Shooting Our Mouths Off

On their last arena tour, the band closed with a triumphant performance at London’s O2 Arena. This time, they return to the iconic venue for the penultimate show of the tour.

Potentially the biggest VIP soundcheck so far, it kicked off with ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah’, a new track that seems to be evolving in sound-checks much like ‘Nantucket’ has in the main set. This time, the funky guitar riff – courtesy of Saul – lingered longer than usual in the outro, which was more than welcome. Next came ‘Hallelujah Anyhow’, once again stripped back, with a kick drum subtly lifting the energy as the tempo built. The soundcheck closed with ‘Lost A Friend’, chosen in response to a question about whether the track had been inspired by a James Bond film.

The main set opened with the lengthy ‘Sound’ for the first time, beginning with an improvised trumpet intro from Andy, who started out among the seats. As the swirling track progressed toward his solo, he deftly made his way further down the tier. Another showcase of the band’s individual talents followed in ‘Five-O’, introduced by a blazing violin lead from Saul, before the pace surged into ‘Waltzing Along’. The energy stayed high through ‘I Know What I’m Here For’ and ‘Come Home’, before dropping dramatically for ‘Greenpeace’, written in support of the charity of the same name.

‘PS’ was a clear highlight. Built on a restrained groove and a gradual guitar build, it showed the band at their most controlled. The extended outro – Andy, Saul and Chloe gathered together – was especially strong, with trumpet, violin and harmonies locking in tightly without ever feeling overworked. The opening bars of ‘Say Something’ ignited an instant wave of excitement, drawing Tim off the stage and into the crowd, where he remained through the track and into ‘Born of Frustration’. As he wove through fans, forging close, personal connections, those at the front shifted their focus back to the stage, where the band drove the performance toward a soaring, trumpet-fuelled crescendo.

‘Shadow of a Giant’ remains a fixture in the set, its hauntingly delicate intro demanding – and commanding – the crowd’s full attention. It’s a bold choice for a Friday night in London, but one that paid off beautifully, with Saul’s violin threading through Chloe’s evocative vocals and anchored by Adrian’s rich, resonant cello. ‘Zero’, making its third appearance of the tour after debuting in Cardiff, impressed once again. Tim introduced it with a wry warning of “bad news” before delivering the stark opening line, “we’re all gonna die.” What followed was a defiant, life-affirming anthem, elevated by striking visuals that transformed the band into skeletons.

The mood darkened as the stage washed green for the politically charged ‘Heads’, but a technical issue with Tim’s in-ears forced a false start and the song was ultimately scrapped. In its place came ‘Way Over Your Head’. Arguably one of the band’s finest tracks, its slow-burning intensity and deeply vulnerable lyrics from Tim drew a powerful, unified response from the audience. The acoustic-led opening of ‘Tomorrow’ soared, with the interplay between Saul and Jim’s bass providing a standout moment.

‘Sit Down’ has taken many forms on this tour – often drum-led – but in London, the band switched things up again. Mark opened with a stunning piano intro before Tim moved to the barrier to deliver the first two verses, shrinking a 20,000 capacity venue into something far more intimate. At just the right moment, he signalled Dave to bring in the iconic drumbeat, igniting the crowd. The main set closed with ‘Getting Away With It’, beginning with shimmering arpeggios over acoustic strumming before erupting into a surge of energy – an enduring live favourite and their unofficial anthem.

‘Nantucket’ has firmly established itself as the encore opener. The band have a history of road-testing songs long before release, and this marks a welcome return to that approach. Now eleven shows in, the track continues to evolve, with Tim still refining the lyrics. In London, it felt more complete than ever – a richly layered piece showcasing the band’s full range, from Mark’s keys and Jim’s bass-line to Adrian’s cello and Saul’s seamless shift from violin to guitar, even incorporating a more country-tinged violin style. It’s a dynamic, multi-dimensional piece, and the band’s enjoyment in playing it is unmistakable.

The band have recently struck gold with the closing pairing of ‘Sometimes’ and ‘Laid’. Both are euphoric, anthemic crowd-pleasers, and ‘Sometimes’ saw the audience carry the outro long after the band had finished. With time tight, Saul smoothly pivoted into the unmistakable riff of ‘Laid’, bringing the night to a triumphant, high-energy close.