LIVE REVIEW: Jazmin Bean @ YES, Manchester

Bringing a long-awaited night of twists, lights and tongue-lashing lyrics to the north-west after an unfortunate postponement, upcoming alt star JAZMIN BEAN is finally hitting the stage for their biggest and loudest tour yet. Titled the Terrified Tour, BEAN expressed such an emotion after being hit with a sickness bug – the downfall of their originally scheduled tour – but soldiering on, they managed to still give the crowd what they’ve waited so patiently for. A night of singing the heart out, screaming the lungs out, and looking so freakishly fabulous while doing so.

BEAN‘s support for the tour is fellow pop artist, makeup muse and personal friend, SALVIA. Promoting her debut album 001011, released just this past summer, SALVIA came with a promise of funky beats, futuristic rhythms, and energy flowing out of every painted fingertip. While the music played and the audience was loving every second of the sound, the artist’s own stage presence felt like it was lagging somewhat. During her set, SALVIA would confess to having a minor emotional breakdown mid-song – owning it like a queen by claiming it was “kind of cunt” – so there may be something beneath the surface the outsiders cannot see, but there was more movement that could have matched all the energies within that half-hour set. For example, the artist’s cover of Money, a song that throughout time always demands a no-nonsense attitude and a strict air of independence, felt slightly dampened due to the minimal body movements with the music. Sometimes there is justification to hold onto a mic stand and sweetly sway with the sounds surrounding oneself; however, with the hyperpop style that SALVIA brought out to the crowd, this was not always the most fitting choreography. And SALVIA is an artist who can bring 100%, so there should have been more to bump the set to that precious 100.

Mismatched energy aside, the performance was still one that resonated with the crowd before her and that’s what makes or breaks a performer for the night. SALVIA has surely made more fans than ever before that night, just with her brand of electronic hyperpop madness alone echoing in the room. Maybe next time the dance moves will work alongside the vocals. There is always next time.

Rating: 6/10

Following cheers, chants, and a fraction of time dedicated to fixing technical issues, the human of the hour JAZMIN BEAN came on stage. Dressed for the most horrorific wedding to rock down the aisle, BEAN announced that the set would be shortened as they are under the weather. Requesting for the help of their fans in a “group effort” to allow the songs to play on, everyone was more than happy to sing along to every word from BEAN‘s discography.

Opening with two of their most well-known tracks, Worldwide Torture and Yandere, everyone was playing their part in helping the show go ahead as fun and as smoothly as possible. Singing every word, chanting every chorus, the fans’ collective choir of voices at moments were overshadowing BEAN‘s own microphone-aided vocals and in a smaller venue hall, that is a challenge completed in such an astounding way. Along with these older tracks, BEAN brought out some of the newer songs in their repertoire; a task they claim makes them nervous every show because they fear people walking out upon hearing a new song and not enjoying it. It was safe to say however, after the brand new trio of Piggie, Favourite Toy and Terrified, everyone stayed put and even cheered along with BEAN‘s vocals.

Watching on, it would be hard to determine if BEAN was actually of ill health or not. They did not let their suffering get in the way of their neo-alternative personality coming out on stage. With never skipping a word or line, never missing a beat, and even bringing in some light choreography, it was as if illness was never a thing. JAZMIN BEAN was just their usual, creepy, punk rock self. For someone still fairly new to the scene, to hold this level of professionalism in the midst of adversity, this is a great sign of how they will handle obstacles as their journey in the industry continues.

With the likes of Hello Kitty, Princess Castle and the all-round fan-favourite track Saccharine, the show was winding down to its near untimely end. BEAN‘s clarification of their closing songs felt tainted with dread and despair; they did not want it to end this way but they had to put their health first. They brought on the end of the show with a promise that they will return to Manchester, and they will return in the best of health and make up for all the lost time fans have had while waiting for this very night. This shows a level of maturity in JAZMIN BEAN, someone who is barely in their 20s and have found a way to be both honest and gentle while being in the public eye in many ways over the years. This isn’t a skill that can come naturally to many artists, and may never come to a choice few, so this was an insight into BEAN as a person and not just as a personality. It was heart-warming and it’s obvious that this is someone who cares about the people who brought them to where they are today.

Sweet with spice, but undoubtedly nice. JAZMIN BEAN is the leader of the new alternative and they are staying grounded and honest while marching through the music scene.

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in Manchester from Eliza Waite here: 

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