Shooting Our Mouths Off

It wasn’t only the Kingston shows that sadly had to be cancelled last November due to illness in the band – the Liverpool dates were affected too. Tim, Saul, Jim and Mark had been set to perform two intimate acoustic sets, complete with Q&As, at the iconic Cavern Club, as well as unveil a brick on the Cavern Wall of Fame. Thankfully, a new date was soon announced for Monday 9th February, and we were there at the intimate 300-capacity venue to capture every moment.

The format mirrored the Kingston show: a mix of audience questions interspersed with tracks from the band. The question of dream venues surfaced again, prompting Tim to shout “pyramids” with such uncontained excitement that it hardly mattered he was nowhere near his mic. Other topics included which songs they enjoy playing most – ‘Sometimes’ for Jim and ‘Zero’ for Tim – with both agreeing that new material is always the most thrilling to perform, largely because of the risk that comes with its freshness.

The band did a great job of orchestrating sets that echoed the VIP sessions they run on tour, and even when no question was thrown their way, the back-and-forth between them – and the stories shared with the crowd – remained thoroughly entertaining. Highlights ranged from Saul showing off his new violin, complete with a pattern he claimed resembled a pair of “tarts’ knickers,” to the band laughingly reminiscing about arguments from many moons ago. Thankfully, those days seem firmly behind them: when asked which decade of their career they favour, Tim was quick to say they’re enjoying where they are right now more than ever.

The matinee set opened at an unhurried pace with ‘Top of the World’, a song that – aside from a one-off performance in Washington last year – hadn’t been aired live since the band’s now-famous Acropolis show in 2023. ‘The Shining’ followed, complete with a minor lyrical stumble from Tim that only served to underline how raw and special live music can be. The jaunty single ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’ came next – normally a layered sonic journey, the four of them stripped it back into something intimate and deeply affecting. Tim’s vocals sounded stronger than ever, and with the rest of the band absent, Saul took over the kick drum midway, lifting the song as it built to its climax.

‘PS’, which sounded huge night after night on last year’s North American tour, was beautiful from start to finish. Opening with Saul’s expressive violin, soon joined by Mark’s delicate piano work, it was perfectly suited to the intimacy of the room. ‘Broken by the Hurt’ followed, another quiet track that the band don’t get many opportunities to play. Until the Kingston show, it hadn’t been played since 2019. Led by Jim’s stunning bass-line, the poignant track carried Tim’s soothing vocals over a steady tempo. As the song drew to a close, he delivered the outro vocals unamplified – something that wouldn’t be possible in the larger venues, such as those on the upcoming arena tour. It was a moment that highlighted the eclectic range of his voice, as he moved effortlessly from gentle and soothing to raw and powerful.

Instantly recognisable by Saul’s acoustic intro, ‘Tomorrow’ took on a new lease of life last year, its euphoric energy driven in large part by the close musical connection between Saul and Jim as they play off each other. In the tiny room, the emotive track sparkled even more than usual, drawing a huge reaction that made the space feel like a stadium. Last but not least came ‘Laid’ – the crowd tore into the first verse and chorus while the band beamed, before Mark, Saul, and Jim kicked it back to the top for Tim to launch into the vocals, sending the room into full-throttle celebration.

The evening set featured the same songs as the matinee, though in a different order, with the addition of ‘Say Something’. Opening the set, it immediately fired up the crowd, before the band moved into ‘The Shining’. ‘Top of the World’ slowed the pace, only for the energy to lift again with ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’, which drew an amazing reaction despite being just a few months old. The set rolled on with ‘Broken by the Hurt’, ‘PS’, and ‘Tomorrow’ – the latter complete with an improvisational section that offered a revealing glimpse into the band’s songwriting process – before culminating with ‘Laid’. Reading the crowd’s energy, the band suggested swapping ‘Laid’ for ‘Sit Down’, leaving the decision to the audience – who roared for ‘Laid’ without hesitation.