DUBAI // UK indie heroes Kasabian showcased tracks from their new album Velociraptor! last night as they rocked the Sevens Stadium - but it was the old favourites that stole the show.
The multi-award-winners kicked off their first-ever performance in the Middle East with Days Are Forgotten from their latest collection, which went straight in at number one in the British charts when it was released last September. The title track soon followed, as did other new material such as the soon-to-be-released single Goodbye Kiss.
However it was much-loved songs such as Club Foot, Where Did All the Love Go?, Vlad the Impaler, L.S.F. and Fire from earlier albums that received the wildest response from the thousands of fans who had made the long trek out of town along the Al Ain Road.
Frontman Tom Meighan was on top form, while the crowd's response to the blistering playing of Sergio Pizzorno made a mockery of suggestions that guitar bands are losing their appeal.
Bassist Chris Edwards, drummer Ian Matthews and the second guitarist, Jay Mehler, all helped to crank up the excitement. The volume was so high you could feel the bass thudding through you, but the sound was clear. A dazzling light show added to the spectacle.
The band did not say much to the audience, though at one point Pizzorno announced incredulously that another famous export from their home town of Leicester had been supplied backstage - Walkers crisps.
The band came on stage just after 9pm. Despite a mostly good-natured crowd, there was at least one fight at the front that took security several minutes to bring under control.
The audience was largely made up of fans from the Britpop stars' homeland, including HR manager and Dubai resident Gemma Pointon, 28. She said it was good to be able to see a contemporary band such as Kasabian rather than some of the older acts that sometimes appeared in the UAE.
"We've been waiting for these guys to come for a number of years," she added. "There's been talk of them coming, and then they weren't coming, so it's nice to see them."
Teacher Matthew Bentley, 45, also from the UK, said: "I saw Kasabian 10 years ago and they were OK, so I'm looking forward to seeing them again."
Kasabian frenzy had been evident earlier in the day on Twitter. AbuDhabiExpat tweeted: "People of Dubai... HAPPY KASABIAN DAY", and added: "Too excited about Kasabian tonight. Buzzin already!"
Bumpkinabroad said: "Off to Dubai to see Kasabian tonight! Excited!"
A spectacular fireworks display helped to round off the show.
csimpson@thenational.ae
