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Johnny Marr & James
Live at The Orpheum Theatre
October 1, 2024 by Joey Clark
Excitement resonated throughout The Orpheum Theatre as fans awaited the first of two sold-out nights with British rock legends and co-headliners, Johnny Marr and James.
Often times you see concertgoers miss the first act of the night, but the crowd had packed the theatre to the brim before James took the stage.
James front-man Tim Booth took charge of the stage with his megaphone in hand, opening the show with “Sound.”
Instantaneously, the crowd was locked in as the Maddchester anthem ensnared the senses. Any baggage that the audience had carried into the venue was lifted off their shoulders and we were welcomed into a beautiful soundscape to get lost within.
During the first song a spotlight shone down on James’ multifaceted musician, Andy Diagram, as he performed on a trumpet amidst the crowd from the mezzanine level.
In this single song James had set the benchmark for what would be a fantastic performance.
Another beautiful moment arose when the band performed “Life’s a Fucking Miracle” off their latest album, “Yummy.” Booth found his way into the audience to sing and dance amongst fans during the tune.
Following the performance Booth had rejoined the band and shared with the audience, “The lyrics to that song had been put up in a Morrissey forum as an example of how awful my lyrics are.” Booth took a brief pause to gaze out upon crowd then cheekily stated with a grin etched across his face, “Life’s a fucking miracle, it doesn’t quite tally with Morrissey’s message.”
The audience erupted into applause and laughter at the sentiment, some even going on to reassure the artist how much they were enjoying James’ portion of the show.
James meticulously carried out their 12-song set which was a sheer roller coaster of emotion. It was evocative in the best of ways; one moment you’re reflecting on the fragility of life and the next you’re celebrating it like there’s no fucking tomorrow, dancing along with the wonderful spirit that is Tim Booth.
The intermission had come to an abrupt close as red and blue lights began to flash across the stage, an ominous police siren rang out, then came… Johnny Fucking Marr!
The former guitarist of The Smiths strolled out as the front-man he was destined to be with the rest of his band in tow to a thunderous applause. The drum kit came to life and with it, the audience as they clapped along to the beat of Marr’s opening song “Sensory Street,” from his record “Fever Dream Pts 1-4.”
Following the song Marr had some technical issues with his guitar, which he took in stride, jokingly asking the crowd, “Does anyone have a Fender Jaguar?” After his tech addressed the issues, Marr played The Smiths’ “Panic,” which was greeted with enthusiasm by the audience as everyone sang along to the classic.
THE ORPHEUM THEATRE
Los Angeles, California
September 25, 2024
The real test was the next batch of songs on the setlist from Marr’s solo catalog which were greeted with as much, if not more, excitement from those in attendance – a true signifier that there was an abundance of diehard supporters of Marr’s career outside of The Smiths.
After playing a few songs, Marr took a moment to greet the audience and inquired, “Does anyone got any requests? I always say that in LA to see what happens.” Responding to an audience member, Marr asked, “What’s a Nickelback? I don’t even know what a Nickelback is. It’s like an American thing?”
Another person in the crowd called for a Steve Miller Band song that Marr has covered in the past and he responded politely with, “We don’t do ‘Fly Like an Eagle’ anymore, sir. It was getting to good to me. I started to like it too much.”
Marr proceeded to strum a few chords from the instantly recognizable song by The Smiths, “This Charming Man,” allowing the audience to flashback to the simpler time of the ‘80s. As the song came to a close, Marr swapped out his Fender Jaguar for a Martin Acoustic proclaiming, “Okay we’re going to go from an oldie now to a brand new one. Don’t be frightened, it doesn’t suck.” The beginning chords of Marr’s “Somewhere” resonated through The Orpheum and the acoustic number did everything but suck. It’s a beautiful, albeit simple song that grapples with the complexities of understanding oneself in this chaotic world.
As the night continued, Marr graced the audience with a variety of songs from his own solo work, The Smiths, and a few deep cuts from his project Electronic, whom he had formed with Bernard Sumner of New Order in the ‘90s.
Throughout the course of Marr’s performance I recognized why he was able to establish himself apart from his time with The Smiths and gain an audience of his own. He shows up… in more ways than one.
Marr’s craftsmanship as a writer has been evident for years but his ability to captivate an audience as a front-man is as superb. Every time he raises a guitar above his head, it’s a salute of appreciation to the fans that have supported his journey from the beginning.
As I walked out of The Orpheum, I left a fan of both Johnny Marr and James. You can bet I will be adding both of them to my record collection soon and I implore you to see them the next time they’re in a city near you.
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by Joey Clark Photography
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