Shooting Our Mouths Off

On Tuesday 30th September, the band made their debut at the iconic Fillmore in San Francisco. While it was their first time playing this historic venue, they had previously performed at the Fillmore in New Orleans during their 2024 tour with Johnny Marr.

Originally built in 1912 as the Majestic Hall and Academy of Dancing, the building took on new life in 1954 when Charles Sullivan – one of San Francisco’s most prominent African-American entrepreneurs – took over the lease. Renaming it the Fillmore Auditorium, Sullivan transformed the space into a cultural hub, hosting integrated dances and showcasing some of the biggest names in Black music.

San Francisco holds a special place in the band’s history – it was the site of their very first U.S. performance back in 1992. The seven-song set, filmed by MTV, was memorable not just for the milestone, but also for the chaotic weather that caused several delays throughout the show. Despite the challenges, it marked the beginning of their long-standing connection with American audiences. The band were originally scheduled to play The Fillmore back in 1997, but had to cancel their six-week U.S. tour after Tim suffered a ruptured disc in his neck.

Shows at the Fillmore are known for their personal, welcoming touch – an atmosphere that perfectly compliments James’ vibe. Thoughtful traditions make the experience feel special, like custom posters created for each show and handed out to fans for free as they leave and a large tub of complimentary apples at the entrance.

The San Francisco VIP event proved to be another fan-favourite stop on the tour. The band treated attendees to a three-song set, opening with ‘Better With You‘. This was followed by ‘Don’t Wait That Long‘ and ‘The Lake’, two deep cuts that have surfaced sporadically in past VIP performances, though only the former has broken into the main setlist. The Q&A session offered a mix of fun and heartfelt moments, but the standout question came from a man who asked Adrian if he remembered him from their school days in Hull. In a surprising twist, it turned out the two had once played in a band together – long before Adrian’s now well-established partnership with Saul began.

Due to thorough security checks, long queues still stretched down the street as the band was scheduled to take the stage, leading to a delayed start. Taking a cue from a similar situation in Brooklyn – though that delay was caused by traffic rather than security – they opened with the slow-burning, atmospheric ‘Attention’. ‘Say Something’ followed, marking Tim’s first journey to the barrier that evening. Up next was ‘Way Over Your Head’, the sole representative from Yummy in the first set. Despite being a newer track, it was met with a reaction just as ecstatic as the beloved Laid-era classics that have been part of the band’s catalogue for decades.

This year’s version of ‘Tomorrow’ has been nothing short of electrifying – and somehow, it keeps reaching new heights with every performance. True to form, the band leaned into their strength for improvisation, with the extended outro transforming into an epic duel between Saul and Jim. Violin and bass collided in a fierce, almost choreographed battle, their bodies nearly entwined as the intensity peaked – Saul’s violin practically smoking from the sheer ferocity of his playing.

The first set closed with ‘Beautiful Beaches’ – a staple in most recent set-lists, though noticeably absent from the last few shows, including the beachside Ohana Fest, where its omission was especially unexpected. Despite tackling the weighty subject of the California wildfires, the track never fails to energize the crowd, and it’s clear the band takes genuine joy in performing it. The song’s climax delivered one of the night’s most powerful moments: a thunderous drum battle between Dave and Debbie. Their synergy was on full display, reinforcing their shared role as the rhythmic backbone – and beating heart – of the band.

‘Skindiving‘ once again stood tall as the opener for the second set, catching some off guard with Chloe stepping confidently into the lead vocal role and Dave switching to bass. The set balanced delicacy and dynamism with ease – tender, haunting moments like ‘Lullaby‘ and ‘Knuckle Too Far‘ were seamlessly woven between high-energy bursts like ‘Ring the Bells‘ and ‘Come Home‘, which had the entire crowd moving as one.

In one of the night’s most heartfelt moments, Tim dedicated ‘Stay’ to anyone “thinking about jumping.” It marked the second – and final – track of the evening from Yummy, its raw vulnerability hitting hard in the quiet of the room. Tim’s lyrics have long explored real-life struggles, and another timely example in the current setlist is ‘Heads’, a powerful reflection on the state of America. Unfortunately, it was cut short due to a technical issue, leaving the crowd with only a glimpse of its intensity.

The second set wrapped up with a euphoric performance of ‘Laid’, sending the crowd into a frenzy. For the encore, the band returned with ‘Out to Get You’, pulling the energy back down for one final moment of intimacy and reflection. Without missing a beat, they then launched into ‘Sit Down’ – a timeless anthem that had the entire room singing in unison.