Photo Credit: Paul Dixon

Iconic Manchester band JAMES recently secured their first UK #1 for a studio album in the form of their latest record ‘Yummy’. We sat down with guitarist Saul Davies to talk about the bands upcoming arena tour, how the album has been received across their dedicated fanbase and how Saul likes to travel when on the road.

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What has the overall reception been like for ‘Yummy’?

Saul: It’s been really good. I don’t think it could have been any better really, the fans love it. I am quite surprised in the way it has been received. It’s a very nice, gentle, positive surprise, especially when you get messages saying it’s our best one yet.

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How does it feel to finally secure a #1 after over 40 years as a band?

Saul: It was hugely gratifying. We actually got a #1 with our ‘The Best Of’ in 1998 but this is our first for an actual album. We have had loads of #2 or inside the top 5 over the years. To get in the charts at all is amazing. We never really felt we were in competition with anyone apart from Chesney Hawkes who kept ‘Sit Down’ off the top spot for three weeks, but he is “The One and Only” isn’t he?

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Where does the drive to continue writing and recording music come from after over 40 years?

Saul: It’s because we are musicians. If we are a tin, we should do what is said on the tin. Perhaps the most gratifying thing about ‘Yummy’ reaching #1 is the bond that we have with our fans. We didn’t go and buy the record, our fans did it. I am happy for them really. There are people who have been supporting this band since we formed, so I’d like to ask them how they feel about it. Do any of them want their money back? We wouldn’t be a band if we weren’t writing music. There is a nostalgic element to anything we do in our lives, and nostalgia is part of how we define our culture, but we’re not nostalgic as a band. We understand the power in our catalogue that a lot of bands would eat their own testicles to have. I am a massive fan of any band who writes new music, Shed Seven went to #1 with their new album and I loved it, I think it was amazing they did that. You have go to aware of what your job is.

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What is different now when you write music compared to when James first formed?

Saul: It is quite different. The way we write our songs is still the same; we get in a room together and make an unholy racket, record everything and piece it together. Getting in a studio altogether and working together live off the floor is complicated as it is so expensive now. A lot of what we do is done at home. We can do a lot of great work now at home. We know what we’re doing and we are lucky we get to work with great people. Leo Abrahams produced ‘Yummy’ and he did a great job of making this record sound amazing. It was mastered by Cenzo Townsend who is no slouch, between them they nailed.

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When you work with people outside of the band, do you feel it is a shared achievement?

Saul: Yes it is and it always has been. We were talking amongst ourselves the other day, thinking about the people we have worked with over the years like Stephen Hague, Brian Eno, Charlie Andrew, Jacknife Lee, these are some of the best engineers and producers on the planet.

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The current tour is in support of the album, how excited are you to be back out on the road?

Saul: Sometimes I am not very excited at all, but when I do it, it’s great, but this time I am genuinely interested about doing it. We’ve road tested the new songs in Mexico and Spain, so we know what we’re doing. There is genuine excitement in our camp.

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With the arena tour now in full swing, do you miss the more intimate shows that James played back in the 80’s/90’s?

Saul: Different periods bring different challenges and offer different possibilities. When you go an arena tour you get your head into the fact you’re going to be performing to 15,000 people each night. You adjust accordingly. The production we are putting into these arena shows are insane. We did two club gigs in Madrid and Barcelona and warm-up shows in Bournemouth and Stockton, which were highlights of the tour so far because people got to see an arena show in a tiny venue, so there is an appeal to that.

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How excited are you to perform the new songs for the first time in the UK?

Saul: I know what is going to happen when I start bashing out the chords to ‘Laid’ and you have 15,000 people bouncing up and down, that is a moment. How can two chords and a pick in hand make that happen? But playing all these new songs and putting yourselves on the line is the magic behind it all.

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This summer you will be playing two orchestral performances in the UK. Where did that idea originally come from?

Saul: The idea comes from 2011, we were approached to do it and it went really well, we released an album and it ran very well. People were very complimentary about it and it was very special. It is a second version of James in a way. Four members who are part of the orchestral shows will be on this arena tour with us on stage which will be cool. It is an opportunity I thought would never work, and truthfully the opposite happened.

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Is there still something you would like to achieve as a band?

Saul: I think we are only scratching the surface. I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to be successful, some bands complain that others are more successful, well if they are successful, they are doing something right aren’t they? I am very ambitious in wanting to write more songs that connect with more people. We’re doing a co-headline tour in America with Johnny Marr and I am very anxious about it, I really want to crack America. We never really got a foothold there. I’d also like to reverse Brexit, and be part of a group of artists and creators who have some balls to stand up together.

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What is the vibe like when you are all together on tour?

Saul: We are all in a really good place with each other. There are a lot of us and it can be a bit much, we have huge respect for each other. Having Debbie and Chloe has been really cool as they have brought new perspectives into our band. I like to keep myself to myself. I don’t like to go on the tour bus; I take my car and drive myself. I love it. I can stop wherever I like and have a little coffee if I want to; go for a run in the countryside if I have time. It’s funny during a tour because other members of the band will ask to join me. We are a very sensible bunch, we are aware of what we need to do to keep fit and make sure we are on it. I run 5 miles every day, there is a reason for that.

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What are your personal choices for a rider?

Saul: Oat milk and good coffee, that’s it. This tour is going to be an alcohol free tour. I am really happy about that. Our caterers are brilliant; they do some really nice vegan food.

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JAMES are currently on their arena tour across the UK, with orchestral performances and outdoor headline shows all lined up for this summer. Remaining tickets are on sale now.

JUNE
Fri 07 Glasgow OVO Hydro
Sat 08 Leeds First Direct Arena
Tue 11 Cardiff Utilita Arena
Wed 12 Birmingham Utilita Arena
Fri 14 Manchester Co-op Live
Sat 15 London O2 Arena

JULY
Sat 06 Bedford Summer Sessions (Orchestral)
Sun 07 Lytham St Annes Festival (Orchestral)
Fri 19 Stornoway Hebcelt Festival
Thu 25 Ludlow Castle
Fri 26 Scarborough Open Air Theatre

AUGUST
Sat 24 Devon Gone Wild Festival