Kasabian
Newport Centre
3rd July, 2009

View: standing, mid-crowd

Taking a breather from supporting Oasis, the excitement of an eager Welsh audience ensured this would require an even greater level of application than playing to 70,000. Frontman Tom Meighan, beaming and applauding throughout, gave everything as he belted out the hits, arms aloft, prowling the stage. Their devotees urged the band on to greater things, with euphoric reactions to anything from their first album and subsequent hits Shoot The Runner, Empire and Fire – all delivered with intensity. There was a brief acoustic spot, with Serge Pizzorno taking the limelight, and not all the tracks from new album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum were as keenly received. But generally, this was a sweaty mosh-pit, the demands on the band to provide familiar beats so the revellers could pogo and clatter into each other met with aplomb.

Reviewed by Darren Howells
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