One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

Tag Archives: 2000

Beijing Heineken Beat Festival – 13th May 2000

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James’ first visit to China to play a festival in Beijing’s Ritan Park

Setlist

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Support

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Review

James – The Highpoint of Heineken Beat Music Festival – Beijing Evening News

For every person present in Ritan Park for the Heineken Beat Music Festival, the 90 minutes from 21:30 to 23:00 on May 13th, will be very hard to forget. The explosive atmosphere created by the UK’s James gave people a real idea of the power of popular rock and roll music. At last Beijing had the chance to experience this kind of passionate and exciting live music performance.

The difference between the wild cheers and waving arms and dancing feet at Ritan and the enthusiasm of the thousands of people last year at the worker’s stadium for Zhang Huimei’s concert was fundamental. First of all, on stage was a famous band from one of the original homes of rock and roll and secondly, the music resounding in the arena was far more likely to set the blood pumping in your veins.

When James was announced, the trees just outside the wall surrounding the altar of the sun were full of people. On May 13th there was an audience of more than ten thousand people in the park, both inside and outside the arena.

China Stands For James – Music 365

Despite the implications of their anthem Sit Down, James have made history in China by becoming the first western band to be granted a standing and dancing crowd.

Normally strict crowd controls were relaxed at the Heineken Beat Music Festival, held at Ritan Park in Beijing, where more than 10,000 people rocked to the Mancunian indie stalwarts’ set. The reaction to the concert has been dramatic enough to spawn two half-hour documentaries on the band, which were recently screened on Chinese TV.

In the Beijing Evening News, China’s most popular newspaper, a review of the concert positively fizzed with enthusiasm: “The explosive atmosphere created by the UK’s James gave people a real idea of the power of popular rock and roll music. At last Beijing had the chance to experience this kind of passionate and exciting live music performance.”

London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 8th May 2000

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Setlist

Top Of The World / Say Something / Crash / I Know What I'm Here For / Destiny Calling / Vervaceous / Junkie / Swell / Senorita / Out To Get You / Stutter / Born of Frustration / Sometimes / Laid / Someones Got It In For Me / Come Home / Tomorrow / Sound

Support

Kent / Coldplay

More Information & Reviews

Zoe McGeechan, Music 365

Well, tonight was a game of two halves. There’s no other way of describing it. Because, even to die-hard James lovers, most of the gig was excruciatingly dull.

They kick off the set – well, drift off really – with a swoony lullaby.. It is beautiful, it is serene, but it’s not the hand-clappy choral chant that the crowd are here to see. The first half of the set, mainly lifted from last year’s frankly appalling ‘Millionaires’, would be more appreciated in the confines of a well-padded lounge or boudoir. Well, somewhere comfortable, anyway, should you feel an urge to sleep.

And while the music sounds milky and ineffectual, Tim slithers, pivots and raspberry ripples around his little iso-booth world – what is the Perspex for? To fend off the sweat splashes of the pretty string section, one suspects.

This ‘mature’ James have left all the fun behind. There’s no whooping, yodeling or spasming in their new material, but that’s what we want. A glimpse of greatness sneaks out with ‘Destiny Calling’ but the lid is firmly pressed down to make way for more of James’ newest sound, monotony.

As the night drags by, it’s gradually punctuated with hits, a rogue ‘Say Something’ here, a renegade ‘I Know What I’m Here For’ there, and its so obvious that the audience aren’t here to be wooed by smooches or serious propositions. They want to jump and clap and whoop and wail.

You start to think James need a lesson or two in assembling a setlist; when you have a handful of hits, it’s always best to include them in the set, for instance. Witness the rapturous reception of the EMF-esque ‘Come Home’, or the godsend of ‘Laid’, which conjures up a huge anthemic explosion.

So there’s no ‘Sit Down’ – fair enough, this isn’t a youth centre disco – but it does climax with the goods, the pure pop that James are all about. The encores burst into crescendos of strings and guitars and the audience finally get to whoop their little hearts out

Beguiling us with an encore of hits so we leave feeling elated; a cheap trick, but everyone falls for it.

Video

Part of MTV’s 5 Night Stand series of gigs. Support came from Coldplay.

Music 365: James to Play China

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James are off to China next month to become one of the few western rock bands ever to play in Beijing.

The band are set to perform at the fabulously named Altar Of The Sun in the Chinese capital over the weekend May 13-14, as part of the Heineken Beat 2000 festival.

Also on the bill is Afrobeat king Femi Kuti as well as local Chinese acts. Last year’s Heineken festival was the first such outdoor event ever held in China.

James’s Chinese fanbase is said to be “small but passionate.” Meanwhile the band also plays V2000 this summer and is due to start recording an early follow-up to last year’s Millionaires album.

Source: Music 365, 13 April 2000

Randall and Hopkirk Deceased

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A 2000 Compilation (non James) Album featuring James.

Summary

A track not used from the Millionaires sessions, although it had been played live in 1998, that appeared on the TV series featuring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. It later featured on the 2004 compilation album The Collection.

Track List

Confusion

Details

ReleaseAboutSongsGallery
Release Name: Randall and Hopkirk Deceased
Artist Name: James
Release Date: 10th April 2000
Format: Compilation (non James) Album
Catalogue: 31454-25552

A track not used from the Millionaires sessions, although it had been played live in 1998, that appeared on the TV series featuring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer. It later featured on the 2004 compilation album The Collection.

