James - Metro Theatre

James is a band from Manchester who quite notoriously don't play greatest hits sets. If you were being unkind you could say that's because they only have one hit - that being "Laid" (and as it only just cracked the top 40 in Australia, calling it a “hit” is a loose definition of the word).  The argument the band give is that they play what inspires them creatively which gets a better result for both band and audience. So you're as likely to get a set filled with b sides as you are with hits.

There aren’t many advantages to being a fan of UK indie music if you live in the antipodes.  The bands never tour here.  The releases are hard to find.  If you can find them they are expensive.  And when you mention your favourite band to people they think you’re a bit strange.  But the advantages are immense.  When the band you like eventually make it out here they play in tiny venues.  How tiny?  Imagine your living room.  Only more intimate.  I know back at home they play huge arenas but here they play shoe boxes.

At James' first ever Sydney show (it's taken them 35 years to tour Australia) the band played a selection of old and new songs to an overwhelming reception. Perhaps it was the pent up anticipation. Or perhaps it's just because they have a great back catalogue. But being in the audience felt like being at a rapture.

Lead singer Tim Booth asked us if we wanted to revel  ¹ or if we wanted a quiet night staring at our phones. By the end of the concert he had his answer. After the band completed the song Sometimes the audience took over and basically sang the whole song again back to the band acapella doubling the length of the song and doubling the volume in the room. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite like it. The looks on the faces of the band members was unforgettable.

Opening with a brace of new songs (ie not recorded in their 90s heyday) might have tested the audience a little but once they kicked into “Ring the Bells” from their breakthrough album Seven we were in safe hands and it was plain sailing for the rest of the evening.

Finishing the main set with 4 songs from the Laid album lifted the roof off the Metro. All that was left was to return for the inevitable encores and promise that it won't be 35 years before their return.

It bloody well better not be.

Greatest hits set?  No. But I can't imagine a greater set.

1. Google defines Revel as “enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way, especially with drinking and dancing”