Kasabian/Mew/One Thousand Pictures @ Webster Hall: Messin' with the Enemy

If you like your rock music epic, brash and larger-than-life, then the combo of Kasabian and Mew will fill all your needs. Not even a hint of subtlety is found in either band's sound, so be prepared to get your socks blown off.

Kasabian didn't disappoint in the beginning or the end. They were in-your-face as you'd expect them to be. In the middle, ehhhhh, some of their new stuff isn't quite as dynamic as their singles from both albums. Also, the last time I saw them in 2004, they're were much more humble as performers back then. Now, they are bona fide rockers with some "look how fucking great we are" attitude.

Setlist:

• Shoot the Runner
• Reason is Treason
• Sun Rise Light Flies
• Cutt Off
• Empire
• Me Plus One
• Be My Side
• Processed Beats
• The Doberman
• Club Foot
• The Stuntman
• L.S.F.

British Rock band Kasabian don't get much love with critics, probably because they come off as blatant rip offs of Primal Scream with Liam Gallagher vocals. There's no mistake that the group has a fondness for them, which is obvious because Oasis and Kasabian are attached at the penis now since Kasabian opened for them extensively. I can make the argument either way that Kasabian can be disposable, but what I like about them is that they have a distinct British sound and their vaguely political songs take on a grandeur of their own. Don't you feel like starting a riot or protest with some of their songs? They can energize you to a far extent.

I remember my first trip to England and found their CD single at a listening booth. I dialed up "Club Foot" and I was stunned. They managed to capture their sound in one song. Their crafted a song that set their precedent and which they might always be known for. They knocked it out of the park at the first at bat. Franz Ferdinand with "Take Me Out" and Kaiser Chiefs with "I Predict a Riot" also did the same as well.

Anyway, I caught their first headlining show at Bowery in 2004 before their album was released in the states. Ironically, Mad Action opened up and member Jay Mehler tours with Kasabian as a replacement for departed member Chris Karloff. I remember Kasabian lead singer Tom Meighan wearing sunglasses and marching in place most of the time. Their set was done in 40 minutes and they rocked every second of it. They ended with "Club Foot" and the British blokes around me started a little mosh of our own in the half filled Bowery.

Fast forward to tonight, Meighan is a little chunkier, has a beard, he ditched the glasses, he has Gallagher as his best mate and know he thinks his big time. I have no problem with rock stars doing rock star things on stage, but sometimes it needs to be toned down. As you see in the pictures below, the rock star Jesus pose was ever present. Oh please, just sing man. The other annoyance was the obligatory, "Hello, New York. Let me see some hands in the air." He said that, no joke, eight times.

That being said, the two new singles off of Empire, "Empire" and "Shoot the Runner" have that Kasabian trademark sound, ambiguously political lyrics, full guitar riffs and some processed beats. I gave the new album a quick listen to and some of the songs have a different feeling than their debut album. Some are a little more psychedelic while others have the oh-so popular disco drum beat. Not sure if I like it as much as their debut, but I'm glad to see that they didn't get soft or go safe with their sound, they still want to shove their music in your face.

So for me, the show wasn't a 100% complete success, Me Plus One and Be My Side don't have much going for it. It's the old stuff that people want to listen to and they got it. The center of the crowd got physical with Processed Beats, L.S.F. and, of course, Club Foot. Maybe in due time, people will go ape shit for "Empire".

I just can't seem to shake Mew. It's the third time around in three months with these guys. They must love New York. They played more songs than they did at McCarren Park Pool which was nice. They need time on stage to build up atmosphere. It was more of the same, which is a good. It's nice to see the Parker Stevenson look-a-like lead singer appear bashful on stage again.

Previously:

• Mew @ Hiro Ballroom
• Bloc Party/Secret Machines/Mew @ McCarren Park Pool

The first openers were One Thousand Pictures, who were so bad I don't even remember what they sound like. They were that forgettable. What I do remember is that the lead singer was so busy being a rock star front man that he knocked his mic cord out twice without realizing it. He then knocked his mic stand over three times. The final time, he got pissed because his mic cord became unattached again so he threw over his mic stand, which banged into the keyboard stand, which knocked that over into the photo pit. It took them five minutes to get it back together. Idiot.

Comments

Good review....though I disagree with your take on By My Side and Me Plus One.

nice review. don't like 2nd album much, but yesterday changed that a little. and i saw you snag the setlist in the end

[Denise Schnelle]

I saw this trio of bands last night at the Henry Fonda in Hollywood. sure enough "come on Hollywood, put your hands in the air" like 10 times. Kasabian were wicked, One Thousand Pictures skipped the mike mishaps and were really good. MEW SUCKED!!!!

I saw One Thousand Pictures, Mew, and Kasabian perform in Vancouver on Oct 15. All three performances were spectacular! I completely disagree with the previous comments that either Mew or One Thousand Pictures weren't good, they were both awesome!!!!