18 posts tagged “kasabian”
We have a car to take us to Summersonic, one of the two major music festivals that Tokyo hosts each year. Fuji-Rock was two weeks ago and is held 90 minutes out of town in the countryside at the foothills of Mount Fuji. It models itself upon Glastonbury. I am not sure what Summersonic could be said to be based upon. Bucolic it is not. We drive up the highway for an hour before we arrive at a substantial conference centre. Creativeman, who are one of the two big big Japanese promoters stage this festival over an Arena and a Stadium. The closest thing to compare it to would be if Wembley Arena was divided into three spaces by massive screens and then there was a concert in the adjacent stadium.
Kai finds us and guides into the vast complex. All of the dressing rooms run along one side of the building, people are constantly marching up and down the corridor heading to and from promotion. People shoot about on miniature bicycles. Security is low key, polite and strictly enforced. Kai takes us into the food hall, a massive space that is as dark as night filled with illuminated stalls all selling various fried Japanese food. This really does feel like a festival, bizarre that it is indoors. Phoenix are performing on the Mountain Stage, the largest of the indoor stages.
We look in on Kasabian’s dressing room as they arrive for the show and start setting up. There is no chance for banter as they are rushed off to promo almost as soon as they appear. We follow them down there and get to enjoy the surreal site of Tom and Serge squeezed onto a tiny brightly coloured plastic sofa being interviewed for a local music channel. All around us other bands are being interviewed in similar surroundings. Shackey and I go off for a wander. I run into Simon White again along with the lad from Simian that I met in Paris. Simon introduces me to Plug who Cerne had suggested I meet here, he runs Hostess, and “You two are very alike” laughs Simon as he heads off into the afternoon. Dave insists we go and see the Arena site. Kai suggests we go and take a shuttle bus as it is a bit of a journey to get there. We pass My Chemical Romance on the way.
We sit there on the bus waiting for it to depart. I check my watch. It is nearly 6pm, Mew are onstage shortly, so I leave Dave and Kai to head over to the Stadium and I go and find the Sonic Stage where Mew are already performing. At least I am getting to bathe in something beautiful for half an hour. Mew make music of undeniable quality, but it is music that cannot easily be played on the radio. It is art of the highest order, beyond even the reaches of Sigur Ros. They do have a substantial audience in Japan; I think there is an audience for everything out here. I get quite swept away watching them, they are a compelling proposition, a much better live band than I had ever previously given them credit for.
It is getting close to Kasabian’s stage time and I head over to their dressing room. On the way I stop for a piss. Outside it is raining really heavily, a massive storm has just broken. Nine Inch Nails had to halt their set it is coming down so fast. I stand transfixed watching the water. Japanese kids stand around smoking, some of them grooving away to music inside their heads. They are all fucking cool.
I get the opportunity to stand side stage at the big event. There is nothing better than to see the whites of their eyes as a band walks onto the stage, that adrenalin buzz as they go out to face a crown. Tonight it is 18,000 screaming Japanese kids. Who could want for more? Tom is all wound up; psyching himself up as he spins out and launches into “Underdog” Serge is loving it. He turns to Ian on the kit laughing at the phenomenal reaction as they plough into “Shoot the Runner” . The gig runs perfect, “Where Did All the Love Go” and “Fire” go down as well as “Empire” and the classics from the first record. There is no denying the power though of songs like “LSF” that have the whole room singing as one. Tom later tells me how when he heard Mani playing on Primal Scream’s Vanishing Point, which is what inspired them as a band to drive the bass guitar as hard as they could. It works like a treat.
I find Dave and we travel to the venue for The Kasabian Gig. It is at the Shibuya AX or the Armani Exchange. I am very excited about this, seeing one of my bands for the first time in front of a Japanese Crowd. The venue must hold 1,000; it is purpose built, quite metallic. They have glued CDs to the ceiling, which makes it feel actually quite sixties retro. There is a crowd of girls dressed as nurses milling around. It has been arranged by the label “They are the nurses from the Pauper Lunatic Asylum” Kai explains. That might not work where it not for how cool they all look.
We go inside and find our seats. They could not be better, right at the front of the circle. The anticipation for Kasabian is huge and I am very excited myself, not least because I am desperate to see Tom’s hair. He doesn’t disappoint, as they stride on to play “Underdog” he looks amazing, pure sixties side parting, very Bailey. We should get him to photograph the band. What I love is the way the crowd will go mental during the set only to be almost silent after each song. I really quite like it. Certainly Kasabian enjoy enormous popularity out here and there is talk of playing the Budokhan next tine they are in this autumn. This is more of a warm up show for Summersonic.
