South Dealing with Competition
Crystal Palace Bowl, London
4th August 2023

Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain & The Black Angels rock out at Crystal Palace’s South Dealing with Competition. Paul Grace takes the pics.

Now in its third yr, South Dealing with Competition returns to Crystal Palace for a plethora of occasions that includes a mixture of high-profile artists throughout a large number of genres.

As soon as once more, the motion takes place within the iconic Crystal Palace Bowl which final century performed host to a number of the world’s most vital artists together with Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Elton John, Lou Reed, The Treatment and The Intercourse Pistols. With a capability of 10,000, the bowl is the right dimension for an intimate competition and, as its title suggests, it’s completely formed so that you get an awesome view from just about each angle. Surrounded by timber and with the Crystal Palace transmitter towering overhead it’s a novel setting which feels extra intimate than its 10,000 capability would counsel.

We’re maintaining every thing crossed for a dry night; the forecast is “most likely” dry so I’m “most likely” chancing it in t-shirt and shorts and pray that I don’t stay to remorse such a daring determination. However that’s sufficient concerning the shitty climate of summer time 2023…

Tonight’s line-up options the cream of psychedelic rock/dance and kicking issues off are Texan rockers The Black Angels. Their sound is much extra suited to a darkened warehouse, in order that they’re actually up in opposition to it with a 5.30pm begin and the solar nonetheless very a lot excessive within the sky. They play a improbable hour-long set, although, of swirling kaleidoscope grooves throughout which we hear influences from The Velvet Underground, The Doorways and The Brian Jonestown Bloodbath, all refined nevertheless into their very own distinctive sonic signature.

Subsequent up is The Jesus and Mary Chain who would additionally often profit from taking part in inside a blackened room, however they play a festival-friendly set which works properly below the setting solar. Hell, Jim Reid even seems to be like he’s having fun with himself up there. “We’re The Jesus and Mary Chain and we’re going to play some songs”, Reid gives and launches right into a fiery Blues From A Gun. He and brother William often is the solely two remaining members from the unique line-up, however its present incarnation sounds tight and totally convincing. We get a collection of tracks from throughout their 40-year profession and fellow Scot Isobel Campbell joins the band for a beautiful Simply Like Honey. It’s barely disappointing maybe that that is the one music they play off landmark debut Psychocandy, however that’s simply splitting hairs. Closing monitor Reverence, with its sinister riffs, chainsaw beats and determined cries of “I wanna die!”, is a textbook instance of an ideal exit and the best way to depart ’em gagging for extra.

At 9pm sharp headliners Primal Scream hit the stage and open with a goose-bump-inducing rendition of 1991’s Movin’ On Up, together with 5 piece gospel choir.

Oozing huge stage charisma, frontman Bobby Gillespie is on fiery kind and, sporting all shades of shimmer in silver glittery swimsuit (and sounding equally as polished), he’s having the time of his life up there and it’s totally infectious.

They deal with us to all their huge tunes throughout a wonderful 90-minute career-spanning set. Suicide Bomb reveals their moodier aspect, and all the bowl explodes with pleasure throughout Loaded. “Who’s on medication right here?”, Gillespie sniggers earlier than launching into Come Collectively, and the occasion reaches its giddy peak with 1994 anthem Rocks full with Stones-style riffs and big sing-along refrain.

All up a banging afternoon with some prime psychedelic/rock sounds. Oh and bonus factors for not raining.

For extra info on South Dealing with Competition go to their web site, Fb, Twitter

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All photographs © Paul Grace. For extra of Paul’s writing and photographs go to his archive. Paul is on Fb, Twitter, Instagram and his web sites are www.paulgrace-eventphotos.co.uk & www.pgrace.co.uk.