Kasabian, O2 Academy Brixton - review: 'Tom Meighan was at his best when at his most preposterous'

Kasabian's post-Oasis lad-rock was a perfect fit for this rough-and-ready south London venue
Impassioned nonsense: Tom Meighan led the band in a musical tour that took the crowd to the dancefloor and threatened to blow the roof off / Picture: Christie Goodwin/Redferns via Getty Images
Christie Goodwin/Redferns via Getty Images
Rick Pearson12 December 2014

At Kasabian’s recent gig in Glasgow, a message appeared on the projector screen behind that read: "London is full of c***s." The band later apologised, saying it was a "production error", and Brixton was certainly in a forgiving mood last night. From the opening bars of Bumblebee to the closing chords of L.S.F, chairs were used only for standing on and songs were bellowed back like football chants.

Having headlined Glastonbury this year, the Leicester band have become accustomed to playing larger spaces than this, although their post-Oasis lad-rock is a perfect fit for this rough-and-ready south London venue.

Led by Tom Meighan (vocals, sharp suit) and Serge Pizzorno (guitar, inexplicable fox’s tail), the band came shooting out of the blocks with the psych-rock of Bumblebee, one of the highlights from this year's 48:13, their fourth consecutive number one album.

The glam-stomp of Shoot the Runner followed, backed by a light show that wouldn’t look out of place on the Vegas Strip, while Meighan divided his duties evenly between singing and rabble-rousing.

It wasn’t all lights and lairiness. An acoustic interlude of the Doors-ian Thick as Thieves and lilting S.P.S (sung by Pizzorno), showcased a more melodic side — even if the muted response it received suggested that Kasabian Unplugged would be a slow seller.

As ever, the band were at their best at their most preposterous — Meighan singing Empire’s impassioned nonsense while words such as “bovver” and “flannel” shone on the screen behind.

Treat took us to the dance floor, Vlad the Impaler threatened to blow the roof off and L.S.F sent everyone home happy. If Kasabian had any making up to do, this was how to do it. London was full of nothing but praise.

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