Music / Reviews
Review: Kaiser Chiefs, Lloyds Amphitheatre
Day two of Bristol’s Summer Series at Lloyds Amphitheatre on Bristol’s Harbourside, sees rock veterans Kaiser Chiefs grace the scenic stage.
Support act, Everything Everything make a last-minute pit-stop to Lloyds Amphitheatre on their way to Glastonbury to support the Kaisers. They’re currently peddling their third LP Get To Heaven to all who’ll listen – which is currently battling for pole position in the Top 40.
Despite much of the sold-out crowd paying little attention, there are a few converts, diehards and looky-loos that revel in the Manchester-based foursome’s spasming math-pop. It’s all falsetto highs, political nadirs and hooks sturdy enough to hang a carcass on – in a few years, it’s feasible this lineup could switch around.
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By the time Ricky Wilson and co turn up to booming roars, the sun is slipping off the horizon, and cups toast the impending night; the term ‘idyllic’ is an undersell.
Opening with ‘The Angry Mob’, with its rabble-rousing refrains, the sardined masses go haywire. The standard is set from the get-go, and as the Kaiser Chiefs whip through beloved numbers from their decade-and-then-some career, you’re hard-pressed to find a man, woman or child not in thrall to their noise.
As ever, it’s the older cuts that go down more a storm, prompting toilet and bar queues to dwindle to zilch. ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’, ‘I Predict A Riot’, ‘Everything Is Average Nowadays’ and ‘Never Miss A Beat’ are stunning pop-tinged belters, with shredding axes, ratatat beats and bass to restart hearts.
‘The Modern Way’, a more pensive addition, and is the set’s arguable highlight, offering the audience a chance to catch their breath and appreciate the musicality and gravitas that Kaiser Chiefs have the ability to wield.
A full-throttle cover of ‘Pinball Wizard’ is a bizarre turn, but an obvious grin-maker.
The Kaiser Chiefs end on a heartwarming singalong of ‘Oh My God’ – still a clear favourite – and although the band have come a long way from their pub-circuit roots, it’s evident that they still find throngs of fans wherever they go, but with a catalogue like theirs, is it really surprising?
Bristol Summer Series 2015 is a series of open air concerts at Lloyds Amphitheatre. After Jessie J’s sudden cancellation, the final concert will take place on June 26 with Seasick Steve. For tickets, visit www.bristolsummerseries.com.
Pictures by Bristol Summer Series.