespoke Easter Weekend in a riotous blaze of colour. First of all, the band take the stage and there sure is a lot of them. Drums, bass, keyboards, saxophonist and then guitarist and frontman Alex McGowan, who’s name not only sounds a bit like Hanoi Rocks’ guitar-slinger Andy McCoy, he bears a striking resemblance to him too. The guys are all decked out in that classic faded voodoo glam gangster style with Fedora hats, scarves and brothel creepers - they certainly look the part. Next on stage appear three excellent backing singers who add some soaring Soul and Gospel harmonies to the swampy good time New Orleans style Rock ‘n’ Roll. 

The Future Shape of Sound at Nambucca - photo copyright Retro Man Blog

The Future Shape of Sound at Nambucca - photo copyright Retro Man Blog

Finally, there’s the exotic and impressive lead vocalist Suri Sumatra, complete with huge feather headdress that almost scrapes the venue’s ceiling. It all makes for one hell of a visually stunning sight and they had the crowd eating out of their hands by the end of a thoroughly entertaining set. The band describe their sound as Primitive Gospel Blues and if you like the slightly sleazy sounds of “Exile on Main Street” era Stones, Jim Jones, Primal Scream and Hanoi Rocks, then you are going to love The Future Shape of Sound. Here is a video of the current single "Toe the Line" which is taken from their "Shakedown Gospel" album, available now on Gypsy Hotel Records.

The Jackets at Nambucca - photo copyright Retro Man Blog

Despite being a stripped back three-piece line-up, The Jackets filled the Nambucca stage as effortlessly as the nine members of The Future Shape of Sound, that's thanks in main to the engaging livewire antics of singer and guitarist Jack Torera. Whenever she is not required to be at her mic stand singing, Jack is a non-stop blur of motion, complete with high kicks, leaps and humorous poses. With her striking Clockwork Orange style eye make-up, she is certainly one of the wildest and most unpredictable of frontwomen that I have ever seen. Drummer Chris Rosales and bassist Samuel Schmidiger not only nail down a mean rhythm but they also both add superb backing vocal harmonies that lift The Jackets fuzzed-up songs to another level. 

The Jackets at Nambucca - photo copyright Retro Man Blog

The Jackets at Nambucca - photo copyright Retro Man Blog

During tonight’s electrifying performance, they played a few promising sounding songs from their forthcoming album “Queen of Pill” with “Dreamer” and “Steam Queen” impressing along with the two excellent tracks from their latest 7” vinyl release, “Queen of The Pill” and the stunning show opener “Be Myself”. Familiar numbers such as “At the Go Go” and “Freak Out” went down a storm and on a brilliant run through of “Wasting My Time”, Clementine of Das Clamps was cajoled into joining them on stage to dance. The Jackets are one of those bands you really have to see play live at least once in your life, the problem is that once is never enough!

The Jackets at Nambucca - photo copyright Retro Man Blog

The Jackets at Nambucca - photo copyright Retro Man Blog

"Queen of The Pill" will be released by Voodoo Rhythm Records on June 14th, it’s produced by King Khan and mixed and mastered by Jim Diamond and is available to pre-order from The Jackets Bandcamp site here. For more photos of the show please check out the Retro Man Blog Facebook page here and you can find some more videos at our YouTube Channel here. Here's a video of the new album's title track "Queen of The Pill", turn it up loud and enjoy!

<