There's a lot of negative talk about music these days. Forever bombarded with prophetic messages spelling the doom of the album, and live music suffering from dwindling numbers of gig-goers, bands have been made to work hard.
Leicester's Kasabian are one band reaping the rewards. A phenomenally successful album in 48:13 and a Capital FM Arena show that sold out within an hour, leading to a second night being announced immediately, their b(r)and has never been stronger.
Their success hasn't just come from business and marketing though, having an arsenal of some of the finest tracks of the 21st century certainly helps.
Heralded by a countdown clock, a rip-roaring Bumblebeee announced their presence with no shortage of pomp and circumstance. From there, it was a case of pick your hit. Shoot The Runner and Underdog, anthems both, passed in an instant.
While reclining into the comfortable depths of their back catalogue would have been tempting, Kasabian dipped heavily into 48:13. Clouds segued into Eez-eh, mirroring the record, while the languid Treat has developed from curio to one of the quintessential ingredients in the band's live set.
Something else that Kasabian can attribute their success to is doing the simple things right. Frontman Tom Meighan's easy charm translates effortlessly, while guitarist Serge Pizzorno is comfortably the coolest man in music. He's wearing a furry fox's tail, for crying out loud.
It's not all fuzz and fireworks though, the pace slowing with Thick As Thieves – the best sea shanty to originate in Leicester – and a mournful rendition of Goodbye Kiss steadying the ship nicely.
An extended interlude during Re-Wired saw a brief cameo from… Cameo, Serge treating the room to a refrain from 90's staple Word Up.
While very much the Serge & Tom show, a massive screen, lights, lasers, string quartet, keyboard & brass players ensured that no shortage of images were left seared on the retinas, and memories to remain fondly for some time.
A sprawling, bombastic Switchblade Smiles, Empire and Fire closed the main set proper, tossed out with an almost casual air.
Spanning generations, Kasabian's fans are a voracious bunch. It's not just a case of waving or clapping when prompted, this was an exercise in full-blooded bellowing of every word to every song.
Returning to the bombastic backdrop of Stevie's string & brass intro, another soaring chorus, a penny drops. While erring dangerously close to hyperbole, Kasabian might just be the best British rock band of this generation.
Vlad The Impaler's infectious groove maintained momentum, before a customary trip to FatBoy Slim's Praise You signaled the arrival of LSF – a song made for stages this big, and the loudest response the Arena will have heard since their last trip to Nottingham.
In the aftermath, a lyric from Underdog rings true, 'A local loves a fighter, loves a winner to fall,' Meighan crooned. As the dying strains of LSF's chorus meandered into the Lace Market, it seems this time the locals love a winner to win even more.Setlist:
Bumblebeee
Shoot The Runner
Underdog
Where Did All The Love Go?
Days Are Forgotten
Clouds
Eez-eh
Cutt Off
Bow
Thick As Thieves
Goodbye Kiss
Club Foot
Re-Wired (With Word-Up interlude)
Treat
Switchblade Smiles
Empire
Fire
Stevie
Vlad The Impaler
Praise You
LSFFor tickets to see Kasabian at the Capital FM Arena on Saturday, November 29 go to capitalfmarena.com
