| The band | Band Members: - Tom Meighan - Lead vocals
- Sergio Pizzorno - Guitar, Synths, Backing vocals & Lead vocals
- Christopher Edwards - Bass
- Ian Matthews (Joined in 2005) - Drums & Percussion
- Jay Mehler (Live replacement for Chris Karloff) - Guitar
Albums: |
Right on the cue of Sergio Pizzorno's last chord, Meighan bounds on stage, and the band is complete. They blister into Shoot the Runner and instantly the room lifts, within seconds the first crowd surfer awkwardly slithers across the moving mass of fans beneath, and as the chorus bellows out like a call to arms, right on cue the first scuffle of the night ensues… people are pulled apart as the music charges on. Kasabian steam into Sun/light/flies, and it's a song that teasingly creates the impression that the festival season is deceptively close, no such luck, but the crowd happily indulge. The quality of Tom Meighan's voice is obvious in the futuristic sounds of Cut Off and its here that you realise that this band is more than just synths and big guitars. Meighan is crisp, punchy and well enunciated, and it's at this point he acknowledges the passion of the crowd: "Not bad for a Sunday you rowdy F****rs" he compliments the locals. They power on into Me Plus One, and this time it's Pizzorno who takes the lead - his voice has a rasping lilt, which seems to reach way beyond the ceiling notes of most singers.  | | Front man Tom Meighan & Ian Matthews |
He cuts a svelte figure on stage, in his headwear, jewellery and crosses there's a mercurial, shaman-like look about him. His sound instantly reminds me of Rob Harvey from The Music, a psychedelic, almost ethereal, unnatural voice, that regardless, sits perfectly with the sonic signature of the band. Ironically it's at this point Meighan dedicates the song to The Music, who, as if by chance are standing in the wings, Harvey himself raises a salutary hand. Steaming into the rabble-rousing Empire, the video depicts a battlefield, and inside it feels as though a revolution could begin at anytime. | "A momentum-building, balls out rock and roll song that rips through everything in range and leaves most things in its wake." | | The song Doberman |
After a brief respite the band return, kicking off with Seek and Destroy, with each song you're left thinking 'how much more can the band deliver?'. And how much more can we take? Processed Beats answers those questions. Amazingly their game is raised with what must become the anthem of Empire; Doberman, a momentum-building, balls out rock and roll song that rips through everything in range leaving most things in its wake. The crowd are engulfed by a wall of sound that even Phil Sector would be proud of; "Silence in the yard, the Doberman's asleep" warns Meighan, but after this performance it's unlikely. The opening rift of Clubfoot sends the crowd into a feeding frenzy and, as the entire room bounces to the beat driven by drummer Ian Matthews, you see the power this music has. A huge crescendo of appreciation erupts at the climax, and a genuinely humble Meighan thanks the crowd for their energy. Apologetically he announces that this is the final song for the night and LSF (Lost Souls Forever) is drilled out, the power of the band is so obvious it becomes daunting; a rhythmic, melodic, and ultimately anthemic peak to the evening. Amongst Tom Meighan's apologies the crowd can seek solace; if the smile on the band's face at the end of the gig is anything to go by, I doubt it will be long before this band visit West Yorkshire again, and as far as I'm concerned it can't come soon enough. |
