CINCINNATI, OH- Gene Loves Jezebel featuring Jay Aston set off on a short 14-date U.S. tour earlier this month. As fans of the band know, there are actually two separate entities using the GLJ name, with each being fronted by one of the Aston twins. Jay’s version also features original band members James Stevenson (guitar) and Peter “Bugg” Rizzo (bass) still in the fold, bringing authenticity to the songs. The tour also featured the return of ’80s pop artist Belouis Some to U.S. stages for the first time since then. Both bands were originally slated to open for The Alarm last year. Sadly, the tour was sidelined when Mike Peters was diagnosed with a resurgence of cancer and underwent treatment just days before it was supposed to start.
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Belouis Some (Neville Keighley) has been preparing and rehearsing for this for two years since the delay of The Alarm tour. Joined by his band—Sean Seymour (bass), Pablo Martin (guitar), Bruce Martin (keys), and drummer Kevin Tooley—Neville burst onto the stage with pure excitement. His countenance was full of character as they made their way through the 11-song set.
Playing tracks from his first two albums, Some People (1985) and Belouis Some (1987), he connected instantly with the crowd both musically and personally. Singing his hits “Imagination” and “Some People,” as well as “Round and Round”—the track written specifically for the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink at the behest of the late director—was a treat, as he exuded the exuberant joy of being back on stage. The audience reciprocated with a cheerful response too.
When last I saw Jay Aston and the Jezebels was the “Like Totally” Festival in Huntington Beach, CA in 2018. It was good to see them then, as I never had the chance in the ’80s, but I’ve been a fan since I first saw the video for “Heartache” and “Desire” on MTV’s 120 Minutes. Hearing them again in Cincinnati was also a great experience.
The band—which also included Belouis Some’s drummer, Kevin Tooley, taking up the throne—entered the stage with fury as they opened with the incredibly groovy “Jealous,” setting the pace for the night. The band was tight as they cruised through their 15-song set that spanned their career. They were energetic and sounded awesome. Jay’s voice was as powerful as ever as he performed his vocal calisthenics, going from a low tenor to a high falsetto. James and “Bugg” held it down solid in the grooves and solos. With songs like “Cow,” “How Do You Say Goodbye (to Someone You Love),” and “The Motion of Love”—the band’s biggest and first single to hit the Billboard Hot 100—Jay was personable with the intimate crowd, sharing anecdotes and conversations with his audience.
The band released their latest album, X – Love Death Sorrow, in December 2023, which was a mix of original songs and covers. One such cover was of The Cure’s “In Between Days,” which, in the hands of the Jezebels, comes across as more melancholic than the original. The song I had personally waited to hear, “Desire (Come and Get It)”—my personal favorite—was extended for a bit of a jam halfway through. Sadly, “Heartache” was not on the set list. Boo. The great thing about bands that still have the majority of core, longtime members is the way they play together. JA GLJ is no exception.
The band interacts with each other exactly like what I believe they are: old friends and brothers. The whole night was joyful in the fabric of the show. Ludlow Garage is a small venue where you can get right up on the stage to be a witness. Even though the tour has wrapped, I hope they come back again in the near future. They have some UK and festival dates coming up.
Follow Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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