Oh My God!
After a year and a half of touring an album, of playing every club, festival and basically anywhere else that had a mic and amp, the time has come to lay debut album Employment to rest and what better way to do it then by playing a few more gigs of course!
It's almost taken for granted that with a band that possess a single boasting the title 'I Predict A Riot' that the crowd are always going to be a bit rowdy. From kids who look like they'd have a job getting into a 12 certificate film, to teenie scenesters all the way to hardened gig goers, the Kaisers manage to pull a mixed crowd who all have one purpose; to mosh and pogo to every beat that Nick pounds out on the drums whilst singing along as loud as possible to every line that escapes from Ricky Wilson's lips.
The opening bars of 'Everyday I Love You Less And Less' see a mass surge forward as Ricky descends from a stair case on the stage before jerkily moving around the stage and instantly whipping the crowd into a vigour fuelled frenzy. Even more subdued numbers like 'You Can Have It All' fail to instil any sense of calm as overzealous behaviour from the crowd near the front of the stage lead Ricky to announce that "The Kaiser Chiefs are about having fun safely" and politely telling them "Don't be dickheads, I can but you can't". With his words having fallen on deaf ears and the medical team now certainly earning their nights money, all that was left was for security to rip the offenders out before normal Kaiser service could be resumed under the guise of 'Na Na Na Na Naaa' and of course the now aptly fitting 'I Predict A Riot', during which Ricky seems to vanish only to emerge on a platform behind the audience to perform 'Caroline, Yes', a trick he possibly picked up from Dave Grohl whilst they were supporting the Foo Fighters.
Tonight isn't all about Employment's last run out though; it's also a chance for the fans to greet some new editions to the Kaiser catalogue. Getting an airing tonight are 'Heat Dies Down', 'Highroyds' and 'Learnt My Lesson Well' of which the latter appears to stand out the most prominent. All three show a greater sophistication to the Kaisers sound. Going by the latest offerings, it would seem that we are going to be spared the 'interesting' second album, instead gaining an extension of Employment that's kind of like its older brother. All the charmingly endearing features of the band can be heard but there's also a more evident deeper meaning to the tracks that shows how the last year and a half has matured the group.
All bar one track is played from Employment with 'Sink The Ship' and 'Take My Temperature' thrown in to please the seasoned Kaiser faithful. The best is saved to last though with 'Oh My God' insuring chant along crowd participation and even a Kaiser Mexican wave. The Leeds quintet may draw a diverse following but what they succeed in doing is insuring a good time for all, even those carted off for medical help. By the end the crowd are pogoed out, throats are raw and limbs are bruised but all are willing to go through it again. This may be the end of Employment but its certainly not the last will see of the Kaisers as they now have most definitely discarded their indie skin and stepped into the mainstream spotlight.