Brixton again - i might invest in a tent and just chill there for the
whole time. They really have had a month featuring a lot of bands i'm into. However Kasabian was the one i was expecting least from. After having only released their debut album this year, they could be forgiven for having a short set being unimaginative and nervous. They were none of those things.

The lead singer looked like a natural born rock star already with supreme confidence, which wasnt unfounded when hearing how good his voice was live. He could have done without saying "thank you Brixton" after every track but he can be forgiven as this was the only sign immaturity they showed, if indeed that is what it is an example of. The other main man looked like he needed to eat, just like any good indie kid but he displayed tremendous skill vocally for some tracks and more often on the guitar and on keyboards. The change of pace was amazingly excecuted as was the ian brown dancing by the front man. However i think the "Stone Roses" tag they have been given and many arsey people adding that they are a poor excuse for the Stone Roses
are criticisms that are unfounded after seeing this gig. They really
managed to play some chilled tracks from their debut album and mix them in with the favourites "Processed Beats" and "LSF" as well as previously unheard of much harder and intense rocky stuff that didnt have the electronic aspect usually associated with kasabian. This to me showed exactly how good they are, because to display such variety and to have such confidence to play some slightly different tracks is a real testament to this bands capabilities and to their originality.

Simon Says...

Judging by the number of fans I heard complaining about the size of the Brixton Academy (apparently all had seen Kasabian at far smaller London venues merely twelve months ago), 2004 was undoubtedly the year that Kasabian went from being a slightly psychedelic indie band with a cult following and an album in the pipeline, to taking over the mainstream. Despite the many positive things that I'd head about support act The Dead 60s, I can't easily see them doing the same
in 2005. Mixing Franz-esque danceable guitar (one song in particular was dangerously reminiscent of a sped-up Take Me Out) with ska and dub influences, The Dead 60s were impressive at times, though occasionally seemed to lose focus, and the slower reggae-ish tracks (explanatory sample lyric: "We get high") seemed to meander without much substance. Much unlike the headliners, they did seem swamped by the size of the stage, and despite encouraging some minor dancing down the front, did not seem to make much of an impression on me
or the rest of the crowd.

Kasabian on the other hand were immense. As the curtain fell to reveal the band silhouetted, engulfed in dry ice and standing in front of a hugely impressive on-stage lighting rig, even the doubts of the aforementioned hardcore 'fans'' must have been cast aside. With singer Tom Meighan striding confidently around the large stage in sunglasses, looking every inch a 21st century Ian Brown / Liam Gallagher hybrid, the band often looked like they could do no wrong. Their second guitarist was particularly impressive, playing like Kevin Shields, with his guitar seemingly triggering a vast array of sound effects. The singles, especially triumphant set closer Club Foot were obvious highlights, as was the genuine delight in the words and eyes of the band at the end of the show, who seemed honestly overcome by the reaction of the crowd. Astounding lighting and
a great setlist (with the exception of Serge's acoustic solo track, possibly mistakenly placed as the first song of the encore, which was never really going to top the previous rendition of L.S.F.) made for a show that could have filled a venue the size of the Brixton Academy ten times over.