“ It's not really sunk in yet. It's the one that we've wanted to do .. like a Spike Island, Knebworth,.. monumental shows... in our home town.”Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno.
Spike Island, Knebworth, Maine Road, Hyde Park, Glastonbury; there are particular gigs which come to represent a defining or special moment in a band's career.
Before you doubt that tonight could rest easily in such company, let us consider some Kasabian facts : 10 years since the release of their first album; 4th consecutive #1 album ( #1 in the album chart this week); 50,000 tickets to this show sold without any support being announced; biggest gig in the city which all of the band were born and still live in (unless Engelbert Humperdinck and Showaddywaddy are planning a co-headline soon); closing the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 8 days time; regular donations of stage costumes to local charity shops and even attendance at Leicester City home games ,this could one of those moments.
Upon entry to the park there's an enormous stage flanked by giant video screens , at the back there's another screen in a shocking pink (you've seen the colour on the '48:13' album cover) showing an excitement-building counter ticking down to zero for the start of the show. At 00:00:00 coloured smoke flares spark up in the crowd and Tom, Serge, Chris and Ian plus associated touring band members walk on accompanied by the instrumental '(shiva)' from '48:13', Serge with giant black foam hands and a white T-shirt with the legend 'les-tah' ( just in case we've forgotten where we are ) and Tom sporting huge Johnny Depp style Willy Wonka shades. The instrumental builds into the opening “ yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” of 'bumblebeee' and the whole place fuelled by sunshine, not so cheap lager and local pride goes MENTAL ,“ cause when we're together I'm in ecstasy … all you pretty things get on board this mothership”.
For the next 80 minutes the pace doesn't stop 'bumblebeee' leads to 'Shoot The Runner', 'Underdog' and 'Fast Fuse' we jump, dance , sing , shout , throw our beer in the air like we just don't care through 3 or 4 tracks from each album, a Kasabian Greatest Hits show treated like it's the best house party Leicester has ever had. Each time Tom asks “ Leicester, Victoria Park , are you ready ?” a beery roar indicates we might be.
The final double punch is 'Empire' and 'Fire' with the massive chorus drop “ I'm on fire ”, the lights ripping holes in the finally darkened skies and hands, feet, empty and not so empty plastic cups in the air.
Encores are 'Switchblade Smiles', 'Vlad The Impaler' then the first verse and chorus of Fat Boy Slim's 'Praise You ' which morphs into 'L.S.F (Lost Souls Forever). At the end of L.S.F Chris addresses the crowd “ Thank you Leicester you made my f*****g year” , Tom starts the chant from L.S.F off again “ laaaah la-la la la la la la la la”; and twenty minutes later in the crowd walking up London Rd back to the car parks it's still going. This says something about this band and this city.
I've seen some write that this was the taster for small matter in a field in Somerset next weekend, but sorry Glastonbury you're the garnish, the main meal was served tonight. It's a combination of a band at a particular point in their career and the location that makes the occasion. Kasabian in Victoria Park Leicester, 21st June 2014 was something special.
Alisdair Whyte
