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New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
David Smyth's rating
Reader rating
Phone: 0905020 3999
Website: www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk
Email: mail@shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk
Trains: Tube: Shepherd's Bush 
, Tube / Bus: 49, 72, 94, 95, 148, 207, 220, 237, 260, 283, 272, 295, 607 
Extra info: Pub
Scaling the heights: singer Ricky Wilson made several of his trademark leaps and threw himself into the crowd during I Predict A Riot
On the day they learned their new single is no longer number one, but their new album is, Kaiser Chiefs completed a hat-trick of mid-scale London shows that served to whet the appetite for a big year ahead.
Existing fans of the Brit-winning Leeds quintet could justifiably be concerned about the glum faces gazing forlornly from the cover of second album Yours Truly, Angry Mob.
After the soaraway success of their 2005 debut, they should have been pictured drenching each other in champagne while a gaggle of supermodels looked on.
But as this comeback show proved, the cheeky chappies' mature makeover consists of little more than keyboard player Peanut ditching his silly hat and growing a beard.
Far from alienating those just after a simple singalong, this was still a band with energy and great melodies to spare. New songs such as Heat Dies Down and Ruby provoked enthusiastic audience reactions.
"The world famous Kaiser Chiefs" as singer Ricky Wilson introduced them, remain brimming with ambition.
The crowd of 2,000 risked permanent retina damage from a fizzing light show clearly designed to make Wembley Stadium look as if it is taking off.
Wilson was given a set of fluorescent steps from which to make his trademark leaps, and the large-scale choruses of tracks such as Thank You Very Much were obviously designed to be bellowed by thousands.
Wilson may have sounded slightly hoarse and mildly bored between songs, but during a set that maintained a relentless pace he whizzed about like a shopping centre child with wheels in his shoes.
During I Predict A Riot he threw himself into the audience, a riot predictably ensued and when he eventually resurfaced his T-shirt had become an off-the-shoulder number.
Everything Is Average Nowadays almost matched that big hit for vibrant vigour, while Highroyds brought a touch of punk to the mix, although it did carry on a career-long tradition of owing an awful lot to Blur.
Keyboard-led ballad Try Your Best provided a rare lull but was not memorable enough for lighter-waving.
When the band returned for their encore and Wilson inquired, "Are you ready for a sing-song?" he summed up the simple appeal of his band - big tunes and an even bigger chorus, pretensions be damned.
They may wish to mean more to the world, but they would be foolish to let new beards get in the way of a good time.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Offer: Kaiser Chiefs tickets - Earls Court, London - Friday December 14 & 15, 2007*
Price: £27.50
Details: Watch out for the Kaiser Chiefs as they set the stage on fire!
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* Online booking only
The Kaiser Chiefs - Shepherds Bush Empire Sunday 4th March
The Kaisers are the chiefs.
Seeing the Kaiser Chiefs performance in what is my favourite best music venue was a thrilling experience. It was high octane from start to finish. Material from the new album "Yours Truly Angry Mob" which has just gone No.1 blended well into the set with Chant-a-long favourites from Employment. The sound and light effecting was spectacular for a theatre this size. Ricky Wilson bounced round the stage (and at one point off it) like a man on high charge batteries. His energy was so infectious prompting most people to stand, clap and stomp etc. in all 3 balcony's for the duration of the show. A very mixed audience whose age ranged from pre-teens to fifties, suggests a wide appeal. With quality songs and high energy performances the Kaisers are definitely here to stay.
- Darren Lewis, London UK
