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After the riots and ramblings of 2005 the Kaiser Chiefs have changed. They no longer have to play the clown, have hissy fits and dress in ridiculous clothes to secure a crowd. Tonight fans have been clambering at tickets to hear the band's new material 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob' before the band embark on their national tour as they play a one off showcase with tickets selling out in under ten minutes.
So as the audience await their fun loving heroes it comes as no surprise The Twang receive a luke warm reception as they roll onto the stage swearing, boozing and providing very little else. Nick Hodgson claimed them to be the next Arctic Monkeys, but after this sour taste of Happy Mondays, we're still in need of persuasion.
However the attention today is clearly fixed with the Kaiser Chiefs and with some fans driving for seven hours to attend tonight's gig, the pressure is definitely on for the band to deliver, yet as they enter the stage, launching into 'Ruby' (now nicknamed 'Donny' with the help of Chris Moyles) it doesn't show. Despite Ricky Wilson's lack of audience participation the crowd are instantly won over, until jumping into 'Everyday I Love You Less And Less', the singer stands proudly before his fans as they scream, fighting over one another for a touch of their hero.
As the new material blends perfectly into the old each song is delivered as strongly as the last, something hard to achieve on an inexperienced crowd. And as the band announce 'When the Heat Dies Down' its clear the Kaiser Chiefs have no competition for world domination. Here Wilson ditches the trademark jumps and shouts for an overall more reliable package. Two part harmonies are favoured over more erratic behaviour as songs such as 'My Kind Of Guy' and 'The Angry Mob' show a new direction for the band.
However they do provide as many drunken anthems with 'High Royds' consisting of a chorus entirely constructed on 'ooohs' being a highlight of the evening. Also despite the amount of shows played and crowds witnessed the Kaisers are still one of the best live acts today. Whatever the audience you can guarantee Wilson cannot drag himself away from his fans; launching himself into a 2,000 strong crowd during 'I Predict A Riot' unaware of the consequences and creating a mass sing-a-long as the band bring the gig to its finale with a triumphant 'Oh My God'.
Ultimately the Kaisers can change their clothes, remove a hat and dress like Coldplay but what remains is the core personality of clever wit, trademark gestures and damn catchy tunes ready to blow every band of 2007 out of the water. In their own words, they are the angry mob and they're about to overtake Britain, again.
