Shooting Our Mouths Off

When it comes to artists associated with James, our favourite is, without question, Johnny Marr. So far this year, he’s toured the US and China, as well as played festivals across Europe. Now it’s the UK’s turn. This week sees him take to the stage in Leeds and Liverpool before his biggest hometown show yet: a sold-out night at Castlefield Bowl. First up was Leeds, where Johnny returned to Stylus for the first time since September 2021

A high-energy opening saw ‘Generate! Generate!’ lead the charge, its exhilarating guitar solo setting the tone before ‘Stop Me If You Think That You’ve Heard This One Before’ arrived as the first Smiths classic of the night. Crowd favourite ‘Armatopia’ followed, its infectious groove and shimmering synths filling the intimate venue and making it clear exactly what kind of set was in store.

‘The Headmaster Ritual’ drew one of the biggest reactions of the night, making its first appearance since San Antonio in 2022, before the pace eased into the poignant ‘New Town Velocity’. Featuring some of Johnny’s most personal and poetic songwriting, the track showcased the enduring quality of his vocals, delivered with a smooth, understated confidence that perfectly suited its reflective atmosphere. The contrast with the synth-fuelled ‘Spirit, Power & Soul’ that followed perfectly highlighted the breadth of his solo catalogue, while also underlining just how much he has grown in confidence as a frontman, throwing in dance moves at every opportunity and clearly relishing the spotlight.

Alongside the recent announcement of his new album, Johnny unveiled its lead single, ‘Spin’. Driven by a propulsive rhythm section and a thick, bass-heavy groove, the track slotted seamlessly into the set, feeling as though it had always belonged there. From new material to a classic, ‘This Charming Man’ followed before Johnny switched to acoustic guitar for ‘Somewhere’. As soaring and affecting as ever, the song reached another level when the beat kicked in, unleashing the expansive sound it had gained from the orchestral performances in 2022.

New song ‘All In a Life’ made its live debut in the UK, its brooding atmosphere neatly filling the void left by the absence of ‘Walk Into the Sea’ from the set. Built around a melodic guitar line, crashing drums and vocals delivered in urgent bursts, it was both immersive and atmospheric, while serving as another reminder of just how tight Johnny and his band have become. It’ll be interesting to hear the studio version, but on the strength of this performance alone, it already sounds like one of Johnny’s finest pieces of work to date.

When it comes to pairing old with new, Johnny is a master. The acoustic guitar returned for an emotive rendition of ‘Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’, performed in near silence as the crowd hung on every note. ‘Getting Away With It’ followed, drawing the huge reaction it always does while once again showcasing the beautiful, extended guitar breakdown that has been a defining highlight of his live sets since launching his solo career.

‘Hi Hello’ paid homage to the Call the Comet era before Johnny unveiled the night’s third new track, ‘It’s Time’, which first made its live debut last year. Built around driving guitar work and an instantly memorable chorus, it carries the kind of energy that feels tailor-made for a single release. ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’ followed, continuing the run of unforgettable hooks with its raucous guitar lines and raw energy. ‘Easy Money’ pushed that momentum even further, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Its infectious chorus proved impossible to resist, with the entire room swept up in its undeniable energy.

A Smiths classic, you’d expect ‘How Soon Is Now?‘ to sound the same every time, with that unmistakable tremolo riff leading the way. But the way Johnny plays it now shows just how much he’s continued to evolve as a guitarist. It feels fuller, heavier and more guitar-driven, with a grungier edge that brings to mind the huge sound the song takes on whenever Billy Duffy joins him on stage.

The encore burst into life with the short, sharp energy of ‘Panic’, Johnny’s slide guitar providing one of the song’s standout moments. He also slipped in a cheeky lyric change to give Liverpool a nod, drawing a warm reaction from the crowd. A cover of Iggy Pop’s ‘The Passenger’ followed, a song that’s become a firm fixture in the set since debuting during Radio 2’s Piano Room Week in February 2024 before reappearing on the North American tour with Tim Booth later that year. The night closed with ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’. Dedicated to everyone in the room, it was a truly unifying finale, with the audience taking over the vocals in the build-up to the outro, leaving Johnny wearing a huge smile as the song came to an end.

If this performance proved anything, it’s that Johnny is more than ready for Castlefield Bowl. Although he’s made memorable appearances there as a surprise guest with The Last Shadow Puppets and Crowded House, this is a very different occasion. The last time he played the venue under his own name was as support for Noel Gallagher back in 2015. Since then, his solo career has grown bigger with every album and tour, and he’s become an even more commanding live performer. Returning to Manchester to headline a sold-out Castlefield Bowl feels like the natural next step, and if Leeds is anything to go by, it’s going to be a special night.