Photo Credit: Sophie Turrill
Words: Abi Jones
Hailing from Manchester, nine piece rock band, James, took to the stage at Cardiff Castle to perform their treasured classics to a sprightly crowd. Now that summer has arrived, so have outdoor gigs! Cardiff was the seventh stop for James on their UK and Europe summer tour after playing other renowned festival-like venues such as Cannock Chase Forest.
Kicking off this exciting evening was Jamie Webster and Shed Seven. This show was particularly special for Jamie as it was his last night supporting James on tour, which he’d been doing since early June. His stage presence felt very affable and inviting, more like a friend rather than an artist to an audience. He was comfortable talking to the crowd which really helped bring out the energy for the evening. The majority of his songs were lively, with one of the quieter tunes being introduced as one of only two love songs he has written, both about his wife. As you can imagine, this briefly paused the upbeat atmosphere to bring on a more heartfelt feel to the castle. He ended his set with ‘Raise A Glass‘, his most successful single which was definitely a fan favourite from all the jumping up and down.
Shed Seven only continued to build the excitement with their rock anthems. With a successful discography of seven albums, it was easy for everyone in the crowd to find something they liked from their set. There was a good balance of older songs and newer ones from their latest album ‘Liquid Gold‘ which gave the audience an insight to their musical growth. As expected, they ended their set with ‘Chasing Rainbows‘, their most celebrated song fueled with emotion and powerful lyrics. I noticed there were many people dressed in Shed Seven merch who left before James took to the stage. It’s clear that they’re a respected band with a dedicated fanbase.
Formed in 1982, it was natural that some people were curious as to whether the band could deliver this performance to the same high standard they did back in the day. It soon became clear that any doubts were quickly put to rest. With summertime at its peak now, the sun was still up as James was about to walk on stage. A hymn-like sound started playing before the band greeted Cardiff with a smile. Hit single ‘She’s a Star‘ broke the show out of the gospel feel and had everyone dancing and singing along. One of the most intimate parts of the show was when Tim Booth stood on the barricade and held the hands of fans while singing the lyrics “take my hand”. It really created an extra foundation of loyalty between the band and crowd. This was an emotional moment for many, leaving some visibly teary-eyed.
As well as an alternative, indie sound, there were also songs that were quite experimental, reaching out and blending different genres. At times it felt orchestral with the cello and violin, and there was even a song that explored the roots of electronic dance music, making the show feel somewhat like a dj set. As soon as the red lights hit and the iconic drum fill was played, everyone knew they were in for a treat with ‘Sit Down‘ which was the UK’s 20th best-selling single of 1991. The entire night was packed with celebrated hits like ‘Say Something‘ along with some deep cuts. This show was a huge production that had impressive stage management, with an excellent tech team switching out instruments ensuring the show runs smoothly.
After a break, James returned for an encore, giving the people what they wanted. In this case, it was ‘Beautiful Beaches‘ and ‘Laid‘. With ‘Beautiful Beaches‘ being a motivational anthem about California wildfires, and ‘Laid‘ being the perfect closer as it was used in the soundtrack for ‘American Pie‘. As the last chord played, Tim took out his earpiece to hear just how loud the applause from the crowd was and began waving to dedicated fans at the front. James are fantastic musicians that didn’t give up their energy once.
Taped Magazine 