LIVE REVIEW: JAMES + RAZORLIGHT @ THE FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL BRISBANE 13/10/26

Words & Photos Steph Ure

There is something special about a concert that reminds you of the simplicities of why music matters. Not just for the songs, the glamour and rock ‘n’ roll, the musicians or the nostalgia, but for the connection it creates between complete strangers. On Tuesday night, Brisbane's Fortitude Music Hall welcomed two generations of British indie rock, with Razorlight and James delivering an evening filled with singalongs, laughter, exceptional musicianship and beautiful moments of human connection.

Opening the evening were London indie rockers Razorlight. Formed in 2002, the band became one of the defining sounds of the mid-2000s indie movement, with hits including ‘America’ and ‘In the Morning.’

Looking around the venue, the audience was an entertaining mixture of Gen X dads enjoying a night out, millennial women reliving their indie era and everyone in between. There was something delightfully daggy about the atmosphere, in the coolest possible way.

Razorlight took to the stage with an uncomplicated, effortlessly cool presence. Jeans, T-shirts, unbuttoned shirts and drums decorated with artificial greenery suited the band's bright and playful energy. Frontman Johnny Borrell led the charge, delivering punchy guitar riffs, infectious rhythms and distinctive vocals, while the musicians shared an easy camaraderie.

At one particularly memorable moment, the band dropped away almost entirely, leaving the audience to carry the chorus with only gentle percussion supporting them. Borrell listened as Brisbane sang back before thanking the crowd and launching into another energetic passage.

There was no shortage of playful interaction either. Borrell encouraged the crowd to become part of the percussion, instructing them, ‘You're the drums,’ before the musicians joined in with the clapping. He also joked about the occasional imperfections of live performance, thanking everyone for supporting live music.

As ‘America’ filled the venue, nostalgia took complete control. The audience sang along from beginning to end, with Razorlight finishing to enthusiastic applause that continued well beyond their final notes.

It was time for James to enter the stage.

Formed in Manchester in 1982, James have spent more than four decades developing a sound that moves effortlessly between alternative rock, indie and folk. Returning to Australia for the first time since 2018, the band arrived with an extraordinary catalogue of music, including their eighteenth studio album, 2024's Yummy.

As the musicians gradually made their way onto the stage, frontman Tim Booth appeared with a mug in hand, an understated entrance that contrasted beautifully with the enormous musical presence that followed.

There is an exceptional level of musical chemistry within this band. Guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, violin and trumpet intertwined, creating layers of sound that shifted from hauntingly delicate to overwhelmingly powerful. Each musician was given room to showcase their individual skill without losing the cohesiveness of the performance.

Booth's vocals moved between vulnerability, theatrical expression and powerful emotional release, sometimes commanding the room through sheer vocal strength and, at other times, holding everyone's attention with almost complete stillness. Crisp, clean lighting enhanced each song without overpowering the musicians, who danced and interacted throughout the set.

But one of the most beautiful aspects of the evening was watching the audience. Men stood arm in arm, swaying and singing to one another. Friends embraced, couples shared quiet moments of affection, and groups who had grown up with this music reconnected with songs that accompanied significant chapters of their lives.

There was something particularly moving about witnessing such open displays of male friendship and vulnerability, reflecting the emotional expression and connection that James themselves explore through their music.

Before one of the quieter acoustic moments, Booth cheekily suggested the audience was welcome to talk over the song, as their social conversations might be more interesting. The humour quickly gave way to haunting instrumentation and deeply affecting vocals, drawing everyone back into the performance.

Booth also joked about suffering food poisoning earlier in the day, suggesting he was a better performer when unwell. Despite his admission, his performance remained commanding and expressive throughout the lengthy set.

One of the evening's most unexpected highlights came when the band's trumpet player made his way to the upper balcony, delivering a soaring instrumental passage above the audience. Booth later took his own performance beyond the stage, appearing on the balcony as the crowd responded with dancing, singing and infectious excitement.

The band's female musicians shared a particularly enjoyable moment, with guitar and drums coming together in an energetic exchange showcasing their individual abilities. Watching women excel in a traditionally male-dominated musical environment, while their fellow musicians celebrated their talent, was an especially satisfying sight.

Another standout featured the band's female vocalist, whose ethereal delivery introduced a different emotional texture to the evening, demonstrating yet another dimension of James' musical range.

As ‘Tomorrow’ filled the room, the audience united once again. Couples stood arm in arm, friends linked together and voices rose throughout the venue. Supported by soaring vocals and instrumentals, the song became a powerful collective experience.

The beginning notes of ‘Sit down’ began to play. Few songs capture collective belonging quite like this James classic. As the familiar words filled Fortitude Music Hall, the audience responded with overwhelming warmth and recognition. It felt as though Brisbane had accepted the invitation to sit at the James table for the evening.

After almost two hours, Booth announced with refreshing honesty that the band would briefly leave the stage and pretend they weren't coming back before returning to play another few songs. The playful admission earned a delighted response, perfectly capturing the band's unpretentious approach to performing.

The evening finished with one final heartfelt performance and a room full of voices singing together, bringing the night to a beautiful and fitting close.

Razorlight reminded Brisbane of the uncomplicated joy of dancing to the songs that shaped our younger years. James took that nostalgia somewhere deeper, transforming it into a celebration of friendship, vulnerability and artistic expression.

There were no elaborate distractions needed. Just talented musicians, beautifully written songs and an audience willing to give themselves completely to the experience.

Sometimes, live music is about the people standing beside you, singing the same words, remembering the same feelings and finding a little piece of themselves in the music once again.