By Lisa Hagen Glynn
The Jesus and Mary Chain and The Psychedelic Furs played a double bill at the Paramount Theatre on October 29, 2024. Although the two UK legacy bands varied stylistically, they were both hugely influential in the 1980s. Both also featured pairs of founding brothers, still at the top of their game.

English post-punk group The Psychedelic Furs brought excellent showmanship that highlighted the interaction between brothers Richard Butler (vocals) and Tim Butler (bass). In 2020 The Furs released Made of Rain, their first album in three decades. They opened with the first track off that album, “The Boy Who Invented Rock and Roll,” followed by other 14 selections across their catalog. The crowd screamed and hit record when the band started up hits like “Love My Way,” “Pretty in Pink,” “The Ghost in You,” and “Heaven.”

Scottish alternative band The Jesus and Mary Chain featured brothers Jim Reid (vocals) and William Reid (guitar), who founded the group in 1983. Their performance was crisp, energetic, and compelling. True to their role as shoegaze predecessors, they spent most of the set in moody shadow with amps that read “JESUS.” JAMC released Glasgow Eyes earlier this year, and they played three songs from that album. They also included plenty of their older hits, including “April Skies,” “Happy When It Rains,” and “Reverence.” Near the end, opener Frankie Rose joined to sing two duets, “Sometimes Always” and “Just Like Honey.” As the band exited, people shrieked with appreciation. “Hell of a set,” exclaimed the guy behind me.

Special guest Frankie Rose opened with a new-wave set. The New York trio released Love as Projection in 2023, marking a divergence from Rose’s characteristic dreampop sound. This 25-date tour provided visibility for her sonic transition, and Rose was a well-selected bridge for the stylistic gap between the two headliners.

The Psychedelic Furs, The Jesus & Mary Chain & Frankie Rose – photos by Lisa Hagen Glynn