A Comeback Of Epic Proportions: Kasabian at Victoria Park Review

Words: Jools Taylor

Kasabian are a British band that probably need little to no introduction at this point. With 6 UK number one albums and now potentially reaching their seventh by the end of this week with their 8th studio album titled ‘Happenings’.

Last week that band took to a venue in their hometown that they have not performed at in over 10 years. Leicester’s very own Victoria Park. This gig was originally announced in late 2019 and set to be performed in summer 2020 with the likes of Inhaler, Easylife (now called ‘Hard Life’) and Sam Fender.

Due to The COVID-19 pandemic was inevitably cancelled. But since this there were other turbulences in the band. Now former front man Tom Meighan departed from the group after pleading guilty to assaulting his then fiancé, and now wife Vikki Ager.

About a year and a half after Tom’s departure Kasabian got back on the road with a string of sell out intimate tour dates with guitarist and songwriter of the group Sergio Pizzorno now taking role of frontman. This dramatic change in line up then and now has still split the fan base in two quite a bit. But nearly 3 years, 2 albums and many live shows later the band prove that they can still bring it inside and outside of the studio.

The band opened their set with the second single from their new album ‘Happenings’ titled ‘Call’. A classic old fashioned phone rang as Serge and company took the stage. Serge then picked up the phone to greet his captive audience, commencing their mega set. The band then continued into their 20 song long set filled with their classic hits that the crowd were all too familiar with singing each lyric word for word, even the new songs that had only been out for a few months. Serge constantly had the crowd in the palm of his hand, departing from the stage to pay them visits throughout the show making the crowd flock even closer to the barricade just for the chance to be closer to him.

Serge has proven that he has perfectly settled into his role as frontman and is more than capable at getting Kasabian those of headline festival slots and arena shows that they are already loved for. Bringing the noise, mosh pits and people on shoulders as far as the eye can see.