Mission - Sala Repvblicca, Valencia, 30/4/2023

  by Philamonjaro

published: 3 / 7 / 2023

intro

Philamonjaro photographs and watches a haunting, career-spanning performance from The Mission in Valencia.

As the stage lights faded up to a blues wash and the sound system swelled up in an ambient drone, The MIssion took position punctuating the sound with a few sparse notes testing their instruments. Then they seamlessly cross-faded into ‘Beyond The Pale’, the single from their 1988 release ‘Children.’ And the show was on. Wielding his twelve-string electric guitar, Wayne Hussey sang, “Thunder clouds the skies/Drifting with the tide/ Floating with the stream/The howling winds have gathered strength….” It was metaphoric for the building momentum of the night. Along with founding bandmates Craig Adams on bass, Simon Hinkler playing lead guitar, and new member Alex Baum on drums, the quartet drove a formable sound. They gathered energy as the night continued. Visually the lighting created dynamic colour through fog that added to the nearly ethereal, often haunting sound as The Mission was backlit and silhouetted, shadowy figures hidden underneath wide brimmed hats. It was all part of the mystique. The set represented career-spanning songs drawing from early compositions. This included four songs from their 1990 release ‘Carved in Sand’: ‘Belief’, ‘Sea of Love’, ‘Butterfly on a Wheel’ and ‘Deliverance’. There were three songs from 1987’s ‘The First Chapter’: ‘Serpent's Kiss’, ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ and ‘Naked and Savage’. And only a couple of more recent songs ‘Met-Amor-Phosis’ and ‘Grotesque’ were worked into the set. All selections were superbly performed. Hard to peg the band into a single genre, The Mission definitely hearken to a late 80’s guitar-driven sound that fits with other favourites from our collective memories; U2, The Cure, Echo and The Bunnymen and The Alarm. But they are absolutely unique in their own sound as they forge post-punk and goth rock with other influences that make memorable melodies and driving grooves. This ‘Déjà Vu’ Tour 2023 is the highly anticipated rescheduled tour that was postponed in 2021/2022 due to the lingering impact of the pandemic. Both fans and the band were ready. Wrapping up Europe by the end of May and continuing onto the United States in early September through until mid-October, the tour ends in late October with only a few UK dates. Their first date back in the U.K. coincides the day after the scheduled release of a monumental three disc/vinyl collection titled ‘Collected’. Available for pre-order. The release features all their singles since their beginning. It also features six 12” remixes. The band’s online store offers 500 limited, numbered, vinyl copies. According to their website, purchases include a five track download from their Thekla, Bristol concert back in April 2013. Included in the downloads is their version of ‘All Along the Watchtower’. Live or recorded, it is a fitting celebration of a notable career. Set List: Beyond the Pale Serpent's Kiss Over the Hills and Far Away Met-Amor-Phosis Naked and Savage Neverland Sea of Love Like a Child Again Grotesque Butterfly on a Wheel Wasteland Deliverance Encore: Never Again Severina Belief Tower of Strength Photos by Philamonjaro www.philamonjaro.com

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