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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson
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Only announced a short while ago this gig was a thrill to find coming to Aberdeen. Imagine… Kasabian…and the super sprung dance floor in Aberdeen’s Ballroom! What a combination. It’s a warm up for their Knebworth appearance next weekend with Liam Gallagher.
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To start the evening was a nodding DJ, he’s called Dan South if you want to check him out. It was just him, his decks and a couple of bottles of beer. The tunes were loud and thumping, a good build up for the live thrill of rock gods Kasabian.
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Controversy is all over social media so let’s just get that elephant in the room out the way first. No, there is no Tom anymore, yes Serge is the front man now. Yes it’s sure to be different and yes I might change my mind after the gig but right now waiting for them to come on stage I’m just glad they are continuing and that the songs will live on and keep being played live.
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Also intrigued to hear Fraser T Smith who’s joining them on guitar. I’ve seen Kasabian live more times than my husband likes to be reminded of, including between feeds when our baby was 6 weeks old. Yeap, I love these guys so will be a bit biased.
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Finally they take to the stage in a roar of noise and “it all kicks off”, just as you expect with a Kasabian performance. Tom paces left and right across the stage like a caged animal, full of energy and ready to give it his all. He never asked to own the spotlight, the band had to part with Tom after what happened, and its like he’s caught in that role, slightly uncomfortable but wanting to do their fans proud.
He had nothing to worry about, we loved him, there were chants of Sergio, and fans couldn’t get close enough when he came off the stage and walked through the crowd.
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It did occur to me that anyone who was a fan for Tom probably just didn’t get a ticket, this is a smaller venue than they are used to filling and he’s touring too so fans do have the choice.
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Gig Photos from Craig Chisholm Music Photography.
Album & Press Photo credit is Neil Bedford
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The set list started with Club Foot and was a well balanced mixture of the much loved older songs and the fresh and newer songs including Scriptvre from the new album The Alchemist’s Euphoria. There was a hint of irony in Underdog but we bounced, threw our arms in the air, screamed, sang and generally lived our best life. There’s nothing quite like the euphoria of giving in to the music and bouncing like your legs won’t throb all day tomorrow! Shoot the Runner, LSF and Fire are some of my favourites and I pogoed like there was no tomorrow.
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After the gig I went to the ladies and catching sight of my sweaty self in the mirror I let out an “urgh” which amused the lady next to me who obviously felt just the same, but who cared – it wasn’t like we were going to a posh cocktail bar or anything afterwards!
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So, did we miss Tom? Maybe, there was one song that I remember thinking “ooh Tom used to sing this” but the rest of the band is the bigger fraction and the songs: lyrics and music, are the greater part too.
One wee element is gone and the rest are rocking on, I’m glad I made the decision to stay with them on that journey.
Kasabian are still the rock gods I’ve loved since before I saw them at King Tuts in 2004.
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Further information: Dan South https://www.facebook.com/dan.south.dj/ and Kasabian https://www.kasabian.co.uk/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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