Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Leonard Cohen have already played there to receptive sell- out audiences and positive reviews but we all know these were just a warm up for local boys The Kaiser Chiefs to properly open the new arena. By happy coincidence the gig fell on the same day as my lads birthday and what better way to celebrate.
Ricky Wilson and Co stood posturing on stage behind a back lit curtain and we were ready for business. The curtain dropped and they kicked off in style launching into Na Na Na Na Naa and continued belting out hit after hit all night. All the anthems were performed such as Ruby and I Predict a Riot as well as few new songs from their forthcoming album. Choice cuts seem to be the anthemic Coming Home and One More Last Song which I suspect will embed into my subcocncious.
Rick Wilson was his usual energetic self running around the stage and interacting with the crowd fantastically. By the second song he was off the stage and in the front of the crowd. Later on he sung one song from the middle of the crowd, infact two rows behind us in the 1st tier of seating.
The stage and arena was sparsely decorated with just a simple backdrop of the band’s name. This was however made up for by the excellent lighting. At one point a glitter ball was dropped from the middle of the arena and had spotlights shone on it throwing out atmospheric dappled light for a slower number. I also loved how the band were backlit projecting huge shadows of themselves onto the side wall.
After an hour and a half on stage and the obligatory encore they finished the night with Oh My God (mixed with a "Yorkshire" chant to rapturous applause. The local lads had shown how it’s done in Yorkshire with Ricky stating as he walked off stage “You can now consider your arena open”!
