Kaiser Chiefs at Scala

Ricky Wilson may have hit the big time on the BBC, but there was no sign of Kylie or Sir Tom tonight as Kaiser Chiefs marked the release of their new album Education, Education, Education & War with a sold-out set at Scala.

Everywhere you look is a Kaiser fan, crammed into every nook and cranny of Scala like commuters during a tube strike. But the obscured view and sardine vibe doesn’t dampen any spirits, and with the beer flowing, Wilson and his chiefs take to the stage, sparking a mass eruption of screams and iPhone flashes.

It’s over ten years since the Kaiser Chiefs reignited the Britpop scene, but their set – jam-packed with tune after tune – seems just as fresh as it did back then. Everyday I Love You Less and Less and Modern Way lead the way, and the crowd sing a symphony of “ah ah ah haaaa” for Ruby. Of course, no Kaiser Chief set would be complete without the classic, generation defining, I Predict a Riot. Time, and chronic radio overplay, can make you forget why you ever liked songs like this in the first place, but the Kaiser Chiefs manage to stamp firmly back into the hearts of the audience with their flawless performance and crowd-pleasing attitude.

Audience interaction was top of Wilson’s to-do list for this gig. Not content with staying on the stage, he leaps into the audience to crowd surf (or crowd stand at one point), and even ascends the sound cage to command his Angry Mob of fans.

Of course, the band isn’t just here to regale the crowd with songs of their youth, and with a new album to promote, the band play some new tracks. The subdued response does not go unnoticed by Wilson, who introduces upbeat politically-charged Cannons with, “we’re going to play a new song – the least you can do is pretend to like it!” Despite the mild reaction, Misery Company is entrenched with the old charm, and new single Coming Home has a more laid back, grown-up sound – the potential for future classics is obvious.

The Kaiser Chiefs know their fans well, and aren’t too proud to roll out the old classics to please them. After an energetic hour and a half, there’s not a soul in the house left out of the party-turned-sing-a-long. What more can an audience ask for? An encore of Oh My God? Oh, go on then!

Sarah Edmonds
Photos: Kyra Campbell

For further information and future events visit Kaiser Chiefs’ website here.

Watch the video for Coming Home here: