Shooting Our Mouths Off

In the North West, you usually get a choice: Manchester or Liverpool – rarely both. But James, true stars of the region, decided to do both, making it even more special for their local fans. In Liverpool, they returned to the M&S Bank Arena, a stage they hadn’t graced since 2016.

As VIP soundcheck attendees queued to enter, the band could be heard running through ‘Runaground’. During the session, they dusted off ‘Curse Curse’ for its first outing since Minneapolis last fall. The La Petite Mort track was paired with trippy Day of the Dead–inspired visuals, shifting between cartoon skeletons and distorted live footage that transformed the band members into skeletal figures. They also played the newer track ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah’, which has only previously appeared at a single arena show in Birmingham. The soundcheck wrapped up with ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’, performed in its acoustic form, with Saul handling both guitar and kick drum. During the Q&A, one fan asked why the band haven’t played Germany recently, prompting Tim to reminisce about some of their earlier European shows – hinting they may not always have been on their best behaviour back then.

With the Grand National in full swing and Liverpool FC playing at home, a rowdy crowd felt inevitable. Yet rather than launching straight into a raucous opener, the band eased in with ‘Five-O’. It may not be their most upbeat track, but Saul’s blazing violin intro quickly ignited the room, creating an electric atmosphere. ‘I Know What I’m Here For’ followed, before ‘Ring the Bells’ – its frantic guitar work sending the crowd into a frenzy. Next came ‘Sit Down’, with Tim stepping into the audience for the timeless anthem, as the entire room sang along in unison.

A powerful reflection on the state of America, ‘Heads’ followed – its pounding rhythm and urgent energy mirroring the weight of its message. The menacing instrumentation brought the whole band together, from Adrian’s deep, brooding cello to Chloe’s added percussion, creating a dark and intense atmosphere. There was little time to dwell on it, though, as the driving keys and pulsating bass-line of ‘Curse Curse’ quickly took over the arena. A track the band don’t play nearly often enough, it remains a firm fan favourite and went down a storm – especially with Chloe’s contribution towards the end, as the tempo drops and the focus shifts to the slightly distorted vocals.

‘Junkie’ – a song Chloe mentioned during soundcheck as one she’s especially enjoying performing on this tour – came next, its understated arrangement favouring atmosphere and groove over big, showy riffs. ‘Say Something’, ‘She’s a Star’ and ‘Born of Frustration’ all followed with Tim out in the crowd. The latter made a welcome return after being absent from the Scotland and Newcastle shows. It wasn’t just the catchy, hook-laden guitar riff that soared, but Andy’s striking trumpet melody as well.

‘Greenpeace’ has become a staple of the set on this tour, played every night and landing perfectly each time. Its tempo dips as Tim and Chloe trade vocals, while the lighting shifts from a solitary spotlight on Tim to a full-blown laser display. ‘Shadow of a Giant’ and ‘Way Over Your Head’ – the evening’s two Yummy tracks – rounded off a trio of introspective moments that showcased the band at their most inventive, a reminder that their strengths extend well beyond the anthems in their back catalogue.

‘Waltzing Along’ sent energy levels soaring again, its driving rhythm and communal lyrics ringing out as the crowd sang back to Tim, who performed from the barrier and walkway. ‘Getting Away With It’ followed, before the main set closed on a beautifully poised ‘Tomorrow’, with Saul and Jim’s guitar-and-bass interplay sounding more electrifying than ever, while Andy’s trumpet line threaded an uplifting melody through the mix.

Doing something almost unheard of for an arena show, James – who thrive on risk and spontaneity – opened the encore with new song ‘Nantucket’. Played at all but one of the shows so far, it’s fast becoming a crowd favourite and offers an exciting glimpse of what might be to come on the band’s next album. ‘Sometimes’ followed, met with a euphoric response from the audience. Undoubtedly one of the band’s most frequently performed tracks, it still lands with real impact, clearly a favourite both for the crowd and the band themselves. Saul held the central riff as the audience sang along, before the full band crashed back in once more while Tim danced joyfully across the stage. With just a couple of minutes remaining, ‘Laid’ provided a triumphant closing statement to the night.