James @ Utilita Arena, Newcastle - 16th April 2026
- Iain McClay
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
James arrived in Newcastle to a full house, a devoted crowd, and the kind of atmosphere that only a band with their legacy can summon. They didn’t quite conquer the night—but they came very close.
Words - Iain McClay
Photos - Gary Mather (from Manchester COOP Live)
Few bands of their vintage remain as vital on stage. James have long mastered the art of reinvention, folding in new members and evolving their sound without losing their core identity. Live, they’re still a formidable force. Frontman Tim Booth remains utterly magnetic—part shaman, part showman—effortlessly drawing the audience into his orbit with a presence that feels both spontaneous and deeply practised.
There were moments here that soared. The set burst into life with Come Home, an opener that immediately lifted the arena onto its feet, setting a high bar early on. Later, Booth’s now-trademark crowd immersion became a highlight—though it stretched beyond expectations. What was apparently planned as a single song turned into two, as he remained embedded among the audience for Say Something and Fred Astaire. Whether intentional or not, it added a sense of unpredictability that James gigs thrive on.
The closing stretch of the main set, flowing seamlessly into the encore, reminded everyone exactly why this band still commands such loyalty. When James hit their stride, there are few who can match them. Classics like She’s A Star, Sometimes, and Laid aren’t just crowd-pleasers—they’re generational touchpoints, delivered here with both reverence and renewed energy.
And yet, for all its highs, this wasn’t quite a flawless performance. A slightly awkward moment came midway through, with a throwaway joke about Newcastle United’s fortunes that didn’t land well with sections of the crowd. It was a rare misstep, but noticeable in a set that otherwise relied heavily on connection and shared feeling.
More significantly, some of the song choices didn’t fully resonate. James have long prided themselves on mixing up their setlists, often dusting off rarely played tracks or tailoring performances to avoid repetition city-to-city. It’s an admirable approach—one that keeps things fresh for both band and fans—but it can be a gamble. Here, that gamble didn’t entirely pay off. A handful of tracks felt slower than expected, and a few simply didn’t ignite the same spark as the band’s more iconic material.
That said, even a slightly uneven James set is still miles ahead of most live acts. There’s an emotional depth and musical richness to their catalogue that ensures they always have something to fall back on. Hearing Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) sung back at full volume is a reminder of just how embedded these songs are in the collective consciousness. And the inclusion of Junky—a relative rarity live—was a welcome surprise, even if it didn’t quite reach the heights of the night’s biggest moments.
It’s also worth noting how seamlessly the newer members have integrated into the band. Their contributions add texture and dimension, enhancing the live experience without overshadowing what made James special in the first place. This is a band that continues to evolve, even after decades on the road.
Perhaps part of the experience comes down to expectation—or even mood. With a band like James, the bar is set extraordinarily high. Their very best gigs are transformative, almost spiritual experiences, and anything less can feel like a slight dip, even when it’s objectively excellent. It’s entirely possible that many in the arena left believing they’d witnessed something extraordinary—and they wouldn’t be wrong.
For me, though, this wasn’t quite a top-tier James performance. It was, however, still a very good one—comfortably above the standard of most touring acts today.
If you get the chance to see James live, take it. Few bands combine emotional resonance, musical craft, and sheer live energy as effectively as they do. Even on a night that doesn’t fully connect, they remain one of the UK’s most compelling live propositions—and that’s no small feat."
