Cleveland

The band’s Cleveland stop brought them to the Globe Iron, a newly opened 1,200-capacity indoor venue that debuted in May. Operated by AEG, the space breathes new life into the historic site of the 19th-century Globe Iron Works Foundry. James join a growing roster of notable acts – including The Damned and Napalm Death – among the first wave of performers to grace its stage.

As the photos below show, the venue has been thoughtfully renovated to preserve its industrial charm, featuring original brickwork, exposed wood beams, and plenty of raw texture. It’s uniquely situated beneath the striking blue arches of the Main Avenue Bridge.

As headliners on the current tour, the band have been able to offer exclusive VIP soundcheck experiences. This package allows a small group of fans to watch the final three songs of the band’s soundcheck, take part in a Q&A session, receive a commemorative lanyard and a piece of exclusive merchandise, and gain early access to the venue. In Cleveland, the soundcheck set included ‘One of the Three‘, ‘Hymn From a Village‘, and ‘Oh My Heart‘.

The band opened their first set with ‘One of the Three’, followed by an early performance of ‘PS’ – a song that’s been typically reserved for later in the show this tour. Beginning with Dave’s familiar drumbeat and a soft guitar intro that gradually builds in intensity before Tim’s vocals emerge, ‘PS’ is always a standout in the band’s live sets, showcasing Adrian’s exceptional guitar work and Saul’s hauntingly beautiful violin – an instrument that perfectly compliments the song’s emotional depth.

‘Way Over Your Head‘ was the first Yummy track of the night, appearing in the first set alongside six songs from Laid. Often ending in a powerful, extended outro with both the band and crowd singing in unison, it’s quickly becoming a unifying, anthemic moment in their live shows. ‘Waltzing Along’ marked the first truly upbeat moment of the night, while ‘Just Like Fred Astaire’ made its official tour debut, having previously only appeared during a VIP soundcheck.

The band have never been ones for predictability, which makes the frequent use of ‘Skindiving’ to open the second set a testament to just how well it works in that spot. ‘Shadow of a Giant‘, the second and final Yummy track of the night, appeared mid-way through the second set, just before ‘Tomorrow’. Alongside ‘Tomorrow‘, the other songs not from Laid or Yummy were ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Beautiful Beaches‘. Though a staple of the UK summer shows, ‘Sit Down’ has only made three appearances on the tour so far.

‘Sometimes’ served as the penultimate track of the night – a euphoric anthem the band clearly revel in performing. The current arrangement sees Debbie step out from behind the drum kit, guitar in hand, to join the rest of the band at the front of the stage, adding to the song’s communal energy. It was followed by ‘Laid’, with both tracks easily among the most well-received when the band play in North America. They couldn’t have chosen a stronger way to close the night.