Gary Neville recently went viral and for a change he wasn’t wanging on about the Glazers or the crumbling state of Old Trafford. Instead, he was waxing lyrical about his favourite band, James.
Whenever Manchester groups are discussed, it’s usually Oasis, Stone Roses, The Smiths and Happy Mondays uttered, but Tim Booth and co. should certainly be spoken of in the same breath. Since forming in the Manc suburb of Whalley Range in 1982, James have amassed an enviable oeuvre, which finally (and deservedly) saw them reach number one with their 18th album Yummy earlier this year.
After a nostalgic support set from Razorlight, James demonstrate faith in their latest release, with eight tunes played from it – though an early classic, Sound, opens the show, with trumpeter Andy Diagram belting out solos from the balcony before joining the dozen musicians onstage for Waltzing Along.
An endlessly moving ball of energy in baggy clothing, Tim Booth is a spasming shaman that your eyes rarely flit from, despite the impressive visual experience surrounding him. Perhaps sensing that too many new tunes have been stockpiled early on, he ventures into the crowd for Tomorrow; despite his pleas to live in the moment, his journey to the back of the arena is captured by many a mobile phone. Speaking of which, Mobile God provides a mid-set highlight, its rising cacophony bolstered by the Manchester Voices Inspirational Choir as the band morph into robots via the big screens.
No James gig would be complete without Sit Down, but there are also welcome airings of fan favourites like Ring The Bells and Beautiful Beaches. An extended version of Sometimes has the epic scale required for a finale, but the band’s encore delivers final knockout blows Come Home, Getting Away With It and Laid.
Tim Booth wondered what to expect from “Cardiff on a Tuesday night”: backed by a 6,000-strong Welsh choir, he needn’t have worried. After four decades, James remain a real class act.
James + Razorlight, Utilita Arena Cardiff, Tue 11 June
words NEIL COLLINS photos TIM ALBAN
