More about: Kasabian

It all feels a little surreal – not least because three years ago Pizzorno wasn’t even the frontman of this band. His personal transition is nothing short of remarkable, so much so that it’s hard to imagine a time where he wasn’t the focal point, meeting the eyes of everyone in the room. Tonight’s show is driven by the rookie frontman’s flair for showmanship, and it doesn’t take long for him to whip the excitable crowd into a lager-fuelled frenzy.

Kasabian are now seven records into their career, and whilst most would suggest their best days are behind them they still possess the ability to subvert a crowd’s expectations. The raucous energy of tracks like ‘Club Foot’ and ‘Empire’ are paired with acoustic takes on early singles ‘Processed Beats’ and ‘Cutt Off’, while dance classics like ‘Praise You’ and ‘One More Time’ blend seamlessly into newer cuts like ‘You’re In Love With A Psycho’ and ‘stevie’.

The inclusion of club classics in the set makes sense, as dance music is an obvious inspiration for last year’s comeback album ‘The Alchemist’s Euphoria’. These days indie rock fans are much more receptive to this kind of experimentation, and whilst much of Kasabian’s newer material felt pretty uninspired on record, it works nicely in a live setting. As a result, lesser performed tracks like ‘ROCKET FUEL’ and ‘SCRIPTVRE’ get a good reception.

A predictable yet joyfully-received encore of ‘L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)’ and ‘Fire’ is enough to send fans of the Leicester band out on a high, with tonight’s biggest choruses reverberating all the way through the walk back to the underground. Their may be little left that Kasabian can truly offer in the studio, but as a live act they remain a force to be reckoned with.

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More about: Kasabian