James / My Federation

Tonight, in the Corn Exchange, there is a prevailing sense of excitement in the air. A sense that this will be something special. I last saw James perform at summer past's T in the Park, where they were the undisputed talking point of the day. Some didn't think Mr Tim Booth had the voice anymore, that the band was flat and irrelevant or just plain unexciting, others thought they were the standout band on the main stage that day, even against Arcade Fire's truly awesome performance. Either way, stand or fall, the Manchester chaps (lads doesn't seem to go with James) will have to be on top form as the show will be broadcast live on Clyde 1.

In the meantime, however, what is on the stage at the moment is pretty damn interesting. If you haven't seen, nor heard, of My Federation and you have a weakness, akin to mine, for textured harmonies, distorted synth basses, loud drums and proper 60's songwriting prowess- check them out, no really. Don't let the name put you off.

I walk in to the venue to be greeted by sharp staccato guitars and perfectly pitched Beach Boy harmonies. Having immediately caught at least my attention and several others' in the building, they launch into a great cover of 'Open My Eyes' by then teen prodigy Tod Rungren's Nazz. It's a tough song to cover, the original being widely recognised as a true sixties legend, being (in my opinion) the centre piece of Jac Holzman's original, life affirming, 'Nuggets...' compilation. Mr Lee 'Muddy' Baker, who was also the producer of Booth's solo album 'Bones', and his ten legged psyche machine from sunny Brighton do tremendous justice to this genuinely classic track. At this point my belly and I are having major words with each other.

Once the dust settles, the stage is set, the bars are overly populated, the house lights drop to a line of red spots and the voice of Billy Sloan announces over the PA that the show is live on Clyde 1 to an ecstatic crowd response. From the balcony, at the back of the hall, the Braveheart Pipers begin a tattoo-ed up version of the famous synth line from 'Come Home'. The crowd begin to sing along once the unfamiliarity wears off, but if there is one way to hook a Scottish crowd from the get-go, it's playing to our heritage. Suffice to say that James have already made this night something unique and special for this audience before they even hit the stage.

When the seven-piece do arrive, and Mr Booth's trademark falsetto and funky-monkey-sweaty-ball of energy dancing is pre-empted by almost all of the audience at different times, the sheer lift of spirits isn't just visibly apparent, you can feel the collective happiness in your stomach. It is impossible to deny that James are in that extraordinarily rare breed of successful pop/ rock acts that don't rely on Artic Monkey's 'chav-ccents', or other trendy gimmicks to write current music. Simply put, James write songs that feel like they come foil packed for freshness. Their music is current, is relevant, even though the casualties from the Factory era seem to be, only now, entering into their justly deserved legend status (Tony Wilson is given a special mention with regards to the unveiling of 'Bubbles' in their last Corn Exchange appearance, as he died on that evening).



For a band that have graced us with their material for over twenty years, to have a new album that isn't a pale copy of older classics such as, 'Laid', is an incredible feat. Tracks from new album 'Hey Ma' are extremely well received. 'Upside', as well as singles 'Waterfall' and 'White Boy' are classics just waiting with baited breath to achieve enough familiarity to become crowd favourites. Every song is met with gratuitous enthusiasm, every word sang with adoration and love from a crowd that have obviously felt starved of this kind of sparkling, shining, pop rock.

When the band return to an audience begging for more, I notice several heads turned to the balcony away from the stage. Booth, one leg draped over the rail of the balcony serenades the crowd with an apt rendition 'Top of the World'. It is clear from the smile on his face that Mr Booth doesn't need to search the bottom of his soul to deliver those lyrics from the heart, he's living them. 'Hey Ma' itself is already a crowd favourite, sang verbatim by an audience in the midst of James love-fest. As far as structure goes, this is as near to perfection as you could get. The penultimate song, and a fifteen year old classic, 'Sometimes' is met with a huge, unstoppable, a cappella chorus performed solely by the crowd with unmatchable gusto. 'Laid' caps off a spectacular performance by an awesome band that are as deserving of the Hall Of Fame as anyone else, and I don't think anyone who witnesses a gig of this calibre could possibly even contemplate disagreeing.



Set list

Come Home
Waltzing
Oh My Heart
Boom Boom
Bells
Waterfall
Bubbles
Frustration
Better Black
Want To Go Home
Out To Get You
Upside
White Boy
Star
Sound
Tomorrow

Top Of The World
Hey Ma
Sometimes
Laid

FUTURE GIGS