IT was an energetic, rowdy and raw performance from a band seemingly still on a high from their surprise set at Glastonbury last month.
Kasabian upheld their reputation as a premier live band when they took to the stage at the 02 Academy in Bournemouth on Tuesday night, July 23.
Tim Carter, Chris Edwards, Ian Matthews and frontman Sergio Pizzorno visited the Boscombe venue in support of their latest album, Happenings.
And whoever arranged the evening’s setlist deserves a pay rise.
After strolling on stage to the roars of a packed-out venue, Kasabian burst into Happenings’ track ‘Call’ and set the electric tone for the night.
‘Club Foot’ came as an unexpected second in the setlist, quickly blurring the lines between a dance floor and mosh pish in the venue.
There was Sergio, bouncing around the stage in a baggy tee and funky trousers, and egging on the crowd to jump - he was in his element.
After Kasabian lost former lead singer Tom Meighan in July 2020, there was huge pressure on Sergio as the new frontman.
But as he rocked around the stage in Bournemouth, you could've mistaken him for being at the mic his whole music career.
Early in the setlist, fans were blessed with performances of ‘The King’, ‘Underdog’ and ‘Shoot The Runner’.
In a brief pause after ‘Re-Wired’, the Bournemouth crowds began to loudly chant Sergio’s name, and the frontman seemed genuinely touched by reaction.
It was then he encouraged people to get on shoulders so he could see their ‘beautiful faces’, before shouting: “Bournemouth you are the f***ing best, thank you.”
The band continued on with ‘You’re in Love with a Psycho’ and ‘Coming Back To Me Good’, before Sergio slipped into his guitar strap for ‘Algorithms’ – the only song that seemingly calmed the moshing fans.
But the rowdiness resumed when Sergio ventured down to the crowd to sing ‘Treat’, and samples of Fatboy Slim’s ‘Praise You’ and Faithless’ ‘Insomnia’ rang out through the 02.
After a brief exit from the stage, and calls for 'one more song’ by fans, Kasabian returned with ‘Reason Is Treason’ and ‘Bless This Acid House’.
Sergio then thanked the fans and told them: “This has been super f***ing special.”
At that point the crowd only wanted one song – ‘Fire’. The crowd roared and parted in preparation for moshing as the intro to the 2009 hit began to pump from the speakers.
It was the grand finale fans had waited for, and it certainly met all expectations.
Kasabian's performance at the 02 Academy in Bournemouth had it all - the setlist was a real crowd pleaser, energy was high, Sergio was in his element, and most importantly, they sounded pretty damn good.
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