Live review: Forget sitting down, James are still standing tall, 30 odd years on
Those of a certain vintage will recall indie discos of the past, that where if the DJ played ‘Sit Down’ by James, we’d erm, all sit down, on the sticky dancefloor of some pub or other and gently sway along in our classic ja-m-es t-shirts.
Believe it or not, that was all a whopping 35 years ago – but James are still going strong – and what’s more, they are just as brilliant, beautiful and slightly bonkers as they always were.
And so it was that at a packed First Direct Arena in Leeds, the Madchester disciples found themselves rolling back to the heady days of the early 90s for a delifghtfully wonderful evening in the company of Tim Booth and co.
But before the main course, it was up to fellow north western types Doves to kick things off.
The band’s trademark chiming guitar anthems proved the perfect starter, with classic hits such as Pounding, There Goes The Fear, Black and White Town and Kingdom Of Rust still sounding sharp and relevant – and no doubt led to quite a few dusting off their albums the morning after.
Obviously, James were of course the main attraction – and as always, they didn’t disappoint.
Opening with the irresistably catchy banger of Come Home, backed up by the equally celebratory and upbeat I Know What I’m Here For, the tone was set – although with James, it’s never just a trawl through the greatest hits and fan favourites – which makes them so endearingly special.
So in amongst bona fide hits such as Ring The Bells and of course, Sit Dow, you’re just as likely to get a few deeper and darker, introspective album cuts and lesser heard tracks – including an outing for new track Nantucket, which Booth admitted he didn’t even know the words to, reading off sheets off paper as the band thundered along behind him.
Raw and unfinished, it’s still going to become another classic in the James’ collection.
Of course, a James gig is very much like a religious gathering – with regularly going walkabout along the front row – or even further into the audience on occasion.
“I think our audience has got to an age where they don’t want me to dive in,” he says at one stage, deciding against leaping into the front rows.
That of course, doesn’t stop him.
Now 66 and fronting a nine piece band, he emerges on the balcony for Born of Frustration, followed up with Say Something, mingling and greeting fans as he sings, lapping up the adulation he and the band richly deserve.
There’s still time for Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) and Sit Down – and as Booth goes crowdsurfing, carried along on a sea of hands, it truly is a joy to watch.
A truly magical evening is rounded off with another couple of arena anthems – Sometimes and Laid, each getting throaty singalongs from an adoring audience.
James are wonderful – and that’s why we love them.