"Madchester" Band James Wows them at the El Rey.

David Baynton Power, the drummer of Manchester Band James, told me he hadn’t been to L.A. in over a decade. This was right before their show at the El Rey on October 2nd, and he was outside talking to me and another fan, and looking jazzed up for the show. James had broken up in 2001, and got back together last year for a new album and a tour.
Last time I saw them: 1992 in San Francisco, the Seven tour. Their song ‘Born of frustration’ had been getting them slagged off in the British press as Simple Minds rehashers, a lazy comparison if you ask me. I found them to be a fresh breath of air, a positive mist amongst an era dominated by rainy doomsday predicting grunge bands and uptightly arrogant britpoppers. (Not that I don’t like those bands- but sunshine is nice after a rainstorm, is it not?) It felt natural that their next album, Laid, would be produced by none other than Brian Eno, Mr. Ambient Wunderkind himself.
This concert we James fans had been waiting for did not disappoint. The band had as much energy as when I saw them 16 years ago. There was a tenderness between the band members, and an appreciation for something that had dissolved and was now being resurrected. Tim Booth entered the stage and began singing the song Dream Thrum from the album Laid. He looked a bit like a yogic Rasputin, with a thin moustache and goatee. He started off the set wearing a wool beany but discarded it soon enough to show a cleanly shaven scalp, also throwing off his blazer as well, to reveal a tooth pick thin frame that made some of us wonder whether he’d been getting enough to eat on the road.
The words from Dream Thrum echoed through the El Rey, giving us all shivers. Especially the eerie refrain of “oh, I’ve changed.” (Boys, you haven’t changed that much luckily: ) Than they ripped through a satisfying set of oldies but goodies, most of the hits they were known for from their 1992 album Seven, including ‘Ring the Bells’ and the aforementioned ‘Born of Frustration.’
When Laid’s ‘say something’ began, he ran through the audience to the back of the theater and remained there for most of the song, than running back to the stage at the end. Saul Davies, the violinist and guitar player, showed extraordinary strength and energy, alternating between fiddling, strumming, singing, and even banging along on an alternate kit along with Mr. Power the main drummer. Power’s agility is so immediate and precise, and is known for being particularly exquisite at alternating his thunderous drum rolls with even- scaled symphonic grooves. Andy Diagram let his trumpet rip, and I believe adds so much to the band’s sound that his horn playing is one of the capital reasons their sound stands out so much from other bands.
All of the band members were delightful and seemingly pleased. Jim Glennie, the longest original standing member played his bass with a sturdy practicality and Larry Gott beautifully played many of his leads with a slide and hugged a fan who jumped up onstage. Tim Booth displayed amazing generosity and would beam at the audience as we’d sing to him, looking like a proud Father, seemingly surprised that we knew his songs so well.
Not quite half the set was from the new Album, Hey Ma. The rest were oldies but goodies, played from a band that everyone thought was gone, but are definitely back for a second wind. The last song of the show, Laid, I jumped up on stage with about a dozen or so others and quickly was saddened when the lights came up after the curtain call. It was a concert you didn’t want to end. Hope they come back soon, I’ll be be there.

Set List:
Dream Thrum
Oh My Heart
Ring The Bells
Waterfall
Come Home
Hey Ma
Bubbles
Seven
Say Something
Don't Wait That Long
I Want To Go Home
Out To Get You
Upside
Whiteboy
Born of Frustration
Sit Down
Sound

Top of the World
Sometimes
Laid