JAMES : MANCHESTER ARENA 7.12.01 page 3
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by Peter Hilton
Whilst on the way to the MEN arena I was thinking what to expect would be it be G:mex of 1990 or 1993 would it rate as one of the best of the 16 shows I’ve seen? At this moment I don’t know, could it be one of the gigs to go down where you would have to say I was there? How would Larry play and Andy I did not know or care
My wife had a little smile on her face as she said to me “well enjoy, as this is the last one we will go to” I don’t know where this relief or whether she was a little sad. One of our first dates was to go to see James at Liverpool in 97. That night they played Out to get you and it seemed as they were playing it for us, I know they weren’t but that’s how they can grab you with the heart felt lyrics.
The band entered from behind a curtain and I had seen the arena in such a way and it was so different than the other shows, I knew that I did not want the night to end. James have been a part of me since late 1986 early 1987 when a work friend gave me a copy of Stutter then I was on a hunt to get the vinyl of the factory stuff.
The band seemed different to me, even though Larry and Andy were on stage during the show, this was not it, it came to me when Tim wanted to leave when Bob’s equipment broke, it was Jim went up to Tim and said something the Band stopped on stage to perform Hymn from a Village and Jonny Yen, Jim was smiling, yet all the band were smiling at first from some time. The thing which I could put my finger on was that they were happy and enjoying the moment.
The set started with Say Something, Sometimes and Laid this followed by God only Knows, this is what I can remember of the set list but the set list went out of the window with technical problems when Bob’s equipment broke. As I said Tim wanted to leave but the band played on, Just like on the Titanic!
The high light of the show for me was Top Of the World, when Tim and Bob on opposite sides of the arena held the crowd with Tim’s singing and Bob’s violin playing a magical moment.
The best song for me was Tomorrow played with a trumpet another first for the night.
James did two encores with the evening brought to an end with Come Home and Sit Down.
The band didn’t want to finish but they did 2.15minutes after starting the show. They left the crowd wanting more and if they could have played all night the crowd would have sung and danced and scream for more.
The best way to James to finish any show is people wanting more and this is what they did
I can’t believe it’s over but for the time being without Tim, but James will be James as the spirit will carry on as they did when Paul, Gavin, Larry and Andy left