Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, James took Spain by storm - first with a euphoric set at Sonorama Festival, then with their first-ever Alicante show. As part of the Noches Mágicas 2025 series, 3,000 fans filled Muelle 12 for a seaside celebration that embodied the band’s spirit and unofficial anthem, Getting Away With It.
The band opened with Zero, with frontman Tim Booth announcing, “I have some bad news,” before delivering the chilling opening line of Zero, “we’re all gonna die.” The performance was unfortunately cut short midway due to a mistake, but the band quickly shifted into the anthemic Getting Away With It (All Messed Up), sending the crowd into such a frenzy that the opening number felt like an encore. Finding its way back into the set after a brief absence, Better With You was next, placing James’ instinct for improvisation on full display as multi-instrumentalist Saul Davies added a sparkling guitar hook that pushed the track into a rush of euphoria.
The set shifted into the hypnotic strains of Five-O with Saul unveiling his violin for the first time, locking in with bassist Jim Glennie, proving their precision and chemistry on stage. The tempo surged for Waltzing Along, with Tim making his first visit to the barrier, dancing along the walkway, and eventually taking a fan’s hand while balancing on the edge, surveying the crowd and connecting with those around him. Next came She’s a Star, its instantly recognisable slide-guitar intro - courtesy of Adrian Oxaal - setting the stage for Tim’s vocals to shine.
The band’s latest studio album Yummy shot to number one, so it was great to see them showcase several tracks from it. Stay came next, followed by Shadow Of A Giant. While the former is one of the strongest on the album, it’s the latter that shines brightest live as it begins with a combination of haunting vocals from Chloe Alper and delicate violin work from Saul. Bursting with energy, Curse Curse followed - much to the delight of a group at the front who had brought signs pleading for the synth-heavy track. It’s only appeared a handful of times this year, and while vocalist Chloe Alper wasn’t yet in the band when La Petite Mort was released, her megaphone-filtered vocals in the breakdown proved a striking and welcome addition. Say Something followed, its profound emotional depth and soaring anthemic quality continuing to strike a powerful chord with audiences across generations.
A beacon of hope for anyone struggling, Way Over Your Head has quickly become a live favourite. It opened with Tim and Chloe singing directly to each other - a moment of intimacy that set the tone. Though mid-paced, the track is deceptively anthemic, with its uplifting message swelling towards a soaring choral climax. By the finale, band and crowd were united in the moment, repeating the refrain in the same communal spirit that makes the outro of Sometimes so powerful. Attention followed – another track that unfolds with an intriguing sense of pace. Beginning with Mark Hunter’s gentle keyboard melodies, it gradually built into a powerful crescendo, with a contagious drumbeat from David Baynton-Power and deep, driving bassline from Jim propelling the track forward. While its layered elements could easily slip into chaos, the band kept everything tightly controlled - a testament to their musical precision.
A staple of the band’s summer setlist, the politically charged Heads delivered one of the night’s most powerful moments. Launching with rapid-fire drums and pulsing electronic beats, it built tension with ominous handclaps beneath Tim’s defiant lyrics - a pointed attack on the chaos and corruption unfolding in America. Anchored by gentle acoustic guitar and heartfelt vocals, the hopeful Tomorrow made for the ideal follow-up - an intimate and uplifting moment that resonated deeply.
Inspired by the rising frequency of wildfires in California, Beautiful Beaches highlights the band’s unique ability to marry profound themes with uplifting melodies. Its performance was enhanced by a powerful visual of a burning daisy, symbolising the urgency of climate change and the song’s emotional depth. It culminated in a fierce drum duel between Dave and Debbie Knox-Hewson, perfectly echoing the track’s intensity and message. As Dave's unmistakable drumbeat signalled the start of Sit Down, the crowd erupted - their reaction so overwhelming that the band looked visibly moved. Seizing the moment, Tim led a mass sit-down, which the entire audience embraced in unison before leaping to their feet in a euphoric, full-throated celebration.
The penultimate track of the evening was Sound - an expansive, slow-burning epic that showcases the band at their most exploratory. A multi-layered masterpiece, it weaves together an urgent bassline, shimmering guitars, and rhythmic bongos from Debbie, while Tim’s vocals shift effortlessly from hushed introspection to soaring intensity. The highlight came as Andy Diagram unleashed his triumphant trumpet solo from the VIP balcony, lifting the song - and the audience - to a euphoric peak. The band ended with a riotous Laid - Tim inviting 15 fans to dance on stage while he stayed at the barrier, sparking joy and chaos in equal measure. A perfectly James way to close their final European show of the year.
From delicate, stripped-back moments to full-throttle anthems, the night was a celebration of a band still evolving, still surprising, and still deeply in sync with their audience. During the set, Tim teased that the band would be back for a full tour next year – a promise that sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd. If this performance was anything to go by, 2026 can’t come soon enough.
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
Follow Even The Stars on Twitter at @eventhestarsuk and like our Facebook page for all the latest updates
No comments:
Post a Comment