It is such a thrill to be here, watching our biggest British rock band taking care of business in Japan. The crowd could not be more enthusiastic, yet at the same time more respectful, dropping to a hush between each song so that they can hear anything that drops form’s Tom’s lips. There is always a special thrill though in seeing an artist that you have worked with, that you care about in a foreign land, reassuring almost to see that another culture has taken to music that you believe in.
I go and watch Kasabian storm onstage with. I am a little unnerved when a phalange of Hells Angels come and stand in front of us, rather more than graced the video for “Where Did All the Love Go? Tonight is special. Tom is on another level right now. I doubt there is another British frontman who comes close, he has the glory of Jagger, Robert Plant and Roger Daltry all wrapped up in his CND T Shirt under that red bomber.
At least we can celebrate tonight and this is what it is all about, for all of the grief we endure in our work, it is for moments like this, watching one of our bands come of age that we do it. It is impressive seeing the huge Kasabian backdrop across the stage at the stadium. We are in a box away from the madness below. We are sufficiently back to only be able to pick out the band as dots on the stage, but they look magnificent on the screens, proper rock stars. The music sounds incredible as well. What I am most excited about is the way that all of the songs from the new album sound so good; they are the best of the night. “Fire” is immense, although I am surprised that they have not brought the backing singers with them. “Where did all the love Go” comes over really well, half the crowd clapping along from the opening beats.
After a break I go out and watch some of Oasis. Liam is wearing a shapeless Parka but still has this incredible fixed stare in his eyes. Noel plays “Masterplan” it is a magnificent song, loaded with so many emotions from the mid nineties. The audience all getting caught up in it. Liam comes back for “Slide Away” and then a stunning “Morning Glory” which has the crowd really kicking off. I marvel at the brothers' approach, they constantly look like they are fighting a war up there, faces set into grim determination. “Morning Glory” is immense, when they perform the solid gold classics from their catalogue all of their former glory returns and you realise why they were such a force to be recognised with. The Sex Pistols meets The Beatles, what an amazing combination, you would follow them anywhere. Age has not withered these tunes. They still make you feel immortal.
I head in with Ken listening to Joe Strummer’s “Coma Girl” which has never sounded more appropriate.
We actually get to park a bit closer today to the site. Head over through the backstage parking and head down to the busses parked up by the John Peel Stage. We find Passion Pit by their bus. Isaac Green is with them in an immaculate white shirt and wellingtons without a spot of mud on them. I give Michael a big hug. He and the band are in good spirits, the band have just come off a successful American tour and have sold a lot of records out there.
We slip backstage to say hello to Crosby Stills and Nash. On the way we pass Spinal Tap stepping down from the stage and climbing into an old people’s bus. They manage to keep in character long enough to raise a clenched fist salute as they drive into the hospitality area. We head into the dressing room compound and spot Buddha who manages CSN surrounded by lots of guys with silver beards. We go over to say hi and he introduces us to Graham Nash and David Crosby. Nash has a big shock of white hair and is a ball of energy, funny and dashing around. He is hiding behind shades and a baseball hat, but looks amazing. He is very chilled out, laughing about it all. He is clearly a little nervous having played very few festivals which is a surprise to me. He is happy to sit on the sofa strumming his acoustic guitar, learning the songs for the show. I am pretty startruck by this all, talking to Graham Nash about recording their album with Rick Rubin whilst Crosby is sitting behind us playing away.
We leave them to it and I cross the compound which all of Springsteen’s guys are shutting down like a military operation. I poke my head round the door of Kasabian's dressing room to see Tom and Serge playing a football game on the TV. They are very hospitable.
I leave them to find Ken and Angie and we go out to watch Crosby Stills and Nash. They come on and perform Marrakesh Express and I am blown away by the purity of their vocals. Stephen Stills is a remarkable guitarist. He still has all of the fire he played with in Buffalo Springfield.
We have to head across to see Passion Pit on the John Peel Stage. There is a good crowd there to see them, and it is good to see so much enthusiasm. Those moments when Michael steps away from the keys, such as when he plays “The Reeling” are fantastic and everyone goes bananas.
I head over to watch Kasabian. We have left it too late to get backstage so we decide to see the impact of the band coming on from the field. It is packed in front of the Pyramid Stage; we can barely get into the field. We push our way in as far as we need to in order that we have a clear view of the screens. A huge roar goes up as the band make their way onto the stage, the loudest being reserved for the moment when Tom appears. He is standing there taking it all in, he looks a little overcome, not something I am accustomed to seeing in him usually. He recovers himself to launch into Underdog and has wholly regained his composure as they head into “Shoot the Runner” The set is pretty triumphant. Everyone delighted. “Fire” in particular is a real moment.
