WORDS AND IMAGES MICHAEL BOND
Huge homecoming gig for Manchester icons James, with a sell-out show at the Co-Op Live
Razorlight take to the stage to kickstart this epic night of music. The 2000’s indie staples fronted by Johnny Borrell get things going with a 45-minute set spanning 22 years. Peppered with classic indie disco floor fillers like ‘In the Morning’, ‘Golden Touch’ and ‘Stumble & Fall’, the crowd quickly get warmed up and are in good voice, singing along with the band. Borrell channels the swagger that has made him such a good frontman as he drives through their set, which is nicely rounded off with a hat trick of crowd pleasers ‘Before I Fall to Pieces’ and ‘Somewhere Else’ culminating in their 2006 #1 single ‘America’.
Next up, the much-anticipated main event. Riding high following the release of their 18th studio album “Yummy”, earlier this year and their first number 1 album to date. James are powering their way through a UK arena tour which tonight sees them playing to a sold-out crowd at Europe’s largest indoor arena.
As the band take to the stage, made up of the core members including two drummers, and a set of backing singers. Both me and the crowd behind me can already tell it’s going to be a good night!
Frontman Tim Booth starts of proceedings with ‘Johnny Yen’, taken from their debut 1986 album ‘Stutter’. As a frontman Tim is one of a kind, visually and vocally he is always on point and tonight is no exception. With his baggy pants and faux fur jacket, it’s not long before he starts to wave and bend his body and arms with his unmistakable dancing, which at times feels like he has been possessed by the music around him.
Not to be constrained to the, all be it huge stage, by the third song ‘Life’s a Fu**ing Miracle’, Tim takes the opportunity to have a wonder down into the pit to see the fans. Standing on the barrier and using the crowds hands for support and balance, he gives them the opportunity to have a face-to-face performance, creating some amazing memory of their night. before dropping face first to surf the crowd.
With such an extensive back catalogue, James have never shied away from dropping fan favourites to concentrate on their new material and tonight is no exception, with their 21-song set list containing 8 tracks taken from their new studio album. That being said, there is still a good mix of old and new to keep everyone happy tonight. With the likes of ‘She’s a Star’, ‘Tomorrow’ and modern classic ‘Sit Down’ making the setlist. Rounding off the initial set with ‘Sometimes’ (Lester Piggott).
The band are not long back on stage again to start the encore which gets up and running with ‘Come Home’ rounding the night off nicely with ‘Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)’ and ‘Laid’, which inevitably continues the crowd participation into an epic singalong to round off a great night of music.
James have managed to endure, having a career that has spanned over 40 years and if their recent #1 album and tonight’s performance is everything to go by, they are still as relevant as ever.
Setlist:
1/ Johnny Yen
2/ Ring the Bells
3/ Life’s a Fucking Miracle
4/ Butterfly
5/ Sound
6/ Better With You
7/ She’s a Star
8/ Stay
9/ Jam J
10/ Way Over Your Head
11/ Sit Down
12/ Mobile God
13/ Rogue
14/ Shadow of a Giant
15/ Out to Get You
16/ Tomorrow
17/ Sometimes (Lester Piggott)
Encore:
18/ Come Home
19/ Beautiful Beaches
20/ Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)
21/ Laid
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
