Live Review: James at the Utilita Arena, Newcastle
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Words and Photos by Adam Kennedy
Mancunian indie rock legends James have had a long and successful career in the music industry. The band has a repertoire with more hits than a boxer’s punching bag, and a back catalogue that keeps their fans coming back with each and every tour.
And whilst most touring bands will play it safe and create a tried-and-tested setlist that, other than the occasional track, will remain the same pretty much each and every show. With James, the band proudly tell their fans that they change their set every night. And even go to the trouble of looking up the setlist of their last appearance in a given city to make sure that they give the audience something a bit different. “Some of you are repeat offenders,” declares frontman Tim Booth.And that’s what makes a James gig so special, each night is a unique experience in its own right. You really never know what you are going to get. There’s no taking a sneaky look at setlist.fm to find out what the band have been playing to see if your favourite song is likely to be played.
At Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, James returned to the same room they played just two years prior. And whilst some bands might find it difficult to connect with a capacity arena crowd due to the sheer scale of such a room and an audience of approximately 10,000 fans, the beauty of a James gig is how the band makes such a gargantuan room feel intimate.
The band’s sprawling and visually stimulating production featured a walkway in the security pit at the front of the stage, which allowed the band to get up close and personal with their fans at the front. Various members of the band made their way along the security fence at regular intervals during the set. Whilst Tim ventured into the crowd for several songs in the set, serenading the fans in the seats during classics such as Say Something, Just Like Fred Astaire, and She’s A Star. And if that wasn’t enough, the energetic singer/dancer crowd surfed his way around half of the arena floor during Sometimes (Lester Piggott).
And whilst there were many highlights from the band’s anthem filled discography, they also took the opportunity to perform one of their freshest cuts by way of Nantucket. Perhaps a new song would be the usual cue to take a bathroom break or grab a drink from the bar. But on this occasion, those who stayed were rewarded with the band’s cinematic new offering. A bass heavy track which makes you want to dance, and perhaps a taste of what is to come. The writer couldn’t help but think that the song would offer some good remix opportunities to the dance community.
Outside of the classics like Johnny Yen and an early airing of Sit Down, which was played surprisingly as the fourth song in the set, rarities like Junkie and Greenpeace were welcomed with open arms from the Geordie fans.
It was the kind of evening where it felt as though the band could have played all night long. But like all good things, they come to an end. A euphoric airing of Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) closed out the main set, with Laid closing out the band’s encore.
Throughout the whole evening, there was a good energy which radiated around the Utilita Arena. A feeling which kept the fans on their feet all night long. Of course, at a James gig, the audience are going to do anything but Sit Down.
This writer has had the pleasure of witnessing James live on many occasions over the years. But at the Utilita Arena, this was perhaps the best I’ve ever seen the band live. With a career dating back to 1982, James showed that they are still going strong and showing no signs of slowing down.
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