Kaiser Chiefs' normally glacial guitarist Andrew White confessed to nerves before the opening gig at the new £4.5 million Leeds Academy.
* CLICK HERE TO ENJOY A REVIEW FROM THE GIG AS WELL AS SET LIST DETAILS.To view all the Kaiser Chiefs pictures and order online click here..
But they were nowhere to be seen as Whitey and his four pals from Leeds brought the house down at the city's newest and largest live music venue last night.
Their set included half a dozen from the quintet's third album, Off With Their Heads, due out on October 20.
The new tracks had a grittier edge in contrast to their earlier popier classics including their finale I Predict A Riot which also got a rapturous outing.
Ricky Wilson's voice has more range in the flesh and his stagecraft is honed to a frenzy-inducing science. Simon Rix's bassline, Nick Hodgson's drumming and Peanut's keyboards all underpin the band's accessible sound.
Their tightness as a unit justifies the recent tag as Q Magazine's Best Live Act.
But the Kaisers weren't officially the first band to play on the Academy's virgin stage. That honour fell to Leeds-based quartet The Hair with Vijay Mistry (Drums), brothers Neil and Lee Clark (Keyboards & bass) and lead singer and guitarist Sam Robson doing themselves proud.
London-based The Red Light Company stepped up to the plate to fill the other support slot after Late of the Pier pulled out.
Everyone who was there was treated to a storming night's music.
The historic venue's legend is re-born.
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