Shooting Our Mouths Off

For the Yorkshire date of the tour, the band played in Leeds. Closest to a homecoming for Tim, the show took place at the First Direct Arena – an arena the band always relish performing in – which they have now graced six times.

While VIP soundcheck attendees queued outside, the band could be heard rehearsing ‘Moving On’. Once inside, they ran through ‘Runaground’, ‘Attention’, and Nantucket. Notably, this marked the first performance of ‘Attention’ since São Paulo last November. Soundchecks aren’t just about fine-tuning the audio – they’re also a chance to dial in visuals and lighting. During Mark’s keyboard solo, both its beauty and intensity were amplified by a focused spotlight, accompanied by lasers that hinted at an even more striking effect once the main show began in full darkness.

The first three songs mirrored the Birmingham show the night before, opening with ‘Come Home’ and keeping the energy high through ‘I Know What I’m Here For’ and ‘Ring the Bells’. The pace then eased for ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’, a track that was performed in two very different styles during the warm-up shows – full band in Bristol and acoustic in Bournemouth. This time, they returned to the full-band arrangement, but in true James fashion, it wasn’t a carbon copy of Bristol. The performance felt more refined and polished, even in the improvised sections, underlining just how tight they are as a live band.

‘Greenpeace’, ‘PS’, and ‘Shadow of a Giant’ brought the tempo down a notch. ‘PS’ made its arena debut of the tour, having previously appeared in Bristol, and proved to be a real standout. It’s a beautiful, understated track, carried by Tim’s soft, expressive vocals and a gentle, pulsing drumbeat, ebbing and flowing as each band member weaves in and out of the arrangement. The highlight came towards the end, when Andy and Saul moved close together, their trumpet and violin lines intertwining delicately, as Tim looked on in quiet admiration.

Unsurprising for those who’d caught the soundcheck – but a welcome surprise for everyone else – crowd favourite ‘Moving On’ made its debut on the tour. This was a reworked version, reaching the chorus much sooner than usual, in a style similar to the recent reimagining of ‘Stay’. With Chloe and Tim standing hand in hand against a backdrop of stunning visuals, it lost none of its emotional weight. The underrated ‘Runaground’ followed, sitting perfectly alongside it and sustaining the mood.

The lively ‘Waltzing Along’ saw Tim head out onto the walkway, climbing onto the barrier with a fan, before returning to the stage for new track ‘Nantucket’. Four shows in, it’s beginning to catch on, with the crowd managing to sing along to parts of the layered, synth-driven piece that feels more like a celebration with each listen. At the end, Tim disappeared, only to re-emerge among the seated crowd for ‘Born of Frustration’ and ‘Say Something’, before making his way back to the stage for ‘Five-O’. An atmospheric, slow-building track, you’d expect it to thrive in more intimate settings rather than a vast arena – but from the very first note, it absolutely soared.

‘Attention’ made the leap from soundcheck to the main set, paving the way for ‘Heads’ to make its tour debut. Bathed in green light, the stage mirrored the track’s political edge, with visuals that amplified its urgency. It was a fiery, fully charged performance, culminating in Chloe joining Debbie and Dave on the drums. Rather than jumping straight into a crowd-pleasing anthem, the band took a more measured turn with the stunning ‘Way Over Your Head’. From there, Dave ignited ‘Sit Down’ with its instantly recognisable, infectious beat – prompting a ripple of anticipation through the audience. ‘Getting Away With It’ brought the main set to a close, giving Tim the chance to dance along the walkway, soon joined by Debbie for a fittingly celebratory finale.

The band returned to the stage to the anthemic ‘Sometimes’, instantly uniting the crowd. While their set lists – and even the arrangements of certain songs – are in constant flux, ‘Sometimes’ remains a steadfast favourite. Judging by the crowd, who carried the lyrics long after the band fell silent, it’s clear why it continues to endure. ‘Laid’ brought the night to a triumphant close, with Andy’s jubilant trumpet lines serving as a vivid reminder of just how joyous a James show is.