Way back when… Leeds … 2000 … Kaiser Chiefs were formed, since then they’ve released eight original studio albums (two of those UK No. 1), had nine Top 40 singles, including the No. 1 ‘Ruby’, received three Brit Awards, an Ivor Novello Album of the Year award for Employment, toured with U2, Foo Fighters and Green Day and sold more than eight million albums worldwide. Safe to say, they’ve become one of the most consistently successful bands to emerge from that era; a time when the UK was in the middle of a full-blown indie/alt-rock revival. Think Arctic Monkeys, Maxïmo Park, Franz Ferdinand… all breaking through around the same time.
Their defining album Employment catapulted them into the spotlight and, 20 years ago, put them at the forefront of festivals and stages around the world. Tonight, we’re here for the opening night of their Australian tour celebrating that very album.
Supporting them tonight are the Australian The Delta Riggs, known for high-energy & electrifying shows . Having shared the stage with the likes of Foo Fighters, Billy Idol, KISS and Kasabian tonight they’re here to get the crowd excited and ready!
Their energy was infectious from the first riff, and while not every member of the crowd arrived knowing their name, they quickly won people over with big hooks and a loose, confident stage presence. By the time they wrapped up, the room felt properly warmed and primed – an ideal springboard for the Kaiser Chiefs to take things up another notch.
And So with a time-warp back to 2005, and a dole office-esque building adorning the stage design, entering stage left with strobes firing, the crowd erupts, and the band tear straight into Everyday I Love You Less and Less.
“Sent here to entertain you – let me hear you scream!” Ricky Wilson shouts, and the crowd happily obliges.
There’s no settling in period. Following the albums playlist they slam instantly into I Predict a Riot, and the room becomes a bouncing sea of bucket hats! (Few of the Barmy Army have made it across from the cricket tonight – with flags to boot!) The energy is exuberant, infectious, and Loud.
Wilson pauses only briefly to thank “old fans and new fans alike,” before introducing Benjamin from Perth (covering for Whitey) – a guitarist who ‘won’ a competition … with just one entrant. The crowd loves it!!
As they work through their latest album in order, there’s a noticeable shift. Not every track is built for festivals, but they’re unmistakably album songs, lyrics that find their power live. “This is the song that’s normally last,” Wilson jokes as Oh My God track six drops in & the crowd erupts to the chorus “Oh my god, I can’t believe it, I’ve never been this far away from home.”
Hearing an album played front-to-back live is a strange but fascinating experience; you become aware of the ebb and flow, the tonal shifts. But also, more aware of the lyrics and the meanings behind them – they’re full of witty snapshots of everyday life; social satire with sing a-long hooks.
And just when you’ve settled into the album’s groove, they flip the switch. ‘Side B’ arrives with a jolt it’s more punk, more urgent. Recalling touring with Madness … “big drinkers, glad they didn’t bring their lawyers”
With a faster, louder spin applied to ‘Time Honored Tradition’ they maintain that more upbeat punkrock approach – a move which makes you remember just how many tracks the Chiefs have in their arsenal. Some you forget until they hit you live.
An album that moves through hectic to relative calm we conclude with a video-game-esque animation taking over the screen, we’re in Jurassic park jeep, being chased by dinosaurs & with more flashing lights than a hooker’s boudoir the song ends with a clash of drums and a mic stand spin, a giant GAME OVER appears. It’s chaotic, silly and brilliant.
With the album concluded, the band exit stage left. A quick turn around and the John Williams iconic Jurassic park theme tune forms their entrance song echoing through the RAC duh – duh – duh, they’re back! With a full-tilt bounce as the chant erupts: “Ay-oh, let’s go!” Again the crowd erupts & joins in with their cover of The Ramones Blitzkrieg Bop
Wilson climbs onto a speaker for a massive call-and-response moment, holding an “Aaaaaay-oh” for far longer than any mortal lungs in the crowd could hope to match.
They dive into the wonderfully apathetic refrain of Never Miss a Beat, with another chorus of “What Did I Do Today? I Did Nothing“, pushing toward the finale.
And what a finish. The entire venue is on its feet as Ruby fills the air — Ruby, Ruby, Ruby-Ruby! — with the crowd trading lines with Wilson as the night barrels toward its end.
The night closes with just as much oomph, chaos and charm as it began, culminating in Wilson’s triumphant cry/ opening line: “I could prove anything!”
The only thing missing? (maybe ironic with the end being ‘The Angry mob’ … A bar that stayed open after the band finished.
With dates left on the tour be sure to grab your footy shirt & a ticket to celebrate 20 years of Employment
Set List:
Employment
Everyday I Love You Less and Less
I Predict a Riot
Modern Way
Na Na Na Na Naa
You Can Have It All
Oh My God
Born to Be a Dancer
Saturday Night
What Did I Ever Give You?
Time Honoured Tradition
Caroline, Yes
Team Mate
Encore:
Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones cover)
Never Miss a Beat
Hole in My Soul
Ruby
Reasons to Stay Alive
The Angry Mob
With thanks to Nicole & Live Nation for the media access
All image Credit : Shotweiler Photography
