Reverend and The Makers at O2 Academy 18th July 2009 by Sheffield Music Scene

Walking into a packed out O2 Academy is a thrilling experience but when it’s a Sheffield band that are playing you can just taste the tension and anticipation in the air. There was a great mixture of people there but everyone seemed to be buzzing and well up for this one; you even had the chance to get your picture on the front cover of the new album which is great if you’re into that sort of thing.

And so after what seemed just moments the lights dimmed and the band walked on, the crowed demanded the main man and a bespectacled Jon McClure duly obliged in his indelible style; arms out, tormenting the audience giving them the ‘cmon then thumping his chest to show the masses just what it meant to him to be there. This band is one of the best live experiences on the circuit and the fact they are homegrown makes the taste oh so much sweeter. The energy and passion they omit from the stage really gives you that “I wish I was up there feeling”, with Laura throwing some sexy shapes and the rest of the band going mad is difficult at times to know who to watch but it’s McClure who is the real star of the show, revving up the crowd, shadow boxing, chest thumping, never mind being The Reverend, the man is a messiah and his disciples lapped it all up all night.

Throwing in a mix of new and old tunes, like crowd favourite “Bandits”, the crowd sang, bounced and crowd surfed along (why do the Academy insist on the ridiculous no crowd surfing policy?). With new album “A French Kiss In The Chaos” to promote the band needed to get the mixture right but passed with flying colours, new single “Silence Is Talking” went down a storm whilst they also threw in a couple of slow tunes to give everyone a breather. Finishing on the classics “He Said He Loves Me” and “Armchair Detective” the last words you heard from McClure were “see you outside in 2 minutes”. A mad rush for the exits ensued and people gathered next to the venue awaiting one of those special after gig shows.

Two minutes later he appeared, clutching his acoustic guitar he bashed out song after song to the delight of all. A natural showman and natural talent it’s wonderful that Jon takes the time to do these legendary personal gigs, it really does leave you on a major buzz. I ended up standing next to and chatting to one very proud Mrs McClure who was singing along to a cover of Oasis’ “Whatever” at the top of her voice. I told her that no other artist in the Country would ever contemplate doing this; it means everything to the fans for it to happen. Laughing and joking with the crowd as he strummed along to various tunes you could tell Jon (or Jonathan as his Mum insisted on calling him) was in his element. “He could have gone to Oxford or Cambridge” said Mrs Mc, but me and a thousand other souls stood there lapping up this wonderful night, well we’re just so glad he didn’t.