“All Leeds Aren’t We?”
Everywhere you looked on Saturday, Temple Newsam was awash with sunshine, expensive beers and Leeds United Shirts of every vintage. They weren’t here to celebrate United’s promotion to the Premier League (well, not exclusively anyway). Instead, the crowds are waiting to hear one of Leeds’ most successful records, played live, in full.
The staging morphed into a rundown store front before the Jurassic Park theme and a Dicky Attenborough lookalike appears on screen to takes us through history up the point of Employment.
Kaiser Chiefs emerge on to a walkway behind the drum riser, and lining up, take a bow before taking their more traditional places around the stage.
Ricky Wilson rarely gives it less than 100% and, sharply attired in a pinstripe jacket, delivers in spades. Clearly gassed by the atmosphere of this 30,000-strong home crowd, celebrating this milestone record, it’s not long before he is airborne, yelling into the mic and taking the crowd along with him.
It helps that I Predict A Riot and Oh My God appear so early in the set, dictated by the track listing, and therefore not saved for their more typical closing slots. During Riot, I lost count of how many times Wilson leapt into the air in the build up to the chorus, hyping the crowd up from the off with an energy that never ran out.
This album is full of nailed on anthems from the opening energy of Everyday I Love You Less and Less, to Modern Way, Na Na Na Na Naa and the two aforementioned classics, it’s a relentless celebration.
There is a nice nod to the origins of the record too, as original drummer Nick Hodgson joins Wilson, Simon Rix, Vijay Mistry, Whitey and Peanut to play Oh My God. With Mistry firmly in the drivers seat at the kit these days, Hodgson relies on his myriad talent to add guitar and vocals during a sweet moment of reunion.
Before encore, there’s a special treat for all the Leeds United fans in attendance – which felt like at least three quarters of the massive attendance – as the newly crowned Champions of the EFL Championship loaned the famous old trophy to the band, so the ardent supporters could hold it aloft and celebrate in style. One additional surprise brings striker Patrick Bamford to the stage, much to the delight of the crowd as he strums along to a reprise of I Predict A Riot bringing frenzied shirt and scarf waving, blue and yellow smoke flares and countless people hoisted on shoulders.
There is no let up as the band run through subsequent anthems that did not find their origins on Employment. Hole in my Soul, Ruby and The Angry Mob ensure that the borderline hysteria persists to the very end. One fan tells me, as we are a song or two into the encore, that he’s heading for the mosh pit. “If you never see me again, I’ll have died and gone to heaven!” he joked.
It’s one of those shows that, in years to come, will have twice as many claiming they were there to celebrate an iconic record in style. But let’s face it, those of us who were actually in attendance will never forget the atmosphere at this one.
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Before the Leodensian legends took to the stage though, we had a feast of music to whet our appetite. Here’s a little taste of what we had on offer. Fellow West Yorkshire artist Ellur opens the show, and her dreamy indie-pop was the perfect start to the day. Catch her headlining The Brudenell later in the year, and give new single
A real change of pace as Hot Wax crash on to the stage. The Hastings trio give a trademark blistering performance, with Rip It Out now appearing early in the set, leaving space for new closer One More Reason. One of the best up and coming bands around with unflinching lyrics and outstanding basslines – add them to your list if you’ve not seen them.
The previous Saturday at Temple Newsam, I didn’t manage to see We Are Scientists, so I was pleased to have a second bite of the cherry at this show. The New Yorkers’ set was full of their catchy indie-rock hooks and the growing crowd was really starting to move.
The Coral came through as a bit of a tea time palate cleanser, the tight staging, neat harmonies and Merseybeat charm pitched just right at this point in the day. The Cribs, who arguably might have been better immediately preceding the headliners were brilliant – loud, energetic, punkier – with some anthemic moments as they vibed off the Wakefield contingent that had made the short trip to see them.
The final warm up act, playing their own 20th anniversary set of Up All Night was Razorlight. Johnny Borrell is his usual charismatic self, as they rattle through the album songs alongside hits like In The Morning and the massive America.