Songs related to this release:

Dave Answers Questions To Jamestheband.com – January 2000

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From: Billy Collinge
Answered by: David

What happend ie Tims neck injury he said at the Appollo in Mcr he “can’t fly any more” dose this mean he will never dance like before ie. G-mex/Blackpool ’90 and how did the injury occur. is he ok now. hes still really funky though. Thanking you Billy

He’s recovered.

From: James
Answered by: David

With I Know what I’m here for and Just like Fred Astaire being relative flops in the chart.

Why do you thing this was?

Do you blame Mercury for changing the release dates of the above singles.

The single’s charts have changed alot recently. Just check out the latest Now thats what i call music compilations.Its all boy bands and dance tracks.

 

From: Ray Gillespie
Answered by: David

Hello. One of my favourite James songs is Lullaby off the Laid album, but I can’t understand what the lyrics are about. Anyone help?

Child abuse.

 

From: Mike Hamad
Answered by: David

First of all, I want to say that you guys ROCK!! My question is: What inspired Tim Booth to write “Arabic Agony”? Thanks!

Tim Booth didn’t write the song .he just did the ghostly scream.It was a jam that just happened in the studio one night under Brian Eno’s guidance.Check it out on the film HEAT

 

From: Maureen McCurley
Answered by: Jim

I was at the show in the SECC Glasgow and would be interested to know what the piper played. The noise from the crowd drowned him out. The show was my seventh time seeing you live and i have to say you are maturing if that’s possible as a band. Thanks for a great night.

It was apparently Scotland the Brave, but to be honest, we couldn’t hear it either.

 

From: kisch
Answered by: David

Are you guys ever gonna tour SOUTH-EAST ASIA?

I’d personally like to tour some of your Full Moon parties if you know when and where they are on.

 

From: Liz Ankers
Answered by: David

For Dave on drums – do you remember all the sessions at Petes studio at Gors Ave? – Glad to see one of you got there! from Petes younger sister – Liz!!!

Hi Liz, I do remember those sessions. Doesn’t time fly. Do you still live in Anglesey? How is Pete? He’d still make mincemeat of me on the drums. I saw Kevin Sergent in Plymouth last year when we played there.

 

From: Matt Behan
Answered by: David

On the ‘cover’ album of Leonard Cohen where James covered ‘So Long Marianne’ the band are all eating bananas. Whats that all about then?

Just love bananas. We are still eating them on the cover of Laid about 3 years later.

 

From: francis jones
Answered by: David

when are you going to do what you deserve, and sit down and agree to sell your souls and earn shit loads of money. Thankyou for surviving. FRAN.

Satan doesn’t seem to be returning our calls.

 

From: Laura
Answered by: David

You are great ! But in my country (Italy) you aren’t very popular…will you play here ??? CIAO !

I think you have answered your question.

 

From: kevin park
Answered by: David

okay, got the album, got the tickets for nec concert. question: Who is supporting them? I read once that stereophonics were support, but they have a couple of dates at nec the next week.

Those lovely scousers THE CAST.

 

From: Emma Turner
Answered by: David

Were the albums WAH WAH and James released in the UK, and if they were where can i get hold of them?

These should be available in your local megastore.

 

From: emily collins
Answered by: David

Hey guys! I just got your new c.d. imported so that I could listen to it at college! But I didn’t recognize the new face to your group…can you tell me who he is and what he does on the album? Thanks! em

I think you must mean Micheal “joey” Kulas. He’s Canadian. He plays backing vocals&guitar.

 

From: tony band
Answered by: David

dont suppose you can let out which songs are gonna be played at the manchester M.E.N arena gig on dec 11?

We do want to play some old songs. Maybe you should all have a debate as to what that might be. I can’t promise any thing but!

 

From: Enric Romagosa
Answered by: David

Hi.

We are a group of Jame’s fans from Barcelona. WE NEED A CONCERT OF JAMES IN BARCELONA. When are you going to come?

Thanks in advanced.

Would it boost demand for us in Barcelona(a beautiful city i might add)if i told you that it is Saul’s favourite football team?

 

From: Luke
Answered by: David

What is Basic Brian about?

Brian basically.

 

From: col
Answered by: David

I am big newcastle united fan, can you tell me if any of the band are in the toon army. If not what teams do they support.

Saul-Barcelona. Tim-Leeds. Jimmy-Man City. Mike-Arsenal.

 

From: Mat Horne
Answered by: David

Will there be a vinyl release of Millionaires in the near future. The fact that the format is unavailable has meant that I do not own a copy of the album, I have been forced to tape it. This has quite upset me! Cheers for a cracking album anyway. XXX

If you had a vinyl copy you’d have a crackling album. Ever thought about getting a CD player? You should find one on the computer your using.

 

From: Pete and Al
Answered by: David

We saw you at the UEA and to be perfectly honest YOU ROCKED!!!

Anyway: 1)Why the plastic screen in front of the drummer? 2) What was the support band (bloke)?!? 3)Any chance of any autographs?

Cheers, P. and Al. 2/3 of the Dodgy Jammers (Drums and Bass/keyboard/vocals/drums/etc.)

The plastic screen in front of me is for the rest of the bands own protection. Some of them just can’t stand the heat.

2000 – 2001: Getting Away With It

Articles from this James era: