Kaiser Chiefs Leeds First Direct Arena
14.02.2015
Valentines Day in in the North and it is cold not freezing but cold enough to be wishing it was 6pm for the doors to open after being out for just a few hours queuing,however I'm having a stressful day I've lost contact with my fellow gig mate my phone died on me but I'm in good spirits,I'm with fans waiting and some one kindly put a tweet out to my mate .
She eventually answered little did I know the stress she was having getting here when I spotted her at almost 4pm she told me she had to go back from Leeds as she forgot the tickets, and was having phone problems contacting our other mate who seemed to think that coming around 7pm was the doors opening time.
So next nightmare.. she was having problems getting here on time being delayed from Manchester we finished up leaving the tickets at the box office and we'd catch up later with Gig Buddy B as me and Gig Buddy A wanted to get to the front lol.
6pm and the doors open people run toward them getting their tickets scanned our scanner didn't work I was fuming, luckily we caught up at the steps inside and ushered our way toward the front of the steps weaving ,I'd gone through the left doors and ended up on the front on the right as its how the entrances linked up so we were glad we conquered that.
As the first band 'Teleman' came on the stage I noted they had a really pyschedelic indie sound a bit 'Floydian' quite interesting.
2nd band 'Public Service Broadcasting' whom I'd seen support 'The Manic Street Preachers' in 2012 at a rather scaled down venue of 'The Ritz', they really upped the ante tonight with stage props and effects ,wheeled onto mid centre stage,an antenna with Radio Waves LED lighting beams outwards to the 2 screens on either side beaming out old space newsreels and vintage Space Race footage,Space Missions ,they now had a much bigger stage production.
They came onstage at around 8.30pm and the Guitarist and Intrumentalist arrived to the right and drummers to the left along with various effect musicians ,Leeds is in for and unusual treat tonight.
The Band are unique don't sing,dance or speak its like listening to a live Space Soundtrack,very much driven by a 60's influence that reminded me of 'The Tornados' (You wont remember them folks I don't I only know that 'George Bellamy' of the band is 'Matt Bellamys dad and they had a huge hit called 'Telstar' an all instrumental cutting edge classic).
The band hold the audience in awe at the strangeness of it all,in fact none of the band actually speak only through 'Vocoda' on keyboards to say a few words "It's Great To Be Here In Leeds !!" and "Thank You Leeds" quite witty and although some people were puzzled it was entertaining.
The lights go down as the 'Kaiser's board the stage lots of space for 'Ricky' and the set up seems to pick up the theme 'The Klaxons' had last year '3D Black and White' pictograms,not least on the t-shirt 'Ricky' was wearing,'Whitey' picks up his bass,and 'Peanut' has trademark beanie hat on the stage podium set up for his kit on keyboards along side the 'NEW' Drummer .
They kick off tonight's show with 'Factory Gates' from surprise No1 Album "Education Education Eductaion & War", Tonight is very much a homecoming show, you can see the excitement in 'Ricky's eyes and his cheeky grin he becomes an excitable child this is what makes the band work Live !!
It's 10 years since '1st album' 'Employment' I hardly believe how long ago,this band have been gigging a long time now, they play 'Everyday I Love You Less & Less' and 'Everything Is Average Nowadays' those of course being the crowd pleasers, its back to new album material which in my opinion has echoes of 'The Jam' post punk beat bands.
More classic songs and 'Ricky' is already making himself at home in the crowd as everyone in the middle surge to reach him, he's already sweating running all over the place but I couldn't believe what he had planned during 'We Are The Angry Mob' 'Ricky' leaps off stage right and runs around to a second stage set up right at the back of the arena, all the while singing into a camera zooming in onto his face and eyes, we all sing the chorus he sings for 2 more songs with the band on the main stage playing to us .
He runs back to play more new album tracks and 'Team mate' from the debut album not played live since the beginning,and 'Modern Way','Never Miss A Beat' a catalogue of hits and then a special section dubbed 'Ask Peanut' where Ricky asks Peanut questions via the audience and a Mic ,one guy next to us on the left got a selfie with 'Ricky & Peanut' .
It was on with the show with public favs 'Ruby' 'I Predict A Riot' to which 'Ricky' introduces by simply saying "Oh Go On Then Lets Do It",then a rendition of 'Pinball Wizard' a hilarious film of 'Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) backstage with the band telling them how Fxxking Crap they are ,it was so funny everyone loved it,'Coming Home' was a chance to show film of the back screen of Leeds City Centre and Landmarks with confetti cannons going off.
Then it was encore time which seen the performance of a new song 'Falling Awake' you can now download on ITunes, the finale was 'Oh My God' where Ricky on the main stage has a camera on a cable picking up the crowd and him singing into the lens which appear on screens and that was it they said "Thank you Leeds Goodnight" it was the best show I seen them play, we managed to catch up with out Gig Buddy B , she loved the show even though she got here late so all was well again and it was a great end to the night, Glad I chose the Homecoming show to attend and photos are in the gallery and will be available in a separate link soon .
LMi x