We head up onto the gantries overlooking the stage as the countdown for Bruce begins. Michael Eavis is soon up next to us as is Nick Dewey and Emily. The Glastonbury Royal Family. This is Nick’s first year programming the Pyramid Stage and how appropriate it is that we have Bruce headlining. He spoke to me about this the moment that I came to Columbia and finally we came good. I can’t quite believe that he is starting the set with Joe Strummer’s “Coma Girl” the very song Ken and I listened to as we drove to the festival this morning. Nick turn to me “This is one Emily and my favourite songs” he beams. I am so impressed that Bruce even knows the tune let alone plays it to the masses. Then it is blast off time with “Badlands”. The crowd go mental. Right down at the front a man naked to the waist supported on another’s shoulders sporting a full American Indian feathered Head dress is singing every word, his arm outstretched clutching a burning flare. It continues on a breathless pace through “My Lucky Day”, Outlaw Pete” “Out in the Street and Working on a Dream” It is an amazing opening hour.
Bruce steps into the crowd to gather up all of the cardboard with song titles written on and returns to play “Because the Night”. My own personal favourite “No Surrender” sees Brian from The Gaslight Anthem join Bruce at the microphone. There are some great moments as they head into “Born to Run” which is just perfect. They end with “Thunder Road” and “American Dreams” but Bruce is keeping it all going. He is clearly on a roll and runs over his allotted time to play “Glory Days” and “Dancing in the Dark”.
I get a car to Kings Cross meeting Lee in WH Smiths. We settle down in the train to Leeds and then ride the train up to Doncaster where we change onto a little DMU to take us to Bridlington Spa. We arrive there at around 7.30. It is a lot colder up here, but the skies are clear. No sign of a taxi at the station but we are able to get hold of Helen Hampson who is up here with the band and calls one for us. The drive takes us to our hotel down the narrow streets of this seaside town. It could be a seaside town anywhere in England but the driver is listing off an endless series of closures in the local hospitals telling me it is like the third world up here. He is certainly doing nothing to tempt me back to the north.
Our hotel, Sewerby Grange is not so bad. A big detached townhouse with a few rooms which have been decorated pretty smartly. I make sure Lee has the big room. We head back into town and the driver is telling us the town has its own lap dancing bar and he thinks they have a couple of brothels as well. I am just taking in the view as we turn out along the front and the whole North Sea opens up in front of us. Seaside Towns may be depressing places when the sun goes in as it invariably does most of the year, but whatever happens, the sea is always there to remind you that life goes on and will do forever more. It cannot help but take me to a philosophical place and I feel all the better for seeing such a vast expanse of sky and water.
We quickly spot the Kasabian fans, red sunburnt faces, close cropped heads, arms aloft in football and oversized polo shirts. We asked about a place to eat but I am not fancying my chances at any of these seaside restaurants. What the hell, we are by the sea; let’s get some fish and chips in. There is something undeniably poetic about sitting staring out across the water picking at the battered cod drenched in salt and vinegar with my wooden fork.
We head into Bridlington Spa Hall; it is almost exactly the same place at The Winter Gardens in Margate where the madness kicked off a while back. The main room holds maybe 2,500, has an ornate balcony and a dome in the roof, should be a bitch for the sound man. We queue for drinks but it is insane down here and we give up and go and join the masses. The crowd is already kicking off, I am impressed at the amount of girls in here, we are crossing over to a new audience. Helen finds us as does Mike Dewdney. Everyone is happy, even Graeme gives me a big hug when he finally appears.
The show itself suffers from a somewhat polite sound but that might be where we are stood, beneath the balcony at the back. They come on to “Underdog” which feels subdued but the place is soon in uproar as they launch into “Shoot the Runner”. “Reason is Treason” keeps up the momentum but it is “Fire” that properly takes it over the top. The place explodes, drinks flying through the air, so many people on each other’s shoulders, lads with arms round each other’s shoulders pogoing as one. This will be such a moment at Glastonbury. “Empire” has everyone engaged and “Fast Fuse” keeps the madness at full tilt. Serge is playing this beautiful teardrop guitar, knocking out such an insane riff. It is a crazy song but easily Tom’s best vocal. They go off with “LSF” before returning with a mighty “Vlad the Impaler” I really do love that song, its bass rumble driving everyone forward. It is so fucking hot in here I am surprised they are not pulling out more bodies from the crowd.
