Where do I start? Jesse Malin, after the couple of years, he’s had he needs a generous dose of the old PMA. As I hurriedly board my train for London Town, I’m looking forward immensely to what might unfold later in Islington Assembly Hall. It’s been a long time coming, and a spectacle I thought I wasn’t ever going to be seeing again if I’m honest.
After suffering a spinal stroke, the long road to recovery and adapting to life after such a traumatic event meant Jesse headed to Argentina for rehab. With a determination to return to the stage to perform, it’s been a long road and no doubt an often dark and hard one. Finally, the evening had arrived, and Jesse Malin and his band of Brothers were about to take the stage for the return to live Rock n Roll.
The moment the sold out audience cheered when the stage curtains were drawn, the expectation and anticipated celebration was one I rarely get at a rock and roll show but this somehow seemed different, the atmosphere was one of triumph and with all the challenges that life has thrown Jesses way his determination over adversity was felt in the packed room. So many people willing only good things for Jesse was amazing and the moment the house lights dropped and the Stones filled the PA as the curtain slowly began to open couldn’t come quickly enough. Jesse and his magnificent band began playing, it was like a football crowd where against the odds the underdog was winning and doing it in style, socking it to the man. ‘Memory Motel’ faded away, a beautiful ‘I Would Do It For You’ filled the Assembly Hall air as the audience sang and held onto every word It felt quite emotional, and time stood still. Jesse had won, and that goal to be back on stage had been fulfilled.
By the time the band hit ‘Oh Sheena’ it was like he’d never been away, and the fact they were all seated seemed immaterial. It was awesome to hear Jesse speak again and still have that spark that made him such a unique performer ‘Brooklyn’ sounded beautiful before a ragmuffin good time romp through ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’ and a funny story about performing with Shane who also was in a wheelchair that night made sense and the roar of joy when Jesse rose to his feet for ‘Turn Up The Mains’ was like the winner just being scored in a cup final.
As the set unfolded the audience loosened up and the band sounded like they were midway through a 12 month tour with no nights off ‘She Don’t Love Me Now’, ‘State Of The Art’ pierced through the balmy night air before his own tribute to the late great and fellow New Yorker we lost recently, the one and only David Johansen ‘Heart Of Gold’ was a welcome tribute as was the excellent rendition of ‘Sway’. As we motored through the set from all corners of the Malin catalogue it was time to bring some friends up on stage with Jim Jones being welcomed up for a fiery rendition of ‘Russian Roulette’ and a tip of the hat to recently departed Brian James then we were treated to the one and only Chaz Harper from the mighty UK Subs as the band paid tribute with a ‘Party In Paris’ or was it now entitled Party In Islington (nah doesn’t have the same ring to it) it was great to see Charlie up there though.
Next was Ginger and Ben from The Wildhearts for a technically challenged ‘In The Modern World’, oh and a wander across the stage from Ginger’s dog, which many found amusing. We needed time to catch our breath and what better than ‘Greener Pastures’ before a haunting ‘You Know Its Dark When Athiests Start To Pray’ and we were almost done with enough time for just one more as Jesse rose to his feet to deliver a wonderful finale of ‘Rudie Can’t Fail’ and we were done. The band and Jesse received an immense ovation from the capacity crowd who I think would have happily stayed all night and done it again for those lucky enough to be doing it all again the night after with more special guests we’ll bring you that review from Ben but until the next time Jesse Malin is bossing it and not letting his condition define him and he’s winning at life and doing exactly what makes him happiest and by the looks of it the audience is with him all the way after an emotional and thrilling performance it’s good to have Jesse Malin dishing out the PMA again, and with global happiness in short supply this was one of those special shows that don’t happen very often but when they do you never want them to end. So welcome back man, we’ve missed you. Until next time, take care and keep up the PMA – you got this! Jesse Fuckin Malin!
Author: Dom Daley
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