Brixton Academy
Tuesday 25th October 2005
reviewed by Cars
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So, straight off into The Cribs who kicked off tonights proceedings at 7.30. I feel a little sorry for them. They're a band that's good but not quite good enough. I don't ever see them making it big. Now on their second album & still only largely known & supported by die hard Kaiser fans (a band they're mates with). I thought it was an okay set with a few shakey moments, not least the vocals were practically impossible to hear. Saving graces did arrive in the form of their better tracks Hey Scenesters (show opener) as well as recent singles Martell & Mirror Kisses. I'd recommend giving them a try but don't expect them to be headlining a show like this anytime soon. They just ain't up to it yet (sorry boys).
Next up were Maximo Park who quite honestly could probably have sold out Brixton on their own. They've really hit the big time this year. I have their album - it's pretty good, but like so many other bands at the moment a little overated. That said I was looking forward to their set & to be fair they didn't really disappoint. I can't let this review pass though without commenting on the fact this band look like they met in the waiting room for medical experimentation. Don't get me wrong, I never judge people on appearance but these people look so odd together. The keyboard player was bizarre, infact I'm not even sure it was plugged in. He spent so long away from it doing dodgy hand dancing that I'm wondering if the band just let him onstage as a treat for not poking himself in the eye with his fork at dinner. To quote my friend Jen "he seemed to be possessed by the ghost of Ian Curtis & have the spirit of the Karate Kid". Kinder than I would have put it. There was a bassist who stood at the back looking terrified by the whole experience & the singer? My mate said he was "sexual". I'd be tempted to add predator on the end of that but maybe that's a bit harsh! Jokes aside he worked the crowd well & highlight tracks were Graffiti, Apply Some Pressure & Going Missing. Hopefully they won't turn out to be a one album wonder band.
So onto the reason I was here - the Kaiser Chiefs!
I was so blown away the last time I saw them live (see review) that it made me love them twice as much so my expectations were very high tonight.
They started off brilliantly with Dire Straits' Money For Nothing pumping out whilst they stood very rock star like all lined up behind a net curtain which dramatically dropped to the floor for them to then kick off with Saturday Night. Pretty perfect show opener I'd say.
I'd read in the paper on the train up there that Ricky has collapsed from exhaustion the night before & had been told to slow down. I must admit that for the first few tracks I feared he had had to give in & take this advice. He was nowhere near as animated as I'd seen him before & there seemed to be a slight problem with the band drowning out his voice. This all changed thankfully with You Can Have It All. Visually it was the best song of the night with twinkling white back lights combined with bright pink stage lights. During the song he pulled a girl out from the audience, danced with her & then swung her over his shoulder to carry her off stage.
It just got better from there on with the incredible I Predict A Riot (With Ricky as usual standing on the front barrier towards the end). Then he really went for the title of best rock showman of the moment by going off stage only to come back via the back of the Academy crowd surfing over everyone. From there leaping onstage for b-side Take My Temperature. Fantastic sight (see the start of his journey here!)
The encore was their cover of Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine which was recorded for the latest War Child album. Following that with What Did I Ever Give You before finishing with a fantasic longer version of Oh My God.
The band sounded faultless throughout & Ricky proved that he still knows how to put on a great show exhausted or not!
Highlights were Saturday Night, Born To Be A Dancer, Everyday I Love You Less & Less, Hard Times Sent Me, You Can Have It All, I Predict A Riot, Oh My God
Setlist:
Saturday Night
Born To Be A Dancer
Everyday I Love You Less & Less
Hard Times Sent Me
Sink That Ship
Time Honoured Tradititon
Na Na Na Na Na
Modern Way
You Can Have It All
I Predict A Riot
Caroline Yes
Take My Temperature
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I Heard It Through The Grapevine
What Did I Ever Give You
Oh My God
9 out of 10
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