Date: March 25th 2005

T’Chiefs are back in town and the city that never sleeps is ready to embrace them even closer. They are as excited to be here as the crowd and no mistake. The enthusiasm buzzes and the temperature rises even before foot or cane appear on stage.

The stage lights glint off of Ricky Wilson‘s little nose stud as he pours even more energy into the performance than can be thought possible. Instead of resting his injured foot, he runs circles around himself, leaps and jumps; those raptly watching wince each time he lands back on earth, all the while ignoring the stool set aside in the corner. A few torn ligaments cannot stop him from giving his all, which includes climbing onto Nick Hodgson‘s drum set. Twice! If you came to see a mind-blowing stage show, this is certainly the place to be. There is a moment where Wilson thinks he has ripped his trousers, although that would not be too surprising (or too disagreeable for many in the vicinity) with the acrobatics he’s performing. Simon Rix tries to help with the burden of hopping about and kicking up a storm by bouncing back and forth with bass in hand, though there is not much need as the floor is seething with waving arms and moving bodies.

‘Na na na na naa’ opens the set in a most magnanimous way followed by the jangled keyboard notes of ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’, with those who know the words singing loudly and proudly enough to be heard over the thrum of the music. Peanut and co. start the crowd clapping and bopping in rhythm during several of the songs and there is a quiet awe when ‘Caroline, Yes’ is unfurled with pomp, Whitey’s guitar solo as its definite highlight. ‘I Predict A Riot’ is fast becoming a crowd favourite and includes a tentative stage fall on Wilson‘s part where his microphone gets lost in the sea of singing fans, but he has nothing to worry about as eager hands snatch at him, trying to touch something divine. The witty commentary that is kept up throughout the set complements the joyous music and prompts laughter that you can barely hear over the boisterous cheering. The atmosphere is close and thick by the middle of the show, but fresh air seems irrelevant when the lads tear through ‘Oh My God’, giving breath and taking it away all in one stunning gasp. The wildly stomping crowd is treated further with an encore of ‘Take My Temperature’, as the cane is thrown valiantly aside once more and extra jumps are unloaded for adoring eyes.

Despite cheers for more, there is no second encore and people disperse soaked but satiated, silly grins on their faces. At the end of the night, we could’ve done splendidly without the support bands, but then it made the Kaiser Chiefs set so much sweeter.

Previously published on This Is Fake DIY.

Tags: kaiser chiefs, Live, Review

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