Review: Kaiser Chiefs and Razorlight at the Brighton Centre


Excitement was high when entering the Brighton Centre, completely filled with people ready to see the knees up, tubthumping anthems of the Kaiser Chiefs. The stage was decorated in a way that perfectly summarised the chiefs – pure dystopian joy – and so was their set. 

Kaiser Chiefs, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Supporting Kaiser Cheifs tonight were LIFE, a band still fairly new with only two albums under their belt and Razorlight, who played all their classic hits much to the crowds approval as well as a few lesser known songs. ‘In The City’ from their first album especially resonated with me, having a much more 70’s mod scene than the twangy guitar vibes of their other material. Overall a good experience though slightly tarnished with the final message of “Donald Trump bad” followed by the song ‘America’ leaving the whole performance with a tryhard anti-establishment feel.

Razorlight at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Razorlight at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Razorlight at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Razorlight at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Razorlight at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Razorlight at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Razorlight at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Razorlight at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

The main event however was an incredible sight to behold, starting with ‘People Know How To Love One Another’ which encompasses the jovial nihilism of the Kaiser Chiefs

The beginning of the show was fairly unanimated, with the band members limiting themselves to the roof of a hut which was built to look like the one on the cover of their latest album Duck. This atypical arrangement was not to continue, and by the third song (‘Na Na Na Na Naa’) the trademark Ricky Wilson energy came out in full force.

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

The show continued as a performance piece with a combination of pyrotechnics and whimsical projectected animations, very much a visual feast with frontman Ricky continuing to keep the crowd engaged and included in the performance.

 

Halfway through the performance Ricky set up camp in the middle of the arena (as he normally does), right between the standing and seating patrons where he sang ‘Target Market’ directly to the fans surrounding him. Ricky then invited Brighton’s own Rory Graham (Rag’n’Bone Man) to perform a comedic skit in the intermission, turning the show into a carnival as he was hooking a duck to reveal the next song – ‘Good Days Bad Days’.

 
Ricky Wilson of Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Ricky Wilson of Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Ricky Wilson of Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Ricky Wilson of Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Ricky Wilson and Rag'N'Bone Man at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Ricky Wilson and Rag’N’Bone Man at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

The second part of the performance was where things really took off with Kaiser Chiefs playing a huge amount of their top hits: ‘Everyday I Love You Less and Less’, ‘Ruby’ and ‘Modern Way’ were played in quick succession, with the crowd very much being included in the sing-along nature these songs produce. Likewise, the ‘final’ three songs matched this level of energy and nostalgia with ‘Never Miss a Beat’, ‘I Predict a Riot’ (a personal favourite) and ‘The Angry Mob’- the latter ending the show with an incredible crowd singalong.

 
Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Of course there was still the encore, which started with one of the band’s newest singles –  ‘Record Collection’. A very interesting song co-written by Mark Ronson, providing a more funky sound usually unheard of from the chiefs, though still somewhat retaining their essence. I think it says a lot about a band when they can venture into other genres whilst keeping the heart of who they are, which is something pulled off masterfully here.

 

The evening’s proceedings came to a close with huge cheers to the sound of ‘Oh My God’, the band’s first single, rounding off a wonderful night. 

Our verdict: It’s safe to say that the Kaiser Chiefs certainly are still in the game, and with their most recent album reaching number three in the UK charts there seems to be no slowing down for them. 

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

Kaiser Chiefs at Brighton Centre, photo by Gili Dailes

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Kaiser Chiefs (with Razorlight and LIFE)

Brighton Centre | 30 January 2020

 

Review by Michael Hassman

Photos by Gili Dailes