The 1865, Southampton
Thursday, 27th March 2025
A packed 1865 venue in Southampton welcomed Jadis back to their ‘hometown’ gig and are treated to two sets of material of high quality melodic progressive rock from this rejuvenated class band. They present a first half of older songs, some rarer and some more well-known, and then focus solely on their excellent recent new album More Questions Than Answers for the second part of this entertaining gig.
There’s a Light from 2010’s Photoplay album kicks off the show in great style with Gary Chandler’s guitar sounding spectacular, and the whole band sounding confident and polished. They then turn to their 1992 debut album More Than Meets The Eye for the first of three songs drawn from that classic. Chandler introduces ‘old fave’, the yearning G13, which Martin Orford humorously points out was ‘written when I had hair!’ Indeed, the banter between the band members, particularly Chandler and Orford, is an amusing feature of the evening. This is clearly a band which is having fun up there and that feeling infects the crowd. Two songs from 2010’s Understand album follow in Where in the World, and the title track. Where in the World is particularly notable for the imperious guitar work of Chandler, who ruefully points out that ‘the more I play the more I sweat’. Later in the set Orford suggested Chandler was the Sultan of Sweat during the intro to the rarity, Follow me to Salzburg. This more stately song showcases some skilful drumming from Steve Christey… and is apparently about Nuns!
This Changing Face, another of the much rarer songs, dates back to their early days in the 80’s. Driven along by chiming, echoing guitars this has a fluid feel. The sound of Orford’s organ play is impressive – he really is such an asset to this band. Chandler expresses satisfaction at the great turnout for this show, recalling there was a time when they played the nearby Joiners Arms to only 3 people! Touchingly, he also reminisces that when he was at school the music teacher hated him (apparently she was all into trumpets whilst Chandler was into power chords!!) The Drama teacher was the only teacher who seemed to appreciate his music, and allowed Chandler and his band to rehearse at the school. Chandler was pleased to share that the drama teacher was in the crowd tonight. Another gem from More Than Meets the Eye in Wonderful World takes the crowd on a beautifully elaborate pastoral expedition with great interplay between Chandler’s guitars and Orford’s keys, and great harmony vocals from Chandler, Orford and bassist Andy Marlow. It really is a standout number which delights the crowd.
The second half of the show is devoted to Jadis’ recent excellent More Questions Than Answers release. Remarkably, so long into their career, this is probably their finest album since their debut album. Chandler reassures the crowd not to be put off by the new material, and by the end of the evening there seem to be no doubters left as they pull off an excellent performance of the whole album. It is difficult to imagine how anyone would not be captivated by the quality of such songs, starting with the muscular but fluidly melodic Said and Done. They pull back a bit on the darker and more sombre Wood between the Worlds, which gives Chandler’s soft vocals more room to breath. The pace and power picks up later in the song with Marlow carrying it all along with his classy bass.
The madrigal like Do You Know is one of the standout songs on the album and here it commences with what sounds like a mandolin, and some lovely harmony vocals. The more forceful mid-section is a showcase for Marlow’s bass and Christey’s drums, which then gives way to delightful flights of flute from Orford – always a great pleasure to see Martin on the flute. This song is a tour de force for the band and one of the highlights of the evening. Later on, the powerful From All Sides provides a great zenith for the show, careering along on the tank tracks of Christey’s drums and Marlow’s bass. Orford’s organ and synth work thrills alongside Chandler’s spectacular guitar skills. After that excitement Jadis soothingly conclude the main show with a more soulful Fading Truth, which includes a characteristically fine and celebratory guitar solo from Gary Chandler – in an excellent band Chandler has clearly been the main star and plays with style and feeling all night long.
The crowd demand an encore obviously and Jadis return to play the ‘old but gold’ song Hiding in the Corner, which sparkles and delights. The crowd insist upon more and Jadis pull off a real surprise with the ancient gem of The Disastrous Tea. (It has to be Tea obviously, this is Prog, after all!) Chandler shares that in their early days their original bassist Trevor Dawkins used to perform the ‘Dead Fly’ dance on the floor during this song, but no dead flies are in evidence tonight. Nevertheless, this seemingly unrecorded instrumental piece is great fun with some rollocking guitar histrionics from Chandler, backed with great energy and brio by his excellent band mates – a marvellous end to a marvellous evening.
On the form of their most recent excellent album and their live shows Jadis are clearly a rejuvenated force who are having fun and performing brilliantly – if they come to play anywhere near you, just go.
[Photos by Leo Trimming]
SETLIST
Set 1
There’s a Light
G13
Where in the World
Understand
This Changing Face
A Life is All You need
Follow me to Salzburg
Wonderful World
Set 2
Said and Done
Wood Between the Worlds
Everything We See
Do You Know
Questions without Answers
From All Sides
Fading Truth
~ Encore
Hiding in the Corner
The Disastrous Tea
MUSICIANS
Gary Chandler – Guitars, Vocals
Martin Orford – Keyboards, Flute, Backing Vocals
Andy Marlow – Bass, Backing Vocals
Steve Christey – Drums
LINKS
Jadis – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
