Shooting Our Mouths Off

James last performed in the Nashville area as part of Lollapalooza ’97 at the now-closed Starwood Amphitheatre in Antioch. On Thursday 4th September, they returned to the city with a headline show at Cannery Hall – Nashville’s largest independent music venue.

Interestingly, the building hasn’t always been a music venue. Originally constructed in 1883 as a flour mill by Liberty Self‑Rising Flour, it later operated as a coffee mill in the 1930s, and by the 1950s, it had become a food-processing plant for Dale Foods. In 1981, the Dale family gave the space new life as The Cannery – an 18,000-square-foot country-style restaurant and live music venue. By day, it hosted country legends like Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Tammy Wynette; by night, it became a stage for rising rock and alternative acts, cementing its place in Nashville’s evolving music scene.

For the evening’s first set, the band took the traditional route again – performing Laid in full, in the exact order it appears on the album. Often (and rightly) described as an underrated drummer, Dave delivered a masterclass in subtlety and precision. His playing on Laid is textured, restrained, and quietly intricate, anchoring the album’s emotional core without ever overpowering it. During ‘Skindiving‘, he gave the crowd a glimpse of his versatility, stepping away from the kit to join Jim on bass.

For the second set, the band opened with the low-key ‘Way Over Your Head‘ from Yummy, starting gently before shifting gears with ‘She’s a Star’. ‘Leviathan’ made its tour debut, having been a staple of the summer shows. The evening closed with their unofficial anthem, ‘Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)‘ – a fitting end to a dynamic and varied performance.