aaamusic | On 14, Jun 2011

[cincopa AAHAUqqiVY07]

Sheffield, 4^th June

Kasabian are back. They were very impatient, especially the lead singer Tom Meighan, who couldn’t wait to give himself to his audience, that was waiting for them deliriously.

The O2 Academy was sold out and he joked about the fact that all his band mates had babies except him, so he was getting bored and looked forward to go on the road again.

The gig started after the opening from Modern faces, a good young band that sounds too similar to those they are supporting but they are talented so I’m sure they will be able to find their own identity.

Kasabian set list was very similar to that played last year, they just changed the order of songs, to  surprise people I suppose. In fact I didn’t expect to hear Club Foot as set opener and it was like a punch, people started to mosh and sang-along with an energy that could break the walls of the venue. Tom wore a pair of black sunglasses and leather jacket, while Sergio Pizzorno was long haired and very concentrated. Technically speaking they didn’t miss a beat, they get along well as a band, the support of Ben Kealey (organ and synths) and Jay Mehler (guitar) is fundamental and they are two fix elements in what is now a sextet.

The set list worked well, Where did all the love go?, Underdog and Shoot the runner warmed up the atmosphere to arouse people, who couldn’t wait to listen to the new promised songs.

On Shoot the (fuckin’) runner, Tom was visibly ecstatic, wanted to hear people sing, stood up like a Roman emperor, enjoying the moment, because he knew that the next one would have been a hard prove.

He asked if we wanted to hear a new song, the scream was a proper yes, so Velociraptor started.

It’s a rave song, half-punk half-Blondie (the Blondie of One Way or Another to be more precise), fast, involving, perfect in its structure, it is meant to be another classic. You can sing it after listening to it twice, but you can dance immediately, it’s catchy enough, but not predictable.

Other pearls were Misirlou from Pulp Fiction stuck on the end of the swinging Fast Fuse, Vlad the Impaler that always stirs up people and the classic LSF closing the first part of the set.

Switchblade Smiles hushed a crowd who didn’t believe what it was listening to…starting with a heavy synth it opens to dreamy atmospheres broken by screams and sudden changes of tempo marked by a hefty guitar.

Sergio and Tom are a perfect couple, the first starts the song with a shrill voice, while Tom gives it deepness and an ominous mood, maybe the best track they’ve ever made and it’s the prelude to the new album that has  already been announced as a rock classic.

After this shock, Stuntman, accompanied by a brilliant version of I feel love, brought back to safe territories and Fire ended that amazing show. I think the age of LSF is ended, Kasabian are ready to abandon their classics to explore new territories.

Club Foot

Where Did All The Love Go?

Underdog

Shoot The Runner

Velociraptor!

Cutt Off

Thick As Thieves

Take Aim

Empire

The Doberman

Fast Fuse

(Misirlou snippet)

Vlad The Impaler

L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)

Encore:

Switchblade Smiles

Stuntman

(I Feel Love snippet)

Fire

Author& Photos: Roberta Capuano