FIELD NOTES: Jesse Malin, Islington Assembly Hall, 2nd May 2025

Jesse Malin, Islington Assembly Hall (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

Since first seeing Jesse Malin support Ryan Adams in the early 2000s, I’ve watched the New Yorker in concert well into double figures. I’ve seen him as the live-wire punk rocker, the soulful singer-songwriter, and the fearless performer who treated the venue floor like his own living room. It was a profound shock, then, to hear of his spinal stroke in 2023.

Thankfully, 2025 signalled a defiant return. Following a star-studded comeback at New York’s Beacon Theatre, Malin made his way back to his "second home" for a two-night residency in Islington, London —his first UK appearances in over two years.

The Return of PMA

As Malin took his seat centre stage for the second night of the residency, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd didn’t just cheer; they saluted. The band wasted no time, launching into the perfectly apt "I Would Do It For You", instantly erasing the two-year gap since his last London visit.

Despite the physical shift in his performance, Malin’s spirit remained undiluted. The setlist was a masterclass in his storied back catalogue, peppered with choice covers from The Pogues, Patti Smith, and The Rolling Stones.

The emotional apex of the night came when Malin—who has long preached the gospel of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)—maneuvered himself into a standing position using only his microphone stand. "I’ve been practicing that in my living room for six months", he deadpanned to a roar of approval.

Jesse Malin & Billy Bragg, Islington Assembly Hall (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

Special Guests & Spiritual Standards

Malin has always worn his influences on his sleeve, and tonight, those influences stepped out of the shadows and onto the stage:

• Aaron Lee Tasjan joined for a shimmering "Shining Down."

• Billy Bragg brought the house down with "Ameri’ka" and a rousing "Rudie Can’t Fail".

• Peter Perrett reprised the 1978 classic "Another Girl, Another Planet", a nod to the lineage of rock and roll that Malin so dearly loves.

A Poignant Farewell

The evening closed with the familiar strains of "You Know It's Dark When Atheists Start to Pray". It was a poignant conclusion to a night that felt less like a standard gig and more like a victory lap. As Malin left the stage with the assistance of his walker to thunderous applause, the message was clear: the recovery continues, but the soul of the man remains untouched.

Long may it continue.

Jesse Malin and band, Islington Assembly Hall (Image: Damien Wilkinson)

Seat: Standing

Set list:
1. I Would Do It for You
2. Oh Sheena
3. Addicted
4. Downliner
5. If I Should Fall From Grace With God (The Pogues cover)
6. Room 13
7. Turn Up the Mains
8. The Way We Used to Roll
9. She Don't Love Me Now
10. Free Money (Patti Smith cover)
11. Brooklyn
12. The Archer
13. State of the Art
14. Black Haired Girl
15. All the Way From Moscow
16. She's So Dangerous
17. Sway (The Rolling Stones cover)
18. Wendy
19. Meet Me at the End of the World
20. Shining Down (with Aaron Lee Tasjan)
21. Ameri'ka (with Billy Bragg)
22. Rudie Can't Fail (The Clash cover) (with Billy Bragg)
23. Another Girl, Another Planet (The Only Ones cover) (with Peter Perrett)
24. You Know It's Dark When Atheists Start to Pray