Wednesday 11/08/04 The Blueskins, The Kaiser Chiefs @ Barfly, Liverpool

There’s something in the water up in Yorkshire at the moment… and it looks like it’s spreading.

Providing ample support for headliners The Blueskins are fellow Leeds area rockers, Wakefield quintet the Kaiser Chiefs, whose brand of hyped-up indie rock has earned them a considerable fan base since their formation back in 2003.

It’s a typically energetic performance from the Chiefs, whose recipe of optimism and sheer rock ‘n’ roll energy have drawn quite a considerable crowd. Front man Ricky Wilson launches into opening track, ‘Na Na Na Na Naa’ a toe-tapping, tambourine-thrashing singalong which sets the tone for the rest of the set – loud, proud and the epitome of youthfully exuberant rock/pop.

In a futile attempt to wind it down a notch, the band showcased new track ‘You Can Have It All’, a cheerful, fast-paced rock-out which wouldn’t sound entirely out of place on an American Pie soundtrack.

Upcoming single ‘I Predict A Riot’ is a killer. Mixing screaming chords with a staccato chorus supported by an infectious jump-up-and-down drum beat, it actively defied the crowd not to get carried away mimicking the title.

‘Oh My God' does exactly what it says on the tin – a jaw-dropping display of total rock ‘n’ roll behaviour and undoubtedly part of the soundtrack to many indie discos for years to come. The song combines rampant guitar riffs with surprisingly consistent vocals from Wilson, who spent the entire duration somewhere between the floor and the ceiling in an energetic pre-finale display. A magnificent crescendo of a chorus, together with vibrant backing and a surge of energy from the crowd, rendered it one of the high points of the night.

Set closer ‘Saturday Night’ is another riotous crowd-pleaser, opening with a menagerie of electro-pop vibrations quickly laced with a stomping drum beat. It’s an appropriately foot stomping finale and eminently popular by request from the crowd, who seem to have a matey rapport with the band, which is perhaps the key to their success. Wilson has a schoolboy quality, a charismatic stage personality combined with a genuine excitement at the prospect of playing to an appreciative crowd. With tracks climbing the MTV2 charts rapidly as an ever-increasing wealth of fans jump on board, the Kaiser Chiefs are a rare and exciting new breed… one that just doesn’t give a ****.

The Blueskins are headed up by floppy-haired front man Ryan Spendlove, whose school day musings with charmingly-named band mate Maff have resulted in a new strain of high-octane indie-rock, which takes its influence from right across the musical spectrum.

‘Seconds to None’ is a sound choice of show-opener, a sparsely lyricised guitar classic with echoes of the Foo Fighters’ early material (no surprise, then, that Spendlove bears more than a passing resemblance to Dave Grohl) and the furious vocals to match.

Inevitable floor shaker comes in the form of ‘Stupid Ones’, a rousing crescendo of a track with the radio-friendly style of Supergrass and the "woo-hoos" of Blur’s ‘Song 2.’ Between the ‘oohs’ and the ‘wahs’ we’re almost expecting a token ‘doo-wop’ to make a rogue appearance.

Winding it down for the evening, the country-twanged ‘Change My Mind’ shows a preference for virtuoso guitar-playing between rasping lyrics, leading to an apt finale in the shape of ‘Magpie Blues’, with the requisite thunderous beats to revive the crowd and go out in style.

Stylistically, the Blueskins are a hybrid, mixing influences like cocktails to create an eclectic mix of styles and sounds. It seems like they’re not quite sure where they’re going – understandable when you consider their youthful age – but for those desperate for a definition, think Beatlemania meets Nirvana (however absurd the suggestion might sound) and you’re somewhere close.  What remains is yet to be seen, but one thing’s for sure – it’s going to be an interesting ride.

Photos by Sakura Henderson