Seasons come and seasons go, but Primal Scream remain an impermeable force in British music. The band’s 2024 album – their twelfth to date – ‘Come Ahead’ wore an aggressive title against some of their most soulful songwriting to date, a dose of disco defiance that patched Curtis Mayfield style arrangements against scorched, emotionally open lyricism from frontman Bobby Gillespie.
Tonight finds Primal Scream leaning on the more soulful aspects of their catalogue, a fastidiously curated set list that bleeds through with intense, and social awareness. Visuals from Douglas Hart – Bobby’s one-time sparring partner in the Jesus and Mary Chain – connect Primal Scream’s work with global events, in particular the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It’s light on the punk noise of ‘XTRMNTR’ but it resonates with meaning – sometimes music doesn’t have to sound heavy, in order to be heavy.
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Opening with a dizzying, electrifying ‘Don’t Fight It, Feel It’ the band immediately transform the cavernous venue into an intimate rave space. ‘Love Insurrection’ takes us right up to date, Bobby Gillespie’s vocals adorned with R&B feeling.
It’s an eclectic outing, one that revels in the band’s contradictions – the blues-rock bluster of ‘Jailbird’ for instance is mere minutes away from the Philly style introspection of ‘Deep Dark Waters’ or the bruised soul of ‘Heal Yourself’.
Never a band to settle for second best, Primal Scream aim to meet the audience head-on. ‘Love Ain’t Enough’ settles on Bobby’s imperious vocals, while ‘I’m Losing More Than I’ll Ever Have’ is reborn in this context as the country-soul ballad it always promised to be.
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The band close on fan-pleasing form – ‘Loaded’ remains a righteous call to arms, a statement of rave-as-counter-cultural-bliss that feels mere seconds old. ‘Swastika Eyes’ is a timely takedown of Amerikkka’s broken political system, while ‘Movin’ On Up’ and ‘Country Girl’ are knockout blows.
The encore opens with ‘Melancholy Man’, an opportunity for the band – including a leather-trousered saxophonist half-inched from support act the Fat White Family – to stretch a little. ‘Come Together’ emerges from this formless web of sound, an Everest-like anthem that embodies the need for unity, and communality that we all need right now. Closing out with ‘Rocks’, Primal Scream remain a force to be reckoned with, a rock ‘n’ soul extravaganza that ranks with some of the best. The years roll by – Scream is forever.
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Words: Robin Murray
Photography: Rachel Lipsitz
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Live Report: Primal Scream – eventim Apollo, London – clashmusic.com
