Kasabian, Leicester Athena Cinema
Maybe it's the lecture we'd received by the film crew beforehand, but it takes a few songs for the cinema crowd to get really warmed up.
Kasabian are back in their hometown of Leicester for a special one-off gig hosted by Vodafone TBA in association with Sony Ericsson. The venue was kept a secret to the hundreds of fans who won free tickets until the day of the show, which turns out to be the swanky Athena Cinema.
Seats have been ripped out of the art deco picture house to make way for the thousand-strong audience, who storm in to see the only act tonight. Coming on at 7.30pm prompt, Kasabian come onstage in front of a dazzling display of lights, and meet with only the kind of reception you'd expect at a homecoming. Singer Tom Meighan enters wearing some very fetching Peter Parker-esque glasses, and kicks things off with a storming 'Shoot The Runner'.
A fairly run-of-the-mill 'Reason Is Treason' and 'Cutt Off' follow, before Serge Pizzorno takes over for the magical 'Me Plus One', easily one of Kasabian's strongest songs. Maybe it's the lecture we'd received by the film crew beforehand, but it takes a few songs for the cinema crowd to get really warmed up. Meighan does his best by telling everyone to "go mad and fuck the cameras", and when 'Empire' comes around, this gig feels like the real thing. 'Processed Beats' carries on the excellent vibe, that no closing of the bar can subdue.
Any fans wishing to hear new song 'Fast Fuse' are left disappointed though, as it does not make an appearance tonight in the relatively short set. No fear though, as classic tracks like 'Club Foot' more than make up for it. Even with the unusual circumstances tonight, Kasabian still make sure the crowd get the full gig experience - by their very nature they are a band to have a good time and get rowdy to. Therefore, the subsequent Leicester City football chants are only to be expected, and are encouraged by the band. A prolonged 'LSF' leaves everyone a clappy, dancy, sweating wreck and ensures we are all too knackered for the encore we've got no chance of getting at this kind of gig. It may have been impersonal and corporate for an intimate secret show, but Kasabian do their best and have just as much fun as everyone else.
If you weren't lucky enough to be there, you can catch the hard work of the pesky film crew on T4 on Saturday 4th August at 10.30am or on 4Music on 11th August.
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