2009 Concert Reviews: V Festival Melbourne - KAISER CHIEFS

I'm back again revisiting the V Festival. I absolutely loved the Kaiser Chiefs' set which was amazing because of the enormous amount of energy they put into their performance which gave us all something special. The band, led by Ricky Wilson were consummate showmen whose excitement fed into ours and vice versa. We danced when Ricky danced, screamed like girls at a Jo Bros concert when he ventured into the crowd and ohhhhed and ahhhhed when he was climbing the scaffolding towards the side of the stage I was rocking out at.

The setlist was a full assault of their great indie hits and the band as a whole sounded right on, like a band that knew they wanted to get the whole crowd off. The crowd felt this and my brother and I sang our little hearts out along with most of the audience. Even those around me who were really hanging our for The Killers were like these guys aint bad and were ready to buy their records. I have to say with the benefit of hindsight they were on equal footing with The Killers in terms of setlist, performance, environment and band presence and charisma. They certainly held their own and are worthy of headlining festivals in the future. COME BACK SOON GUYS!!!

Setlist is as follows:

1. Spanish Metal
2. Everyday I Love You Less and Less
3. Everything Is Average Nowadays
4. You Want History
5. Ruby
6. Good Days Bad Days
7. Na Na Na Na Naa
8. Love's Not a Competition (But I'm Winning)
9. Modern Way
10. Never Miss a Beat
11. I Predict a Riot
12. Take My Temperature
13. The Angry Mob
14. Oh My God

Photos:
Photos © 2009 music=loveHEADLINERS - THE FANTABULOUS KILLERS are next!

V Festival 2009

Yo, I am heading off to the V Festival this Sat and am super excitied...yay for me and boo for you...nah, just kidding. I will review the sets of the bands I actually see. In case you didn't know the line up it is as follows...

The Killers
Duffy
Razorlight
Madness
The Human League
The Kills
Kaiser Chiefs
Elbow
Snow Patrol
..and many others...

I will probably be missing the Kills who I really want to see but my bro who will be with me wants to see Razorlight...ohhh...the decisions! This is the problem with festivals there will always be some band you will miss. I probably will miss Human League too as I want to be front and center for The Killers. Anyways, watch this space as I'll post piccies and video (if you are lucky)!

2009 Album Reviews: KAISER CHIEFS - OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

Well I have to say this is a good record, not their best but still better than many others released today. I admit I was a bit sceptical when I heard that it was going to be produced by Mark Ronson. I am impressed with Mark Ronson's work particularly with Amy Winehouse and I did enjoy his covers record, 'Version' but I felt that his touch would ruin the Chiefs' rock sound. I was wrong! It is also important to note there are cameos by Lily Allen and New Young Pony Club in terms of backing vocals.

The album goes beyond their first two albums but people will be disappointed that it does not offer anything new. They still keep their basic sound and its easy to recognise them when they are played on the radio. There are those catchy songs which will no doubt be singles and hit the top of the British charts. However, it is still much better than Keane's most recent album 'Perfect Symmetry'.

The opening of the album is 'Spanish Metal' with a rocking song. It is the typical Chiefs but it has something extra like a weird synthesizer in there. I don't think this quite matches 'Everyday I Love You Less and Less' as an opener but its decent and I am not sure I hear Mark Ronson yet....hmmmm....interesting indeed.

'Never Miss A Beat' is the best song and its the first single. I did see the video before I listened to the song and I was not to keen but once I heard it without any images to distract me I found myself obsessed with it for a week. It was my most played on my Ipod but that has now gone to XR2 by M.I.A.

All the songs are worthwhile and once you hear 'Tomato in the Rain' you know why this band is successful. Its heartfelt and I can't wait to hear it live!!!!! Yay for the V Festival. "Yes....I do, know about you...."

The closing song, 'Remember You're a Girl' is a typical ballad and I believe it's very cliche to end a rock album with a ballad. This is not a bad song but the tracklisting could be rearranged and end with 'Always Happen Like That' (Lily Allen on backing vocals), maybe.

I see this as an album that gets better over time as each song can make you shrug your shoulders in indifference but it does get under your skin. Give it another listen!