The Brisbane crowd casually rolled in on what seemed to be an innocent Tuesday night. Week day shows in Brunswick St Mall in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley are an accessible and (mostly) sane occasion. The lack of signature end-of-week pub lunch shenanigans or tension-filled taxi lines is very welcome. It doesn’t take long to realise the shenanigans have been assigned to the stage inside the venue.
An almost sold-out show served for decent arm room and great vantage points of the ever capable Fortitude Music Hall. A wide variety of age and taste provided evidence of the broad appeal of the headliner, Kasabian. Also along for the ride are local rocksters, Friends of Friends, and UK multi #1 hitsters, Blossoms.
Hailing from the Gold Coast, Friends of Friends have literally been making waves ever since they were spied by Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park a few years back. Lead signer/songwriter/producer, Barnaby Baker, fronts the four-piece through a handful of driving rock songs that are a delicious mix of Australian pub rock and late ‘90s adolescent film soundtracks. It’s an energetic entry into the night as drummer, Morgan Blake absolutely brutalises the kit throughout the set. Catchy, comfortable poppunkrockfuzz tracks like ‘Morphine’, ‘End of the World’ and ‘Graves’ are great to kick the night off. They’re a thrilling live act that will be surely seen on the festival circuit over the coming years. Look them up!
Friends of Friends Gallery
Next up is Blossoms, from Stockport in Greater Manchester, England. This reviewer has seen their name attached to many tour posters and articles, and is extremely ashamed to admit to not investigating further. What a treat Blossoms are. Singer Tom Ogden is adorned in a baggy Gucci suit and channels ‘Hunky Dory’ era David Bowie. He appears to exist via a splicing of David Cassidy, Bobby Gillespie and Jarvis Cocker. He’s a mesmerising apparition that glides across the stage, beckoning his equally eloquent Blossoms band members into the very funky ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?’. Immediately, the audience lifts. A collective smile connects those who watch this delicious delivery of modern funk rock. It’s clear why Blossoms have had four #1 albums in the UK since their self-titled release debuted in 2016.
As with countless other famous bands from Manchester, melody is everything. ‘Honey Sweet’ and ‘If You Think This Is Real Life’ follow. Ogden guides bassist, Charlie Salt , and lead guitarist Josh Dewhurst, into a ‘Nutty Boys walk’ (made famous by Madness) across the stage. It’s an age-old gimmick but the audience can’t get enough of it. Ogden’s voice is universal and has an excellent timbre which is absolutely right for the band’s tone. Echoes of Blondie seep through ‘I Like Your Look’, before Ogden proceeds to tell the story of the theft of a fibreglass Gorilla named Gary, before brusting into their big hit with the same name. The infectious, sultry groove of ‘Charlemagne’ brings the set to an all-too-quick close. Blossoms have garnered a swathe of new fans tonight and just may have peaked the night early. It’s going to take a lot to keep the hearts fluttering, so good luck to whoever comes next.
Blossoms Gallery
While the audience is still chatting about Blossoms and discovering their merch has just sold out, the concept of a UK band that hit their straps in the 00’s still having an impact in the Antipodes seems strange. On these shores, Kasabian have been a band that’s somewhat on the peripheral. While their songs have been popular (three in the Triple J Hottest 100 in 2009 and one in 2017), it feels they haven’t exactly become an impactful household name. Named after the Manson family getaway driver, Linda Kasabian, their popularity in the UK and continental Europe is enormous. Multiple #1 albums and singles, extensive sold-out tours, headlining festivals and armfuls of industry awards are listed beside their name. The 2020 exit of original member, Tom Meighan, shifted the lead singing and stage presence to fellow original, Sergio Pizzorno. Now, will the Fortitude Music Hall discover why Kasabian are still as popular as ever?
The lights go down as a segment of the traditional Australian farewell song plays – ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ by The Angels. Instinctively, the crowd willingly participates and wholeheartedly sings their part in the chorus. It would bring a tear to the eye of the stoniest of face. A portion of House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around’ cuts in and draws the band into the spotlights. In what is the final night on this Australian tour, Sergio Pizzorno skips onto stage and eyes the audience as if inviting them to dance with the devil…and him, of course.
They start with ‘Call’ from 2024s ‘Happenings’ album. It’s reminiscent of the dirty beat of the new UK sounds from IDLES and similar. All the hallmarks of classic Kasabian are there with driving bass lines and beats. Within seconds, the dance rhythms have the floor filled and bouncing. The behemoth ‘Club Foot’ follows. This is the reminder of why Kasabian can still fill a room since it’s release in 2004. Ian Matthews is a drummer possessed, he swings with full intent and refuses to allow a cymbal to sit still, matched ferociously by bassist, Chris Edwards.
As a child, Pizzorno told his career guidance officer that he wanted to be a centre forward for Leicester City, the football team from his hometown, Leicester. The stage is where he gets to play as he whips the crowd through some classic ‘left versus right’ cheer games. With a ripe East Midlands accent, he keeps score like a football commentator. It becomes obvious there’s a healthy gathering of expat fans and/or English holiday makers in the room. Like many UK acts of their era, it’s the grandstand energy via crowd chants and arm-in-arm bouncing that drives the show. Couple that with a few “Everyone kneel down and jump when I tell you” moments and you create electricity.
The hits come think and fast with ‘Underdog’, ‘Shoot the Runner’, ‘You’re in Love With a Psycho’ and ‘Stevie’. Samples of various iconic songs crank the crowd and help intro Kasabian songs. ‘Intergalactic’ by Beastie Boys introduces ‘Treat’, and ‘Insomnia’ by Faithless is an epic entry into ‘Vlad the Impaler’. The crowd is almost rabid by the time encore arrives. ‘L.S.F.’ sees Pizzorno disappear from stage and reappear shoulder-to-shoulder with ecstatic fans on the balcony at the back of the room. He completes the song from the balcony before hiking it back to stage for the final track of the night, ‘Fire’. The fans sing every word, many while sitting on their friend’s shoulders.
Kasabian have absolutely proven this reviewer wrong. It’s undeniable they have an enormous amount of faithful followers that bring energy that equals the band. The night has been a true example of surprise, delight and “f-ing awight!”. This one will surely be part of future “I was there” tall tales and bar room reminiscing. Let the underdogs live life on a lullaby.
I’m the underdog
Live my life on a lullaby
Keep myself riding on this train.
With thanks to Destroy All Lines for the media access, all image credit Chris Searles
Kasabian Gallery
