Shooting Our Mouths Off

On 12th November, James performed at Ópera de Arame in Curitiba, Paraná, one of Brazil’s most iconic live music venues, marking their first visit to the country since last year’s Rock in Rio. The circular glass-and-steel structure sits above a lake, surrounded by the greenery of Parque das Pedreiras, creating a stunning backdrop for any performance.

Built in 1992 from steel tubing and transparent panels, its light, open design has become a symbol of modern Curitiba. It’s not just a favourite spot for concerts, it’s a major tourist attraction. The Ópera de Arame hosts everything from theatre and classical music to major rock shows, and is loved as much for its clear acoustics as for its striking look.

In the hour before the band took the stage, the heavens opened and thunder echoed through the sky. Fittingly, there was “a storm outside” – thankfully the stage was undercover, even if a little rain still managed to sneak in. Though it did cause the band to come on 10 minutes late in order to allow more time for the audience to arrive and find their seats.

The set opened with ‘Zero’ before the band launched into the night’s first single, ‘Ring the Bells’, followed by ‘Say Something’ – two fan favourites that always draw equally strong reactions despite their contrasting moods. The former showcases the band’s trademark energy and inventiveness, whereas the latter reveals their more reflective side, pairing emotional honesty with Tim’s tender vocal delivery.

‘All Good Boys’ made its first appearance in the main set since the Villar de Mouros Festival in August. A long-time fan favourite, the B-side will feature on the upcoming Nothing But Love: The Definitive Collection. In Curitiba, it flowed seamlessly into the equally beautiful and down-tempo ‘PS’, which has evolved in recent performances – not only through Saul’s haunting violin, but also Adrian’s expressive guitar work complimenting Chloe and Tim’s intertwining harmonies.

Despite performing Laid in full each night on their North American tour, the band clearly haven’t tired of it – two rarely heard gems, ‘Knuckle Too Far’ and ‘Skindiving’, resurfaced in the setlist. The latter spotlights Chloe’s vocals, highlighting how much she’s enriched the band’s sound, with Tim notably stepping back. That momentum carried into ‘Shadow of a Giant’ from Yummy, which opens with a striking blend of Chloe’s vocals, Saul’s violin, and Adrian’s cello. The set also featured ‘Way Over Your Head’ and ‘Stay, further showcasing the album’s evolving live presence.

With a great crowd clearly up for it, the band delivered plenty of hits to keep the momentum going, even on such a miserable, rain-soaked night – including ‘Waltzing Along’, ‘Sit Down’, and ‘Getting Away With It’. The penultimate track, ‘Sometimes’, proved especially fitting, with its lyrics about rain flooding gutters and calling for thunder. The performance culminated in a stage invasion, perfectly capturing the strong connection James share with their fanbase.

After a lively finale with Laid, which leaves no one sitting still, the band exited the stage, returning for a two-track encore: ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Sound’. ‘Tomorrow‘, part of the band’s repertoire since its inclusion on Wah Wah in 1994, still soars in a live setting and has been given fresh life this year, largely thanks to Jim and Saul’s contributions. A cinematic masterpiece, ‘Sound’ is a uniquely expansive track that showcases the talents of every band member and their improvisational skill – making it the perfect choice for such a one-of-a-kind venue.