Regaining Their Form
Having seen Kids In Glass Houses for the first time two years ago, on the third stage at Download with about twenty other people, its great to see how the band have progressed. Download this year saw them promoted to the second stage with a late afternoon slot that sadly they seemed less than happy with, resulting in some apprehension about them regaining their form for their Reading stint.
Taking to the NME stage early on Saturday, it’s immediately clear that this is a different band to the one that greeted the Donington doubters. Instantly the crowd are jumping; excited as the Welsh lads delve headfirst into an adrenaline packed set. Greeted with a mass sing along that threatens to eclipse Aled Phillips vocals, ‘Easy Tiger’ explodes with energy that soon has sections of the crowd dancing whilst ‘Raise Hell’ still gets welcomed in like an old friend, bristling with an emotional punch as Phillips’ vocals seem to cling to every note for as long as possible. Mentioning that the next song maybe familiar to a few people, Phillips jokes about how fitting it is for the day, before launching into the dangerously infectious ‘Saturday’, inciting a wave of jumping bodies. Having danced their way though most of their debut album’s tracks, the quintet leave the best for last as ‘Give Me What I Want’ bounces around the tent, instantaneously fuelling the crowd to sing along and proving that given the right setting, KIGH are an exciting new band to watch.
Energetic and with ridiculously catchy songs to match, this Welsh band made sure that the NME stage was buzzing ahead of their fellow countryman’s closing set later that night.