Shooting Our Mouths Off

For their Portland show, the band returned to the historic Crystal Ballroom, where they last performed last year during their co-headline tour with Johnny Marr.

Originally built in 1914 as a dance hall, the venue was known as Ringler’s Cotillion Hall during its early years. Despite the hardships of the Great Depression, it continued to host popular dance revivals, cementing its place as a cornerstone of Portland’s social scene. By the early 1960s, declining revenues prompted a shift in direction and the venue began hosting major musical acts of the era – including legendary performers such as James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and Ike & Tina Turner.

For the Portland VIP, the band revisited two tracks from the San Francisco soundcheck – ‘Don’t Wait That Long’ and ‘The Lake’. The latter, a challenging piece that had only ever been performed with an orchestra until recently, is growing more powerful with each soundcheck, the band sounding increasingly tight and assured. They also delivered a surprise with ‘Señorita’, a fan favourite from Pleased to Meet You that is typically reserved for Greek shows, most recently played in Athens last September.

The first set opened with the moody, atmospheric ‘Dream Thrum‘, setting a contemplative tone. ‘Five-O‘ followed – still a powerful staple in the band’s live repertoire, even beyond their Laid performances. The momentum continued with ‘One of the Three‘ and ‘Way Over Your Head‘, both deepening the immersive build of the set. Then came ‘She’s a Star’ – the first true anthem of the night, delivering a powerful emotional lift with Mark’s lush, expressive piano and Adrian’s graceful sliding guitar.

‘PS’ shone brightly once again, its current live arrangement elevated by Saul’s evocative violin and a lengthy outro that allows the band to stretch out and improvise – creating a striking, in-the-moment connection that feels both spontaneous and deeply tuned-in. ‘Getting Away With It’ followed, lifting the energy with one final surge before giving way to the tender, slow-burn of ‘Out to Get You‘. 

Continuing the slow-burn theme, ‘Skindiving’ opened the second set, as it has for much of the tour. During the San Francisco VIP soundcheck, Jim remarked that Debbie and Chloe were the two members they’d always been waiting for to complete the band – a sentiment that rings true as she steps into the spotlight on ‘Skindiving’, not only taking the lead but also clearly demonstrating what she brings to the dynamic of the nine-piece lineup.

The return of ‘Zero’ came as a welcome surprise – especially after it was dropped in Los Angeles due to technical issues. While the rest of the set held no major surprises, ‘Shadow of a Giant’ made its way back in, joining ‘Way Over Your Head‘ as the night’s two selections from Yummy. Both tracks carry a reflective, emotional weight, though the most affecting moment of the sets this tour is ‘Lullaby’. Performed by just Tim, Jim, Adrian, and Mark, its stripped-back arrangement brings a quiet intensity that makes the song feel almost fragile. With Tim alone at the centre, exposed and unguarded, it becomes a moment of striking vulnerability.

James are true setlist kings and queens, and they brought the show full circle by closing in stark contrast to how they began – ending on an undeniable high with a powerful trio of ‘Sit Down’, ‘Sometimes‘, and ‘Laid‘. After a brief break offstage, they returned for an encore with ‘Tomorrow’ – a song that’s typically found mid-set on this tour, but one that, in both its current live form and original recording, fully earns its place as a finale.