UNION CHAPEL – MENCAP GIG

The Little Noise sessions have quickly become as a prestigious occasion as the TCT shows in the music calendar and the pedigree of this year’s line up has confirmed what a great support these shows have built up since its launch. In Jo Whilley’s absence ironically a man famous for saying very little is tonight’s compare, but there is little need for words when you’re in one of, if not the, biggest rock band in the world. Much to everyone’s amazement the man with the mic for the evening is none other than U2’s, The Edge.

The most talked about performance on this year’s roster is one from those Leicester boys in hiding KASABIAN.  Some had raised question over how this would work as an acoustic set but I think it’s fair to say they absolutely smashed it!

Band, minus front man Tom and guitarist Serge took stage on time to a rapturous response from the chapel pews and slid quickly into the infectious riffs of crowd favourite ”Processed Beats”. Shortly after the kingpins of the band both Tom and Serge entered the chapel from the back and walked the crowd to take stage catching most off guard. Serge was instantly recognisable but the long locks and army style parka of Meighan still had people guessing for a moment whilst even on stage. Serge’s “you really got me” backing vocal with reference to a certain class A may have explained the pairs mind set for the evening but that certainly wasn’t to interfere. “Shoot the Runner” was to follow and Tom shared with the crowd how much the band had been “shitting themselves” leading up to this show but quickly followed that by “you lot make us feel invincible!”. “Fast Fuse” released only on 10” at the summers et house gig was the first new tune to get an airing much to the satisfaction of the somewhat rowdier than normal Union Chapel congregation.

Although the band (well..Tom) looked liked they had been living in a cave for the last god knows how long and this was a “stripped down” performance with no room for error and I’m pleased to say they were as hypnotising and, although “acoustic”, energising as ever. “Empire” didn’t have the drive as you’d expect but never the less sent shivers down the spine of those lucky enough to have secured their seat.

A set including covers of “Who loves the sun” by The Velvet Underground and  a 60’s classic in the shape of “Runaway” by Del Shannon was brought to curtain with another  cover , this time one of The Beatles “Let’s do it in the Road”. At first a difficult to identify bluesy version of KASABIAN’s anthem LSF capped off an amazing experience that for first time ever saw Meighan actually at the altar arms aloft in true preacher fashion.

Can’t wait to see this lot back at full speed if tonight is anything to go by we aint see nothing yet..

words by Neil

Set list –

Processed Beats'/'You Really Got Me'
'Shoot The Runner'
'Fast Fuse'
'Black Whistler'
'Who Loves The Sun'
'Thick As Thieves'
'ID'
'Me Plus One'
'Empire''The Doberman'
'Runaway'
'Why Don't We Do It In The Road?'
< /SPAN>'LSF'