The Jesus Lizard is the noise rock band for people who hate noise rock—and for those who live and breathe it. They’ve always occupied a space that defies categorization, blending abrasive intensity with riffs so undeniable they’ll burrow into your brain for weeks. Sure, their music is weird, but it’s also shockingly catchy. At times, you could even call it hipster metal.
They hit the stage just after 9PM to an Electric Ballroom jammed so tight you could barely move. Denison and Sims locked into position like they were ready for a fight, their stance as solid as their sound. For the next 90 minutes, it was controlled chaos—tight as hell but never losing that slinking Jesus Lizard groove. To say they were tight doesn’t even cover it. They were locked in—razor-sharp but still swinging with that filthy, slithering rhythm.
And then there’s David Yow. At 64, he hasn’t slowed down—or toned down. He spent nearly as much time in the crowd as he did on stage, throwing himself headfirst into the madness, guttural howl intact. Age hasn’t dulled his angst or his antics, and the audience loved every second of it.
This was my first time seeing them in over 20 years, and their first proper UK tour since 1998. (The brief reunion in 2009 doesn’t really count.) It’s wild, considering every show on this tour has sold out. With the release of their first album in 26 years, Rack, in 2024, they’ve proven they’re not just rehashing the past—they’re still vital and ferocious. Honestly, they could’ve doubled the nights at each stop and still packed the house.
With a band like this, one song from the new album just won’t cut it—and they know it. The setlist, which seems to change every night, gave us six tracks from Rack. Standouts like “Hide & Seek” and “Moto(R)” proved the new material can hold its own alongside their best work.
It was the classics that unmistakably shook the room. Tracks from Goat and Liar, “Mouth Breather” (dedicated to the late Steve Albini, who once called them “the best band of the ’90s, hands down”), “Seasick,” and “Boilermaker” delivered the kind of visceral energy that only The Jesus Lizard can. They even threw in a cover of Chrome’s “Chrome,” a nod to their roots that felt reverent without ever tipping into nostalgia.
There’s simply no one else who does what The Jesus Lizard does. They take the chaos of post-hardcore and make it danceable, accessible, and ultimately universal, all while keeping every ounce of their underground credibility. It’s no wonder they’re on Mike Patton’s Ipecac label; the only band that comes close to their live energy is Patton’s Tomahawk, and even they’d admit they fall short.
Sorry, not sorry that I have to heap more praise on these guys, but this band can’t be overhyped. They’ve influenced everyone from Nirvana to OK Go, and judging by the crowd—full of both longtime fans and a new generation—it’s clear their legacy continues to grow. London deserves a residency for them if only to let the rest of the scene take notes (post-punk is having a massive resurgence in London at the moment). And the Jesus Lizard? They’re still as raw, weird, and utterly essential as they’ve ever been. If you haven’t seen them yet, there’s no better time than now.
