chiefs_uk_tour

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 23:39:07 GMT

Ladies and Gentlemen of the UK, Kaiser Chiefs are back.

It's hard not to get the feeling that after a few months of seven song support sets and playing the festivals, they've been gagging for a chance to play to their own crowd. This isn't t'Chiefs who toured this country earlier this year; this is something far bigger, better and more polished. This is a band that make venues like the Carling Apollo seem far too tiny to contain them.

Of course, when The Cribs (yes, that's praise) and Maximo play as well as they did, the pressure will always be on, but there was never any doubt the boys would match it. Even the glow of Whitey's cheeky fag from behind the curtain lowered before the band didnt take anything from an entrance that even the most overblown rock band would struggle to match (wait for the photos or for the tour to hit town to see it, it sends shivers down the spine). Saturday Night, Everyday, I Predict A Riot and Na Na Na Na Naa send the entire place into raptures, while an encore of Heard It On The Grapevine, a first ever live outing of What Did I Ever Give You? and closer Oh My God could have brought the venue down.

The band thought it was "good". So, that's nice.

Tomorrow we go to see the BBC Radio 2 recordings before heading back for the second gig. With the opening night cobwebs blown out of the system, it promises to be something VERY special.

Saturday 15th October : Manchester Apollo : 13:38pm

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 12:42:32 GMT

We're backstage in Manchester. Catering is ace. We especially love Kerry, as she gave Pete an extra fried egg. Lovely.

The venue is actually buzzing. Everyone is really excited about tonight. The big screens are going up, and the PA is being tested. Soundcheck starts in twenty minutes and everyone is of the opinion that the band are up for it more than we've seen for a good while.

We have our passes now. They're very flash. Apparently new new merch is top dog too, though we're yet to see the stuff. Tomorrow we record the Mark Radcliffe session. That should be very exciting - check back for photos from that, no doubt.

More before show, probably.

Friday 14th October 2005

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 23:49:43 GMT

Dear Diary

Well, we say dear diary, but more "Dear people reading this diary". Regardless...

These are the ramblings of a UK tour. A tour with the hottest, biggest new band of 2005 (you can't name yourself after a bunch of monkeys and expect to topple britpop within 3 months). Stuff that we couldn't put elsewhere, but that it's ok to know. The personal side of life on the road with Kaiser Chiefs.

Friday: It's only last night we learnt that the good ship would sail from Colchester. Colchester, where Blur hail from. Strangely fitting.

Perhaps not as romantic as one might imagine, however. A dash via train (or two trains, in fact) from Liverpool street to the band's tour van (a nice splitter, leather seats, lcd tvs, playstation - the works). Then up on a clogged Friday motorway to Manchester for 8pm. 6 hours on the road will hopefully not be the highlight of the tour, but good company and tails of Brian Adams' catering requirements help somewhat, as does Closer magazine (who said this was an NME tour?)

Dinner at Gio's (a rather short, "enthusiastic" Italian man) follows. Technical talk about back lines, sound and lighting, and a tour itinary. T'Chiefs will be playing one and a half hour sets this tour. It's all quite exciting. Tomorrow we start at a leisurely, golf club, sunday school 11:30pm. At 7pm it's all go proper.

How fabulous.