Shooting Our Mouths Off

The band’s summer of live shows continued this weekend with one of their most picturesque dates yet – a headline set at Mouth of the Tyne Festival, staged against the stunning backdrop of Tynemouth Priory and Castle. Just a couple of weeks before the show, it was announced that they would be joined by The Lilacs, who have supported the band on several previous occasions, most recently at Sheffield’s Rock N Roll Circus last September.

There is a growing buzz around The Lilacs, who are set to release their debut album Keeping Up With The Joneses in October. Drummer Dave Gomersall opened the set alone, performing a thunderous intro before the rest of the band joined him for ‘Where’ve You Been Hiding’. With a sound reminiscent of early Courteeners, they delivered a lively set full of energy and confidence, running through favourites including ‘Sticky Dancefloors’ and ‘Vicarage Road’, alongside ‘What’s the Worst That Can Happen’ from the upcoming album. Frontman Ollie Anglesea already has the ability to make a crowd feel like part of the show, whether he’s leading a singalong or introducing a song. That connection was clear during ‘Grace’, when he asked if anyone in the crowd shared the name before dedicating the song and singing directly to them. With their debut album on the way and an ever-expanding following behind them, The Lilacs look like a band with a very bright future.

There are few better ways for James to start a show than ‘Johnny Yen’. A regular opener and often described by Tim as the perfect icebreaker, it immediately pulled the crowd in. More than four decades on, its hypnotic groove and repeated refrain still feel as vital as ever. ‘Five-O’ followed, with Saul’s violin taking centre stage and somehow sounding just as atmospheric in the daylight as it does in a dark venue. The tempo soon lifted with ‘Waltzing Along’, which had everyone bouncing and provided the soundtrack to Tim’s first trip to the barrier.

Though it came early in the set, ‘Ring the Bells’ provided one of the most joyous moments of the night. Its uplifting chorus was made for an occasion like this, with the crowd singing every word. Tim’s soaring vocal carried the song to another level before Andy and Chloe traded lines throughout the euphoric outro, bringing it to a thrilling finish. ‘Stay’ slowed things down. The first of two Yummy tracks in the set, Tim introduced it as a song for anyone thinking of jumping. Built around the gradual rise of Tim and Chloe’s vocals, it brought a powerful moment of vulnerability, with their voices complementing each other perfectly as the song unfolded.

‘She’s a Star’ brought Tim back onto the walkway, where he spent the song singing to fans along the front, while Chloe and Andy danced around the stage, looking like they were enjoying every second of it. Since its release in 2021, ‘Beautiful Beaches’ has been a regular fixture in the set, although it’s appeared less often this year, making its return all the more welcome. With the sea visible beyond the stage, there could hardly have been a more fitting place to hear it. It was greeted like a long-established classic, and just when it seemed to have reached its peak, Debbie and Dave launched into an exhilarating double drum break, taking it to another level.

The biggest surprise of the night was ‘What’s the World’. Included on the Nothing But Love compilation, the lead track from the band’s 1983 debut EP Jimone hadn’t been played live since 2022. Performed by Tim, Jim, Saul, Dave and Mark, it was raw, loose and everything that defines early James. The cinematic ‘Attention’ followed before the band dipped back into the archives for a second surprise, ‘Stutter’. Last played at the Manchester show in April, it captured the excitement, unpredictability and controlled chaos that make a James gig unlike anything else.

‘Out to Get You’ and ‘Way Over Your Head’ eased the pace, both giving Chloe’s vocals the chance to shine. During the latter, she joined Tim on the walkway, confidently interacting with fans and stopping to hold hands along the way. The breather didn’t last long. ‘Getting Away With It’ quickly raised the energy again, with Tim disappearing into the crowd while the rest of the band kept the momentum going onstage. He eventually reappeared towards the end of ‘Born of Frustration’, weaving his way back to the stage.

‘Sound’ brought the main set to a close, culminating in Andy making his way to the accessible viewing area to deliver his trumpet solo. It was a moment that captured the band’s connection with every part of the crowd. A stunning setting deserved an equally fitting finale, and Mark took the lead with a piano-led opening to ‘Sit Down’. The audience carried the opening verses before erupting as Dave’s unmistakable drumbeat crashed in, transforming it into the full-throttle version everyone knows and loves.

After proving itself on the arena tour and throughout this summer’s shows, ‘Nantucket’ took the coveted encore opener slot, with Tim telling the crowd the band are confident enough in the song to put it there. He’s right. For a track played by nine musicians, there’s an incredible amount going on, yet it never feels cluttered. Mark’s synth holds everything together as the rapid-fire, chorus-free lyrics collide with pounding drums, trumpet and bass. Adrian’s cello adds real depth, while Saul’s country-inflected violin cuts through beautifully, giving one of the band’s most ambitious songs the live performance it deserves.

Opening with its familiar acoustic guitar, ‘Sometimes’ brought the night to a perfect close with one final mass singalong, the crowd carrying every word back to the band. Even after the song had ended, Saul kept strumming as thousands of voices continued singing. It was a reminder that a James gig is never just about the songs – it’s about the shared experience between the band and the crowd.