Kaiser Chiefs @ Liverpool Echo Arena

A pumped preformance from lead singer Ricky Wilson on the Echo Arena stage.

The Kaiser Chiefs are one of those bands who seem to be able to write hit after hit with relative ease. Three albums in, and the five-piece from Leeds have got a huge bank of sing-along anthems that they can pick and choose from to entertain the now huge crowds they are playing to across the country.

The very fact they are selling out arenas and football stadiums confirms this, and shows they really know how to captivate the mainstream audiences, a task that a lot if ‘indie’ bands have relative difficulty with, especially on this scale.

The last time the Kaiser’s were in town, they were supporting Sir Paul McCartney at Anfield Stadium as part of the ‘Liverpool Sound Concert’ in June 2008. Tonight though, the spotlight was well and truly on them and they had an 8,000-strong crowd to convince that they deserved to be headlining Liverpool’s premier venue.

American indie posters Black Kids kicked off the night in style, ripping through their brilliant debut album ‘Party Traumatic’. Each track was played with bundles of energy and finesse, and got the crowd dancing and bouncing up and down.

The final song of their set, hit single ‘I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance’ got everyone up on their feet and singing along, a great way to warm the audience up for the main act of the night.

Shortly after 9pm , the house lights went out and a cheer of excitement made its way around the arena. Strobe lights decked the stage and the band finally appeared from backstage.

Lead singer Ricky Wilson stood at the edge of the stage and pumped his arms in the air like an angry football manager and got everyone who was seated out of their seats, and the standing faithful well and truly pumped up, before the rest of the band went straight into opener, Spanish Metal.

The stage set was a technical spectacular, with a huge backdrop and a fantastic light show.

Wilson and his band continued to tear up the arena playing hit after hit, including favourites ‘Ruby’, ‘Every Day I Love You Less and Less’, ‘I Predict a Riot’, ‘The Angry Mob’, ‘Never Miss a Beat’ and particular favourite, and set finisher ‘Oh My God’ without fault - the whole crowd screaming every word back at them.

The band, clearly enjoying themselves, but appearing very cool at the same time, also showcased some of their more recent material from third album ‘Off With Their Heads’, which was also terrifically received from a fantastic Liverpool crowd.

If you’re looking for a safe bet of a good and really enjoyable gig, the Kaiser Chiefs certainly tick that box. They do exactly what it says on the tin, and they don’t half do it well!

7/10