Graeme pulls us all up to the dressing room. They have this massive boardroom at the top of the building. I am surprised, it is unusual for a manager to have you back in the dressing room as the band come off the stage and are trying to get their shit together. They all arrive sweating and red faced. They were playing football all afternoon on the beach and like everyone else in the city have a lot of sun burn. But everyone is happy as we crack open the drinks. Helen has brought bottles of champagne to celebrate and I realise I have to come up with a speech. I pull myself together and deliver some righteous rhetoric about the journey we have all been on over the past year and there is much cheering. Then Pete Gunn the TM arrives with the I-pod boom box and the party kicks off. The band have been pretty together on this tour. Liam Gallagher has been twittering to complain about how they are in bed by 9pm each night, God bless them for staying away from the Gallaghers on the tour, they know there is a job to be done. Having said that Liam was twittering at 8am and I doubt he was getting up early for a jog.
I am glad I made the effort to get up here. At least I can see the band properly kick back and enjoy themselves. They are celebrating a number one record in fine style as indeed they should; it is a major fucking achievement. Serge pulls out songs that I love, “Baby it’s You” off the Deathproof album is one of my favourite recordings ever. They play Cyprus Hill, The Beastie Boys, Black Sabbath and Phil Spector. Led Zeppelin is a constant favourite .
We head down to the bus at 2, there are still kids waiting outside, poor bastards, I really do feel for them. The band are great, sign autographs, take photos everything.
The gig is amazing; if I am looking for an upside right now it has to be Kasabian. They feel like a band right on the cusp, like we are going to go over the top. Rebecca comes over and tells me this is like the moment when Muse were about to go interstellar. Everything feels like it has suddenly gone up a notch. They all look great, Tom is a total star, no make that the biggest star in a British Rock band right now, Chris is like Entwhistle, stock still at the side of the stage, Jay looks spot on with his shades, everyone is looking so cool at last. The new songs are working well. Vlad opens the show going into “Shoot the Runner” “`Fire" is blessed with backing vocals and is a real standout track, but the biggest thrill is hearing “Where did all of the Love Go” explode as a monster tune. “Fast Fuse” is equally on the money, the middle eight every bit as exciting as the record, maybe more so. Afterwards everyone is happy, the band are feeling how this is going and they are buzzing off it all.
The Brand night is already a success by 7pm when the building is packed out with braying advertising types. We all felt like teenagers worried that no one would turn up to the party. The night starts with a performance from Escala, the four female violinists from Britain’s Got Talent that Syco have recently signed. They are all in their golden mini dresses playing glass instruments. They do deliver an impressive version of “Kashmir” and “Live and Let Die”
Next up are The Script. The highlight is “The Man Who Waits” and clearly they have a lot of Irish charm. It is good to hear everyone in the room talking about how much they are looking forward to seeing Kasabian. They come on and immediately look like proper stars. Chris is away but it is an acoustic set so it works fine. They perform “Fire” ”Underdog” and “Processed Beats” The applause is so loud we get them back for a brilliant encore of “LSF” ,perfect, what more could anyone ask for?
We go and watch Doves who are playing on the “in New Music We Trust” stage before returning to the main stage to watch Kasabian. An event like this is perfect as band’s performances are distilled down to forty-five minutes. Kasabian are at their best in this environment. They come on to “Shoot The Runner” and immediately have the place in the palm of their hands. Go into “Processed Beats” and the crowd loves them. Tom looks amazing, his hair pulled back in to a ponytail but still with hair long at the sides. It shouldn't work but it does, he exudes glamour up there, they really do come across as the bad of the people. “Fire” is bolstered by two backing singers and as a result the chorus kicks like never before, very smart move. The other new songs work well, “Vlad the Impaler” “underdog” I feel confident that we are getting a lot of the new music out there before the record comes out. Put this together with such great songs from the catalogue like “Empire” and “LSF” and there are few rock bands in the UK that can hold a candle to them.
I go and watch out front. Kasabian come on to “Vlad the Impaler” it is perfect, all of the air raid spotlights going mental, the strobes, the sirens, everything you could ask for. It is one hell of a punch with which to launch the show. Follow it up with “Reason is Treason” a brutal one two. Tom is fabulous, whipping the crowd into a frenzy; truly there are no frontmen in British bands who can hold a candle to him. It is only a forty-minute set tonight, hemmed in by the constraints of the Camden Crawl. “Fire” has been transformed and gets everyone in the room punching the air tonight, I can't wait until the recod is out there and everyone knows all the words.
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