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David Smyth's rating
, Loud and proud Kasabian are empire builders
By
David Smyth
20 Dec 2006
There was a time, not so long ago, when British rock bands lacked ambition. In at 22 in the charts and page 23 of the Melody Maker was quite good enough, and thanks for your interest.
Oasis changed all that. It was Knebworth or nothing for them and plenty of other bands that followed, Kasabian most of all.
The Leicester quartet have treated the Gallagher career path as gospel to such an extent that it is entirely possible that singer Tom Meighan phones Noel to ask for permission to go to the lavatory.
They have slavishly followed the brothers' blueprint for talking the talk, proclaiming their electronica-tinged rock to be more significant than the discovery of fire at every opportunity.
Yet they are proving adept at walking the walk too, playing to a vast crowd at Earls Court and looking perfectly at home.
At Alexandra Palace last year, with just one album under their belts, they seemed unsure of themselves, overwhelmed by the size of the place. Now, still hopelessly in love with September's second album Empire, they have clearly decided that they have done enough to deserve this large-scale adulation.
Meighan entered like a superstar, after a lengthy instrumental intro, lightshow blazing like the end of the world, arms outstretched and chin jutting at the beer-throwing masses. Frequently putting his microphone on the floor in order to run to the sides of the stage and urge more people to stand up, he sang unremarkably but with supreme self-confidence.
The music backing him was like continents colliding, every instrument straining to be louder than everything else. The glam rock stomp of recent single Shoot the Runner concluded with a deafening crescendo.
The chorus of Cutt Off erupted with squealing synths and a simple, wordless vocal that was echoed throughout the arena. However, like Oasis at their cockiest, they seemed to think that everything they touched deserved to be experienced at great length.
Album fillers such as Seek & Destroy and Me Plus One were treated like tablets of stone from the mountain, and while guitarist and songwriter Sergio Pizzorno undoubtedly deserved his moment in the spotlight, it should not have been spent singing tuneless acoustic ballad British Legion.
At their best, though, songs such as Empire and Club Foot had a swagger that was irresistible. Kasabian have the popular touch, and have reached people in huge numbers without ever being bland. And they would be the first to tell you they can do even better than this.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (13)
Erm, how are half the reviews on here actual reviews? Anyway, although the sound in the warehouse known as Earl's Court was pretty tinny and bad, the light show was amazing and we had a rollicking good night, especially the encores, which really did set the place alight. Totally agree about the ballad and the fact that Tom Meighan doesn't have a brilliant voice (at times when he was speaking i thought he'd morphed in Liam too!) but still a great show. Would love to see them in a smaller venue like Brixton Academy - this was the final nail in the coffin for me going to gigs in venues bigger than the the Academy. Hate them as soul-less places.
- Helen Whyatt, London, England, 05/01/2007 14:10
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My husband obviously had a great time at the concert and came home a bit worse for wear. Fortunately not half as bad as last time he went to see them at the Astoria though when he was ill for most of the next day.
- Kate, Guildford, 21/12/2006 16:32
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We had a great time. Two nice blokes agreed to swap seats so we could sit with our girlfriends. The concert was great and later we spotted the two guys that we had swapped seats with had bunked into the standing bit so they were obviously happy too.
- Jeff, Essex, 21/12/2006 16:25
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I missed most of it after having to go outside for a superking!
- Pauline Macleod, Accounts, 21/12/2006 16:07
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I was looking forward to going to this but unfortunately it clashed with a recording of Have I Got News For You so was unable to attend.
- Rod Marshall, London, 21/12/2006 15:42
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I think it is glam rock gone wrong and that can't be right. I am sure the bars stocked WKD - was that no good Darrell?
- Martin Tolson, London, 21/12/2006 14:34
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I think these boys are building nicely: two albums in and more to come - and as a live act there is NOTHING to compare with them.
- Mick, London, 21/12/2006 13:46
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Darrell is obviously a big girls blouse to be disappointed that there was no Smirnoff Ice!
- Dave Molloy, London, 21/12/2006 12:24
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Their second album is just not as good.
- Rob Burdett, London, 21/12/2006 10:18
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Couldn't find any Smirnoff Ice at the bar which I found disappointing.
- Darrell Hare, London, 20/12/2006 16:06
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The Carlsberg Export was good.
- Matt Higgins, London, 20/12/2006 14:07
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Its useless to compare them to Oasis; Kasabian are a decent band with a couple of cracking songs, but Tom Meighan tries way too hard and hasn't got an ounce of Liams charisma. If they are lucky they might be a pseudo-primal scream for a few more months but Bobby G still has it so I think they'll be forgotten in a couple of years. They should enjoy try and play Wembley Stadium - everyone wants to go anyway so they'd sell it out and get a last hurrah (if Muse can do it twice anyone can!).
- John, UK, 20/12/2006 12:40
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I got bored with it after a while. Oasis they certainly are not!
- Ryan, England, London, 20/12/2006 11:37
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