Kaiser Chiefs at Troxy

There’s no slowing down for indie legends Kaiser Chiefs as they make a stop at East London venue Troxy as a part of their Easy Eighth album release tour. The record, the band’s appropriately titled eighth release, signals a shift into funk-pop territory – think more dancefloor bops than rock anthems – mixed with their signature sound.

The Leeds natives have been together in various forms since 1996, having worked their way up through local venues before hitting the mainstream and becoming a staple in the British music scene. With a capacity of just a couple of thousand, tonight’s venue is a far cry from the arenas they’re accustomed to, yet provides an ideal backdrop to test the waters with new material. Their counterparts may have turned to extravagance to keep relevancy, but the five-piece know their formula and stick to it. The stage production is simple but effective as the band present an evening of songs from their new album alongside some of their biggest hits.

Soulful opener Feeling Alright from the new record is an early highlight, followed later by the dancy Burning In Flames. The glitzy 80s style of some of the newer songs blend beautifully with the ruggedness of much of the band’s discography, but do get a little lost at moments. There isn’t much time to dwell though as the second half of the set is dedicated to their most loved tracks. Target Market, a swoony love song, is a surprising high point as frontman Ricky Wilson takes the opportunity to serenade the crowd from atop some stairs before running through the balcony seats to say hi to delighted fans and old friends. The joyously stompy Reasons to Stay Alive follows, before the audience erupts at the announcement of 2005 hit Everyday I Love You Less and Less. Awarded with as much energy and care as the fresher offerings, a roaring combination of their most famous singles Ruby and I Predict A Riot comes next. While some bands may be sick of performing the same songs for nearing 20 years, the Kaiser Chiefs clearly aren’t. And if the audience reaction is anything to go by, they’re definitely not sick of hearing them.

At just 16 songs, the set is on the shorter side for a band with a legacy this big. Delivering just enough to keep the fans satisfied yet leave them wanting more, the rockers provide the perfect taster for what is no doubt a bigger-scale tour to come. As they become more familiar with the sonic exploration showcased on their new album and how to translate that to a live setting, these icons of UK indie rock will only get better.

Katherine Parry
Photos: Virginie Viche

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

Watch the video for the single Feeling Alright here: