Leicester’s favourite sons brought their well-renowned live show to Festival Hall for a corking Saturday night of music for those lucky enough to be in attendance. Support was provided by the wonderful Australian outfit The Delta Riggs. However, unfortunately for both them and the concertgoers, they started at the ridiculously early time of 7.30pm – early for a weeknight gig, therefore almost unfathomable scheduling for a Saturday night concert.
Kasabian weren’t much later, scheduled to appear at half past eight, the English lads arrived onstage to a hero’s welcome around 8.50pm. The noise of the crowd all night proved to be impressive given the show was no more than two-thirds sold out. Black curtains hid over half of the side seats and the floor area was fairly spacious. Kasabian made sure that everyone who had parted with their hard-earned were duly rewarded with a show equal parts explosive rock and showmanship bravado.
Taking to the stage with large white glasses, singer Tom Meighan launched the band into Bumblebee from brand new album 48:13. Appropriate given Meighan looked something similar to the song title with his slightly ridiculous glasses. Despite being a new song off an album that’s only been in the hands of fans a few weeks, when the song began, the crowd went crazy. Therefore the first “classic” song of the evening, Shoot the Runner,was met with an even greater fervour. The intro to the song featured parts of Kanye West’s Black Skinhead, which worked surprisingly seamlessly.
Underdog proved that West Ryde Pauper Lunatic Asylum is the band’s most popular album in terms of explosive singles contained within, all of which translated brilliantly live. Newer cuts such as Velociraptor‘s Re-Wired, Switchblade Smiles and new album tracks Eez-eh and Stevie demonstrated that no matter what songs they play, no one writes and delivers stadium “anthematic” rock’n’roll as well as Kasabian do.
Their set-list was everything you’d hope it would be, with earlier albums getting plenty of airtime and their newer tunes, of which they played four songs, going down well with the adoring audience. A cover of Fatboy Slim’s Praise You was an unexpected highlight before a banging three-song encore ensued, closing with Vlad the Impaler and the epic Fire. Time and time again, Kasabian deliver live, meaning their reputation of being one of the very best live rock bands in the world is not in danger anytime soon.
BY ALEXANDER CROWDEN
Photo by Charles Newbury
Loved: Guitarist Serg’s showmanship.
Hated: The Delta Riggs playing too early.
Drank: Nothing, bar line was insane.
