By Benjamin Ladner, First Year, Geography
Jim E. Brown is (in his own words,) a 19-year-old, obese, alcoholic pop sensation from Didsbury, Manchester. He has the voice of a young Morrissey and the appearance of an old one.
The lyrics present the hopelessness and futility of modern inner-city life, and all of the social and relational problems that are strung along behind it – all wrapped up with a very juvenile sense of humour. To quote Jarvis Cocker, this is ‘a horror soundtrack written from a stagnant waterbed’.
Instrumentally, the music is very reminiscent of 80’s indie pop – but specifically Cocteau Twins and The Cranberries. Also, obviously there’s the direct reference to The Fall frontman, Mark E. Smith. Both artists have been lyrically blunt and confrontational, but furthermore; illustrious. Since 2021, he has released ten full-length studio albums, plus a great number of singles and EPs.
Going into the gig, his reputation undeniably preceded him. Quite frankly, I had no idea what to expect. What followed were nearly two hours filled with his trademark stage banter, (‘Shall I play another one? Or shall I fuck off?’) requests for beer (he is a self-identified alcoholic after all,) and repeated vying for commercial gain (an attempt was made to flog copies of his five different autobiographies only 5 minutes into the set.)
The setlist was immense though, he played all the biggest hits from Spotify, including: ‘I’m Quitting Prozac to Continue Drinking’, ‘The Queue at Gregg’s’ and ‘Naked in my Room Huffing Nitrous Balloons’. As well as some early-career deep cuts: ‘I’m an Obese Alcoholic’ and ‘I’m a Dirty Bitch’.
He performs with little accompaniment, often just a drum machine/key loop in the background; sometimes he’d pick up a guitar too. On occasion this approach would go wrong, and he’d trigger the wrong sample by mistake – but this adds to the charm once quickly rectified, in my opinion.
This is his first UK/Ireland tour since the release of his most recent album, I Urinated on a Butterfly, and more recently since, his US tour with goth/post-punk band Lebanon Hanover. That may seem like an odd pairing, but really, Jim sits right in the centre of the goth/socially-acceptable-pop Venn diagram. He brings an air of melancholic despair to the everyday British life.
His support act: Andy Burns (who is also his road manager,) continues this theme. His music is a deliberate pastiche of everything 1980’s pop. It fluidly weaves between Human League-esque synth/drum loops and Wedding Present soundalike jangle indie.
It had this undeniable flavour of Northern British alternative rock; despite the fact he is Australian. There was an air of performative experimentalism too – even during the lighter songs he would be headbanging furiously and dancing around like David Byrne in ‘Stop Making Sense’; very much a Baxter Dury/ Jerskin Fendrix vibe.
While the music and performance were excellent, sadly the gig was marred by drunk and disorderly behaviour. There was a crowd of three of four paralytic-drunk guys leaning on the stage, who would try and make conversation with Jim during the show. They also became violent partway through and had to be separated to calm down – and then one of them vomited on the stage.
It is strangely fitting that a singer who pokes fun at an indulgent lifestyle of alcoholism and overconsumption should see mass attendance of football casual types, who don’t quite clock that the whole image is a joke. The pervasive influence of ‘lad’ culture on indie gigs is sadly growing at the moment – especially in university towns. I could see that their constant heckling was wearing him down, at times it looked as if he was perfectly ready to call the whole thing off, pull an Axl Rose, and leave early.
Hana Sakurai Wernham
Katy Bright
But nevertheless, to conclude: you should see Jim E. Brown at the earliest convenience. You will have an amazing time – but just bear in mind it is not a totally serious performance.
Some even accuse him of being older than 19 – you may too, when you finish reading this article and Google a picture of him. Take the representation of the character he creates with a grain of salt and enjoy the music at face value.
Featured image: Benjamin LadnerHave you caught Jim E. Brown’s show yet?
