To quote their prescient 2018 album title, indie rockers and one-time baggy stars James could definitely be said to be living in extraordinary times. More than 40 years into their career they’ve just had a first number 1 album (greatest hits sets don’t count) and are currently playing some of the biggest venues of their lives.

It’s testament to the enduring quality of their music and longstanding reputation as a great live act, both of which were evident in this terrific performance at Utilita Arena, which just about managed to strike a balance between material from new album Yummy, classic hits and fan favourites.

I say just about, because one of the best things about James’ live shows is that they like to mix up the set list from night to night, so you get the chance to hear a wide variety of songs. One of the worst things about James’ live shows is that they like to mix up the set list from night to night, so they might not play the ones you want to hear. The latter is obviously less of an issue for committed fans – who’d no doubt be happy to trade Sit Down for a deep cut – than casual admirers, but arenas, like festivals, naturally attract more than just the die-hards.

Judging by the reception the band got at this particular (and fairly packed) arena, they got the balance more or less right, and even though lesser-known songs from Yummy made up almost half the set, some (Better With You, Shadow Of A Giant) were memorable enough to have an impact, while others probably need a bit more work to get there, not least Mobile God, which singer Tim Booth managed to screw up twice. ‘At least it proves this is a live event’ quipped the affable frontman, despite the fact that he’d already more than proved that point, getting up close and personal with the audience by crowd surfing and climbing into the seating areas and touring the building while singing Just Like Fred Astaire (a bona fide classic) and Curse Curse.

If those departures left the band to fend for itself then the wonderful musicians and singers (they’re currently augmented by Manchester Voices Inspirational Choir) were more than up to the task. At times swelled to 13 on stage, the additional musicians definitely added even more depth to the sound, not least when there were two drummers, two lead guitarists and at one point even two bass players, on stage. But while the occasional bombast took the band’s sonic palate to another level, their unique mix of folk, indie and dance rock and consummate musicianship has always been on higher plain to most of their peers (the contrast with opening act Razorlight’s predictable chug couldn’t have been more marked).

And as for the setlist, we got most of the heavy hitters we wanted to hear. There was no Come Home or Ring The Bells, but the likes of Waltzing Along, Born of Frustration, Five-O, Say Something and Sometimes (Lester Piggott) more than compensated. Those last two got the biggest singalongs of the night but the most enthusiastic receptions were saved for Sit Down (ironically the first song to really get everyone on their feet) and the mercurial Laid, which makes for a terrific finale to any evening.

4 stars

Reviewed by Steve Adams at Utilita Arena Birmingham on Wednesday 12 June.