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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Photography by Dod Morrison Photography: http://www.dodmorrison.com/
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I first saw James live at T in the Park many years ago in 1998, when I was a student. In fact my now husband proposed to me during their set! I’m sad it’s taken me this long to see them headline a concert. I am so very grateful to attend the concert at P&J Live, especially as Razorlight was the support band, who I also love but had never managed to see live previously. As it turned out I invited a friend to go with me who first saw Razorlight at T in the Park when celebrating her 21st birthday there, so it was lovely to both have the link back to all those years ago at the iconic Scottish music festival (even though we have only known each other for the past 12 years or so!)
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Razorlight were absolutely rocking, as to be expected. They have been doing a campaign recently about keeping live music live, and they certainly prove that that’s what they do! There were tweaks to some of the songs and certainly the guitar vibes were very live. Their set included the hit songs that you wanted to hear, and I was disappointed when it came to an end; although that did mean that we were a step closer to seeing James. We were treated to Scared of Nothing from their new album. The amazing song America was introduced as one they wrote 18 years ago when trying to make a political statement, and unfortunately the lyrics are still just as meaningful today. It’s a great song either way though, and it was just fabulous to hear Before I Fall To Pieces live, they are a truly brilliant band. Johnny Borrell is a fabulous singer and guitarist, he has the charisma to hold the stage, and I could have listened to him all night, maybe next time I will see them headlining.
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Soon it was time for James. What a show that band put on for us! The production was out of this world, with a big screen at the back that sometimes seemed to disappear itself! We had butterflies, we had fire, there was one song when the band and the audience were turning into robots on the screen and back again. Mobile God shows the connection between people and their phones, it was the one song that we were encouraged to get our phones out for. This was following an announcement having been made at the beginning asking us not to use our phones for the evening. Although Tim Booth did admit he is not above us all on this as he uses his phone a lot too.
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During Born of Frustration the frontman actually came out into the crowd and into the tiered seating around the side, delighting his fans who would not have thought they had a chance of getting near the man himself. When he got back on stage he apologised if he broke anyone’s phone but does not like them in his face and he would rather see the human behind the android. Whilst this is a valid point, I know that I was desperate to get a photo of him close up if only he had come to our side of the arena! Instead I settled for a signed book on my way out, the perfect memento for a librarian to take home from an amazing concert.
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Some of my friends have commented that James did not play all their hits, they definitely did plenty of their newer material, which I enjoyed hearing although I am obviously not as familiar with it. The setlist was as fluid as Tim’s body, when he does his wiggly, shaman like dancing. The band like to read a room rather than stick to a theatrical setlist. It did include Sit Down, Sometimes, and right at the end we got Laid! During Johnny Yen there was a captivating violin and trumpet instrumental that just took your breath away.
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This was the first night of the tour, when I heard that they had said at sound check that they were not going to use a setlist we were a bit dubious how the evening would turn out. Oh my goodness, what a show we had though. As Tim Booth said it is better to have a set put together especially for Aberdeen on a Monday night. It amazes me how they could pull this off with the amazing graphics with many of the songs happening at the drop of a hat, literally sometimes with Tim and his big woolie hat that became an extension of his head as he danced. He would say the name of a song and the band and choir would launch into it, sometimes with swift movements to the right staging or the addition of bongos or whatever was needed! The lights and graphics always matched but it did have a more organic feeling, giving a more unique experience for the adoring fans. It varied from pitch black with Tim lit up, so he was all that mattered in the room, to so many lights that you could barely look at the stage as it flashed and glowed. During Butterfly there were colourful butterflies all over the back screen, and the two spotlight screens at the side, which gave the illusion of them coming out at you. It was overwhelmingly beautiful and had me close to tears.
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I came out with a heart full of love for the band that has always held a special place in my heart anyway. If you haven’t got tickets for this tour, please do treat yourself and do not miss out on an amazing experience. It is far more than a mere concert, it is a visual treat, an almost overwhelming beauty, an immersive experience that fills all your senses with its wonders.
Further information: https://wearejames.com/live/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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