Shooting Our Mouths Off

James’ shows in Ireland are always special, but their appearance at Galway International Arts Festival went above and beyond. Playing their first show in Galway in 42 years – their last visit saw them supporting The Smiths – they made it more than worth the wait.

The raucous ‘Johnny Yen’ and the gorgeous soundscape of ‘Five-O’ have been taking turns opening recent shows recently. In Galway, it was ‘Johnny Yen’ that got the nod, with ‘Five-O’ following straight after. Two crowd favourites that couldn’t be more different, they showcased the band’s creativity within the opening minutes. The momentum continued with ‘Getting Away With It’, soundtracking Tim’s first trip to the barrier, before ‘Ring the Bells’.

‘What’s the World’ remained in the set, bringing a burst of the raw, energetic sound that defined James’ early years. It felt particularly fitting in Galway, given the band’s last visit was in the 1980s. At the end of the song, Tim reminded the crowd that The Smiths once covered it, adding another layer of significance.

Three tracks from Yummy featured: ‘Stay’, ‘Way Over Your Head’ and ‘Shadow of a Giant’. On the latter two, Chloe showed just how much her confidence has grown, coming down the steps and onto the walkway alongside Tim, interacting with and holding hands with fans. Nearly eight years after joining the band, it’s impossible to imagine James without her. Her voice blends beautifully with Tim’s, adding another dimension to the band’s live sound and it’s a joy to watch her perform.

With only a short soundcheck, the band had to keep the setlist fairly straightforward, so there were no major surprises. Still, as masters of their craft, they delivered a set that moved effortlessly between big hitters like ‘She’s a Star’ and ‘Come Home’, quieter moments such as ‘PS’ – where Tim stood watching Saul play violin, seemingly feeling every note – and the relentless energy of ‘Heads’ and ‘Beautiful Beaches’, two songs that perfectly highlight the power of having two drummers.

A sprawling rendition of ‘Sometimes’ closed the main set, with thousands singing every word while the band looked out across the festival crowd in what felt like genuine awe. They returned with ‘Nantucket’, which flew and featured another subtle lyric change. Despite still being unreleased, it’s become a fixture of this year’s set-lists and already feels like a masterpiece. The fact they’re still refining it as it evolves, making subtle changes from show to show, makes each performance even more exciting.

A drum-led ‘Sit Down’ drew a reaction every bit as loud as ‘Sometimes’, before the night ended with ‘Laid’. Tim made one final trip to the barrier as the crowd took over the opening two verses, bringing a memorable return to Galway to a fitting close.