The Psychedelic Furs are one of my favorite bands ever. I have been a fan since their debut album in late 1980.
Their reign as new-wave gods throughout the 80s was a wonderful thing to behold, and when the whole planet discovered them thanks to a John Hughes movie, they crossed over to mainstream success.
Formed in London by brothers Richard and Tim Butler in 1977, the Furs are known for their catchy but experimental songs and very hip image. They have always been a great live band, and that was never more true than this past Sunday night when they played The Salt Shed.
The Salt Shed is an indoor and outdoor music venue/entertainment hub in West Town, Chicago. Morton Salt previously owned the building before it sold the 4.25 acre site to R2 in 2018 as part of a redevelopment deal that included moving Morton Salt's R&D arm to the site.
The facility initially housed thousands of pounds of salt for many years, and it still has the Morton's Salt logo, a little girl with an umbrella, painted on the roof.
The outdoor section adjacent to the Chicago River and Goose Island, "The Fairgrounds," can accommodate 5,000 people. The indoor section, named "The Shed," holds a capacity of 3,600 people.
The Salt Shed is an outstanding venue to see a show, especially if you're in the Premium Section, which Julie and I had for the show.
The Furs are currently co-headlining the tour with another iconic new wave/post-punk group, The Jesus and Mary Chain, which also carved a pretty impressive niche in the world during the 1980s.
Frankie Rose, a terrific female artist based in Los Angeles, opened the show with an appropriately dark, goth-tinged set that sounded straight from the 1980s.
She was barely lit on the stage and had a screen behind her, flashing crazy black-and-white images throughout her set. Overall, a strong performance from a talented trio of musicians that set the table for the terrific headliners that followed.
The Jesus and Mary Chain were next, and they did not disappoint. This terrific band, formed by brothers Jim and William Reid from Scotland, includes three other outstanding musicians.
Darker and moodier than The Furs, JAMC is one of the groups that started the "shoegaze" music movement. This movement was named after musicians who depressingly stare down at their shoes while performing instead of engaging with the audience.
JAMC was so committed to this style of music that I once saw them perform an entire show with their backs to the audience. Luckily, they didn't do that on Sunday night. They were, however, completely backlit (like Frankie Rose before them) and did most of the show in darkness... but at least they were facing the audience.
The band was tight and sounded terrific as they blasted through an outstanding set of classic cuts and their few popular singles. The brothers Reid (Jim on lead vocals and William on lead guitar) were in fine form, and Frankie Rose joined them on stage for two fantastic songs.
The Jesus and Mary Chain Setlist:
Jamcod
April Skies
Head On
Happy When It Rains
All Things Pass
Chemical Animal
Some Candy Talking
Cracking Up
Far Gone and Out
Venal Joy
Blues From a Gun
Sidewalking
In a Hole
Sometimes Always (with Frankie Rose)
Nine Million Rainy Days
Just Like Honey (with Frankie Rose)
Reverence
The Furs took the stage next, and for the first time during the evening, the stage was utterly lit, not just from the back, and no one was gazing at their shoes.
The band, which the Butler brothers have toured with for many years now, features Rich Good on guitar, Zack Alford on drums, and Amanda Kramer on keys, and it was sensational.
Richard Butler is one of the most unique vocalists in rock history, with a magical delivery and rhythm all his own. He is also a charismatic front man who entertains the audience with his body flourishes and dancing. He was also in a fabulous mood Sunday night, laughing and smiling between every song.
The band had a great time delivering some of their best songs in a tight set. The songs of the night were "President Gas," "Heaven," "Love My Way," "Pretty in Pink," "Heartbreak Beat," and the magnificent "The Ghost in You," which my girlfriend Julie and I particularly love since it happens to be "our song."
I was surprised that the late saxophonist Mars Williams, who provided many memorable riffs and solos with The Furs over the years, was not mentioned. Williams passed away in late 2023, and I was hoping for a mention or a small tribute, especially since he was from Chicago.
But, that quibble aside, The Furs were outstanding and sounded as good as they ever have (and I've seen them live many, many times over the past 40 years). They remain one of the best live acts in the music world and a truly special band that reminds me of a period in my life that I really treasured.
The Psychedelic Furs Set List:
The Boy That Invented Rock & Roll
So Run Down
The Ghost in You
All That Money Wants
Only You and I
Wrong Train
Love My Way
All of the Law
President Gas
Pretty in Pink
Mr. Jones
Pulse
Heartbreak Beat
Forever Now
Heaven
It was an incredible night of music from two classic bands and a relatively unknown singer who made an outstanding first impression. I hope The Furs and The Jesus and Mary Chain continue to tour for years—they are that good!
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