A few of you asked me to report back on the Kaiser Chiefs show in Brooklyn. I went into the show only having heard I Predict a Riot and Oh My God. I'd heard that they were a likable bunch and put on a good show. That was an understatement, as it turns out. The show was terrific! The band bounded on stage, shouted "Hello, Brooklyn! This is a fine turn out!" and jumped into the first tune. The set list was cleverly arranged because the first song was fairly simplistic brit-rock. A fun tune but not awe-inspiring. However, with each tune, the band added a layer of sound and complexity. By the third tune, they were playing full-on, rock-out tunes. (As my friend said, "The guitarist was being a bit coy for the first two songs.) They are distinctly British in their sound and stylings and clearly have a great time playing together. There is a lot to be said for seeing a band happy to be on stage, thrilled at the crowd response, and joking with each other. In fact, the banter from the drummer and singer was laugh-out-loud witty. The main source of charisma is from the singer, Ricky Wilson. He leaps in the air, hops across the stage, and shouts. I loved his energy. Unsurprisingly, I Predict a Riot was the high point, but there were a couple of slower songs that I liked a lot, too. I think they might reach Franz Ferdinand status if they spend a lot of time touring this year. (I actually like them better than Franz. The songs are more interesting to me.)
I was much less impressed by The Prosaics. A band that never achieved a cohesive sound. The rhythm section sounded the same for every song, and the vocals didn't jive with the music. I actually liked the sound of the singer's voice -just not the way he was singing (if that makes sense). He kept drawing out words. The guitar (played by the singer) was the only bright spot. They are the kind of band you want to like but are just bored by. A disappointment.
