Back in the Summer, Manchester icons James and Johnny Marr joined forces for two UK festival shows - Bedford Summer Sessions and Lytham Festival. Delivering two incredible nights that saw Johnny join the nine piece for Laid, it was the first time that they’d played together since James supported The Smiths back in 1985. Luckily for fans in North America, they’ve been able to experience the magic as the two have just come to the end of a lengthy co-headline tour that started in Denver last month. On Sunday 13th October, the tour stopped at MTELUS in Montreal.
Taking the stage at the refreshingly early time of 7:30pm, James set the tone for the evening with a surprising choice - a slow-burning track from their latest album, Yummy. Known for its rousing singalong outro at UK shows, Way Over Your Head is a sublime piece that showcases some of frontman Tim Booth's most poignant lyrics. The tempo soon picked up with the anthemic Waltzing Along, quickly followed by the euphoric Life’s a Fucking Miracle. Creating meaningful connections, Tim sang and danced with fans, creating unforgettable moments that will stay with them long after the night was over.
The mood shifted dramatically with the intense Five-O, followed by the sublime Stay, which is one of Yummy’s many stand out tracks. Opening with delicate guitar work from multi-instrumentalist Saul Davies, Stay beautifully showcases how Chloe Alper’s vocals have elevated the band’s sound, both in the studio and live. Chloe then took centre stage for the atmospheric Shadow of a Giant, as Tim sat back, watching in awe. Another highlight from Yummy, the uniquely paced track began with a gorgeous piano solo by Mark Hunter, soon accompanied by Saul's breathtaking violin, creating a truly captivating moment.
The tempo surged with the crowd-pleasing She’s a Star, with Adriann Oxaal’s beautiful cello adding a rich, emotional depth to the track, before we were introduced to more fresh material with Mobile God. Cleverly written from the perspective of a mobile phone, the irresistibly catchy track was seamlessly followed by the unmistakable guitar intro of Laid. As the band’s biggest hit in North America, it was no surprise that the crowd erupted in excitement. The band seemed to enjoy the moment as much as the audience, with percussionist Debbie Knox Hewson leading the charge, bouncing around the stage with infectious energy.
Generous with the hits, the band kept the energy high with the anthemic Sometimes, followed by Beautiful Beaches. The sole track in the set from All The Colours Of You - an album the band unfortunately didn’t tour in North America - the latter garnered a huge response, reaching its peak as it exploded into a powerful drum breakdown, led by Debbie Knox Hewson and David Baynton-Power. At a James show, the sheer talent onstage makes it hard to know where to focus. This is especially true during Sound, an atmospheric track the band stretches and experiments with - sometimes clocking in at 5 minutes, other times pushing 12. One standout during this performance was Andy Diagram, whose soaring trumpet solo stole the spotlight. Tim’s not the only band member to have gone walkabout, and Andy delighted fans in the balcony by joining them, adding a unique and intimate touch to an already mesmerising track.
Often considered the band’s unofficial theme song, the anthemic Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) closed the set, with Tim making one final connection with the crowd as he reached out to hold a fan’s hand at the barrier. James have earned their reputation as one of the best live bands for a reason—not only do they change their setlist every night, but they can also adjust mid-performance to match the crowd’s energy. Despite their adventurous spirit and willingness to take risks, the band remains incredibly tight, delivering a performance that is both unique and beautiful. From start to finish, their Montreal show was an unforgettable experience, and hopefully, they won’t wait as long before returning to Canada.
Having been on tour since April, Johnny Marr is a well-oiled machine by this point in the year. Kicking off with the synth-driven Armatopia, he radiated an energy that carried through his entire set. The irresistibly catchy Panic - his first Smiths track of the night - followed, sending the crowd into a frenzy, before he revisited his debut solo album with the electrifying Generate! Generate!, showcasing his mastery as both a guitarist and performer. Next up was Spirit, Power & Soul - a track that highlights Johnny’s evolution as an artist, featuring an experimental sound that included Jack Mitchell on an electronic kit.
Following this, the crowd was treated to one of his most beloved solo tracks, Hi Hello. A standout from Call The Comet, Hi Hello boasts a beautiful guitar melody and features some of Johnny's most relatable lyrics, culminating in an exquisite solo that showcases his distinctive style. From his smiles mid-song to his playful banter with the audience, it’s clear that Johnny loves performing live. After jokingly asking the crowd for requests, he launched into the anthemic This Charming Man. Transitioning from a classic to something fresh, Somewhere followed. Performed in the style of the demo featured on his Greatest Hits compilation, Spirit Power, the sublime rendition was elevated by the arrangement he used during his orchestral shows at Aviva Studios last December.
As the lights turned blue, the brooding Walk Into The Sea emerged, creating a stark contrast to the rest of his set and delivering a truly goosebump-inducing moment. Johnny is a master at crafting setlists, and although the next track - the poignant Please Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - maintained the slower tempo, it garnered one of the biggest reactions of the night, and served as a powerful reminder of the many beautiful songs he has gifted us since his time with The Smiths.
Showcasing some of Johnny's fiercest guitar work, Bigmouth Strikes Again was next, followed by Night and Day and Get The Message. A track from his time with Electronic, the latter thrived in its orchestral arrangement. The unmistakable tremolo of How Soon Is Now filled the air, leading into the catchy Easy Money which featured some extra licks from the guitar legend. The captivating Electronic track Getting Away With It brought the main set to a close. Introduced as a disco song from Manchester, it featured a mesmerising guitar breakdown that had Johnny illuminated by the enchanting glow of the disco ball's light.
A special night deserves a special encore, and Johnny was joined by Tim for an energetic cover of The Passenger by Iggy Pop. As humble as ever, Johnny stepped aside, allowing Tim to take the lead on the verses before joining him for the choruses. The guitar solo ignited joyous dancing from Tim, and the smiles on their faces showed just how much they’ve enjoyed touring together - in those few minutes, it was clear to see that it was as much a privilege for them to play together as it was for the audience to watch. Dedicated to everyone in the room “and nobody fucking else", the rousing There Is a Light That Never Goes Out brought the night to a triumphant close, culminating in a mass singalong.
It’s rare to see such a powerful pairing on tour, but James and Johnny Marr proved to be a perfect match. While both artists hail from the North West of England and rose to prominence around the same time, their performances offer a striking contrast, each bringing something unique to the stage. It certainly would be a shame if they didn’t team up again in the UK in the future.
James' official website can be found here. They are on Facebook and Twitter. Some of the band - Tim, Andy and Dave - are also on Twitter.
We also run the One Of The Three James archive, the most detailed resource for information about the band, and the site also has a Facebook and Twitter page.
TimBoothLyricADay, whose posts often lead to Tim explaining his thought processes behind the lyrics, can be found on Twitter and Facebook
Johnny Marr's official website can be found here. He is also on Facebook and Twitter.
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