Birmingham outfit JAWS released one of the most capturing records of 2016, so naturally the anticipation rocked sky high before their set at Scala last week.

The room is buzzing with excitement and laughter as the stage gets set for JAWS this evening. Already dancing to the familiar sound of ‘Hotline Bling’ everything is in place for a monumental set.

Armed with inflatable toys and a bursting arsenal of catchy tunes, JAWS enter the stage. Wasting no time the trio kicks off with Just A Boy the opener from their latest Simplicity. The intertwined guitar work fills the venue, opening the gates to JAWS‘ immense universe of fussy guitars and striking lyrics. “I’m just a boy, but I’ll be a better man”, Connor Schofield sings, eloquently summing up the dual message that JAWS music conveys – a mixture of introvert self-deprecation and glittering ballsy soundscapes.

The band quite naturally combines material of their debut, Be Slowly, with more recent tracks whilst keeping a prominent coherency throughout. Going from debut EP track Stay In to soaring sophomore dream, Work It Out, JAWS master the art of highlighting their development without alienating their audience.

What We Haven’t Got Yet is one of Simplicity’s most profound tracks. The newfound heaviness works wonders live and the singalong friendly chorus blows the tune to anthem-like proportions. The cascading guitar riffs and raining drumbeat still don’t outshine the lyrical quality of the tune.

The lyrical growth that JAWS have shown on their new album elevates them from just another surf-rock sunshine band to one with a prominently striking edge. Mostly letting the music speak Connor takes a rare moment to address the audience. “You still good?”, he asks, immediately cheered on by the audience. “Cool. I’m going to have a drink if that’s okay? This song is called ‘17’ and I don’t know about you, but when I was 17 the world was a bit fucked and I didn’t really know what was going on.” Gazing around the room, seemingly looking for words, he finally concludes: “Basically what I’m trying to say is that it’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Through the brutal honesty there is that sense of light captured in 17. Alex Hudson‘s fragile guitar chords hanging in the air. It’s that kind of eternal moment where the song fills the room, not in a grand sense but in the more piercing mature of something truly touching.

Through the darker nature the Simplicity tracks carry, the light-hearted glimpse of 2014 throwbacks works wonders. Surround You and Be Slowly simply sparkles in the best way, with glittering hooks and dazed drumbeats.

Though JAWS are a slightly introverted band, letting the tunes speak more than words, they do have an incredibly giving audience. There is a sense of unspoken symbiosis that seem to stun even frontman Connor himself. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say. This is amazing.”

Finishing off with Right In Front Of Me the bombastic energy really fills the entire Scala with a lucid daze. There’s a thoughtfulness that pierces through every state of JAWS.

It doesn’t take long before the B-town band caves in to the demand for an encore. Digging out some old favourites JAWS let Doughnut shine, before Gold finalizes the marvels of the evening. “We’ve got one more song. We’re going to take it to another level.” Reaching for new heights, JAWS have stunned with both dancing, singalongs and a few tears, in short, an unbeatable trio for a truly striking gig experience.

Photos: Aurora Henni Krogh