James with orchestra + choir

I love James, they are a top top live band, if not THE best live band. I wasn't much fussed about watching them perform with an orchestra + choir, but I went along to Brum Symphony Hall to keep my better half company.

It was fantastic, and that's without biggies like Laid, Sit Down, Tomorrow + Come home.  They played a lot of lesser known stuff, incl several album tracks but it was still top quality. To be fair, the orchestra were barely noticed in the 1st half as James have enough going on with their own musicians.  2nd half saw the orchestra become more prominent and it was a top night.  As well as being top drawer, James have also shown their versatility.  The best moment, as per most other recent gigs, was joining in the chorus for Sometimes after Tim Booth, the band, orchestra + choir had finished their bit. To see the whole place on its feet, with the audience singing on its own for several minutes was one of those special moments.

Carlsberg don't do bands but if they did...

I saw James at this year's Wickerman festival in south west Scotland and they were superb. Had read about the forthcoming work with the orchestra and would like to see it. As you say it's wholly different from the norm, but musical tastes evolve over the years and mine certainly have from prog rock / underground in my formative years (mainly at the Winter Gardens, but also at the free festivals) through to an eclectic taste now comprising of blues, soul, jazz, funk, and a Spotiy with tons of 60's pop music on it as well. Have never made the cross over to classical music, albeit I used to love listening the Nice, especially the Kirelia Suite (listen to it, the work also provided the intro music to the tv current affairs programme This Week in the 70's)

James=shite IMO.

Quoted from 75

James=shite IMO.

Thanks for that, Vic.  Your loss - they really are a top live band and brought me many happy times  

Quoted from jock dock tower

but musical tastes evolve over the years

Agreed. It started with Boomtown Rats for me - first saw them in '81 and idolized Sir Bob in my teenage yrs.  Imagine how chuffed i was to see the man play not once but twice here in Market Harborough in the noughties - mainly solo stuff but some quality Rats tunes thrown in also. Top nights!

Grateful for punk/new wave going over into the 80s until the likes of Big Country, Simple Minds + U2 came onto the scene. Not to mention the Jam + Madness etc - better than bloody New Romantic stuff.

Happy to listen to all kinds of stuff now. Not many enjoy SLF and Andrea Bocelli in the same year   Can't wait for Waterboys next tour - last saw them at Leicester, playing for 2 1/4 hrs. It was a fantastic evening - a chilled out experience though the audience looked like a combo of librarians and trainspotters in some cases. Reminds me of the Bacardi ads - no bad dancing . However some of the "dancing" was shockingly bad  

James are defintely in my Top Ten Bands of all time, Laid is possible one of my favourite ever tunes. Bands I would put ahead of them though are The Charlatans, The Skids, Depeche Mode, Neds Atomic Dustbin and Stiff Little Fingers to name a few but my alltime favourite band ever, which I doubt will never change are Carter USM. Only 3 weeks on Saturday now until their Brixton Academy gig. Can't wait for it but unfortunately I'm in the circle this time as I can't risk it in the mosh pit anymore for fear of banging my head. Shame really, I've had many a good night in the pit at previous Carter gigs over the years.

Wasn't Janet Street Porter "in a realtionship" with one of the USM donkeys back?

The law of averages says she probably was.

Quoted from jock dock tower

Wasn't Janet Street Porter "in a realtionship" with one of the USM donkeys back?

Not as far as I know.

Quoted from Les Brechin

Bands I would put ahead of them though are The Charlatans, The Skids, Depeche Mode, Neds Atomic Dustbin and Stiff Little Fingers to name a few

Depeche Mode? Are you sure? Depeche Mode and SLF are certainly very different bands!  SLF are a top band and its not uncommon to bump into fans that have seen the band 30-40 times - still think James are better though  

Enjoy Carter USM, Les.  I'm sure you will still have a good time outside of the pit