Sunday 26/08/07, Kaiser Chiefs, The Fratellis @ Marlay Park, Dublin

The final big outdoor gig of the worst summer in living memory went off with a whimper as the impressive Fratellis and the indie monolith that is the Kaiser Chiefs descended upon Dublin. Budrising again supplied the sunshine but something seems to be amiss in camp Kaiser.

Strolling around the picturesque surroundings of Marlay Park, through the menagerie of food stalls, the air guitar stage, around the bars and up to the stage, one thing is very apparent. The sound of ‘Chelsea Dagger’ is on everyone’s lips, “Do, do da do, do” is ringing around Marlay Park, nobody is predicting a riot. Drunken teenagers, drunken adults and high on life children it would appear are here to sing a chorus.

The Fratellis stride on stage bearing two large Scottish flags and nonchalantly begin with a rip-roaring ‘Flathead’. The nonchalance isn’t due to lack of effort; The Fratellis are a band that seems to just take everything in their stride. They’ve exploded over the past year but still play like it’s in a small venue rather than a massive park. The Fratellis play music to get drunk to with, ‘Henrietta’, ‘Whistle To The Choir’ and ‘Dog In A Bag’ all being lapped up by the intoxicated crowd. Mince Fratellis powerful drumming holds the trio together and gives a massive boost to their sound. The Scottish trio also play a couple of new songs, both of which suggest they are sticking to The Fratellis formula. In particular, ‘The Acid Jazz Singer’ bodes well for album number two. ‘Chelsea Dagger’ plays out the set to the delirious crowd culminating in a mass sing along and many hands in the air.

Since Glastonbury three years ago, the Kaiser Chiefs have been like a massive indie avalanche, gathering size ripping through every festival and tour. They’ve quickly seeped into the mainstream until, dare Gigwise say, no one really cares to include them anymore. Relentless touring has taken the spark and joy that were major parts of early Kaiser Chiefs live shows.  They seem tired.

An impressive light show beams out, a giant ‘KC’ almost burns the cornea from my eyes and the Kaiser Chiefs appear. An exhausting ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’ blasts through the expectant crowd. The Kaiser Chiefs have an array of songs to fill large spaces and please crowds, ‘I Predict A Riot’ is predictably raucous. ‘The Angry Mob’ prompts a mass sing along and even the appalling ‘Ruby’ delights the crowd and gets hands in the air. Set closer ‘Oh My God’ always ensures the crowd leaves happy and almost hoarse. Yet throughout the performance, a general malaise prevails. At one point frontman Ricky Wilson’s face appears on the big screen singing but his expression is one of boredom. We are treated to the usual Peanut introduction, the standing at the barrier facing the crowd, encouraged singalongs and everything the masses now expect from their Kaiser Chiefs performance. The Leeds quintet are by no means unwatchable, their humour and chantable songs will always have a place but it needs freshening up. ‘The Modern Way’ and a dismal ‘Everything Is Average Nowadays’ best highlight the current downturn as people head for the bar. The Kaiser Chiefs are disappointingly average tonight.

The final gig of the summer proved almost anti-climatic. The rabble rousing Fratellis proved their intent to be headlining these concerts next year and the promise of a super second album is clear. The Kaiser Chiefs, on the other hand, showed the folly of such lofty ambitions as incessant touring and larger expectant crowds seem to have taken their vitality and charm. At least we had the sunshine finally.