Kaiser Chiefs
Primary objection in the formation of The Kaiser Chiefs: to create a band from founding members Ricky Wilson (singer), Andrew ‘Whitey’ White (guitar), Simon Rix (bass), Nick ‘Peanut’ Baines (keyboards) and Nick Hodgson (drums and vocals) that was decent enough to scrape an early-on slot at the band’s local Leeds Festival.
In the summer of 2003, some rehearsals later, the plan worked. But it advanced somewhat more swiftly thereon in. It must’ve been promising. The quintet’s prior incarnation – Parva, previously signed to Beggars Banquet – went pretty much nowhere (despite early, encouraging reviews from rockfeedback). This new outfit, however, more pop-riddled and frenetic, seemed to gain instant momentum.
A band proactive in their adoration of immediate surroundings, Ricky and Nick of the ensemble began promotions in their city of electro night Pigs to further their spirit and vigour, until a barring of Nick from their venue (blame some overly frantic limb-tussling and a drunken spin of ‘Ace Of Spades’… we’ve all been there), but the first significant furtherance of their trade in more muso-related efforts was a limited-edition single on Drowned In Sound Recordings – ‘Oh My God’: a home-recorded effort that dented the top-75. It was all developing just a bit rapidly.
Not bad. At all. So B-Unique snapped the fellas up for a long-term contract, and the follow-up single – ‘I Predict A Riot’ – only just escaped the top-20. Whoa. Tours with Franz Ferdinand and The Killers / The Futureheads / Bloc Party ensued. Cue the re-release in early 2005 of ‘Oh My God’, and we’re talking top-10 country. Debut LP ‘Employment’, we guarantee, is one of the year’s perennial alt albums.
Sprightly, Brit lyricism, infectious, nagging refrains and the sort of cheeky extrovert eccentricity that could last a decade, people, meet your new pop saviours. It’s a relationship that just might last.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Themed around the band’s artwork for ‘Employment’, this wittily, tongue-in-cheek spawned online domain is both comprehensive and stylish.
B-UNIQUE RECORDS: Though all too guiltily out of date, at least view some of the counterparts that form the rest of the roster of the band’s record-label home.
SINGLE REVIEW – ‘OH MY GOD’ 2005: the re-released single given a not-entirely-unpleasant five-star lauding by our Kevin Molloy.
CONCERT REVIEW – LONDON BRIXTON ACADEMY 2005: first-on, but still highlights of the recent ‘NME’ Awards tour, also featuring fellow types Bloc Party, The Futureheads and The Killers.
FESTIVAL REVIEW – READING FESTIVAL 2004: a fleeting, yet positive mention of the band’s endeavours at last year’s Reading Festival.