Saturday 16/06/07 Kula Shaker @ Thekla, Bristol

Ten years ago Tony Blair looked young and stress free, you could still enjoy the bubbly chocolate of a Wispa and Kula Shaker were topping the charts, being heralded as “the world’s most exciting band” and ‘K' was the best selling album of the year behind Oasis’ ‘Definitely Maybe’. A lot changes in a decade, but after falling from grace Kula Shaker are back and about to release a new album.

The good ship Thekla is packed with excited fans, barely able to contain their eagerness to see the band. Soon the wait is over.  The psychedelic guitars of ‘Sound of Drums’ marks the start of a very special set. Immediately, it’s as if no time has passed.  Despite suffering from “the bubonic plague” (it’s actually a chest infection), Crispian Mills is amazing.  Still wearing the same style clothes and hair as before, he’s charismatic, powerful and a master of the guitar. 

Kula Shaker is tight and confident mixing new and old material.The new songs are well received. Forthcoming single ‘Second Sight’ mixes 60’s flavoured organ with 90’s Britpop and a catchy staccato chorus. ‘Great Dictator of the Free World’ is a less than subtle rock n roll attack on the US president: “Let us pray. God is on our side.  Who cares who dies?”  It’s serious social commentary but it’s energetic, dancey and goes down a storm.

The old tunes really rock the boat. The mysticism of 'Tattva', exuberant 'Hush', legendary 'Hey Dude' and the hypnotic, swirling mantras of 'Govinda': these are modern day classics, they haven’t aged. We sing in Sanskrit, remembering words we’d thought we’d long forgotten. We dance and jump along with Crispian. Don Pecker, the inspiration behind the band, even plays an impromptu rendition of 'Fairyland'. Tonight we’ve all been transported back to the 1990’s.

It’s fun and it’s joyful.  Kula Shaker is the best anti-aging remedy imaginable.