12/12/06 Cardiff International Arena

“On the second day of Christmas Kasabian gave to me…….a stinking hang over but the feeling that it was worth every second”.

I read in a local news paper yesterday that Kasabian were nothing short of average in the CIA and the third album will either make or break them as a band? Well if the well dressed crowd I was in was anything to go by this guy couldn’t be further from the truth and he probably spent the evening in the foyer wondering what the thunder coming through walls was all about. The dampened weather outside though certainly didn’t effect the atmosphere inside although the ridiculous queue for the bar seemed to grate on some people from time to time but you come to expect things like that in such a big crowd.

Anyway, a simple but well lit stage was swamped by the Kasabian onslaught and single off the latest offering “Empire”, “Shoot The Runner” set the evening off to powerful typical Kasabian start of strong baselines and electronica influenced sing alongs (although I don’t think many people can actually make out what the words are in the majority of their tunes). Front man Tom Meighan has mastered his art well taking lessons from the likes of Liam Gallagher and Mick Jagger although you do get the feeling Tom is more appreciative of his position than the both of them put together.  The set is calmed a little with a blinding trip to the “British Legion” but other than that this is a set ready to take the roof off. A good blend of new and old and I don’t think single “Empire” has ever sounded as good.

As the over head lights go up Tom thanks his empire continuously and the encore to follow will surely add a lot more people to the Kasabian movement, and the amount lager on the floor. The band take the stage to the rumble of crowd favourite “Club Foot” and the assault is quickly moved into the breakbeats and synths that build the “Stuntman” sending a by now warmer than expected crowd quite simply, nuts. The curtain closer for the evening comes in the shape of the magnificent “LSF” and correct me if I’m wrong but there hasn’t been a band that have combined these elements as well as this since the mighty Primal Scream. If your looking for a cracking night out with your mukka’s this is a must but a word of warning, don’t wear your new white daps.

by Neil