You’re waiting for a gig, and the venue speakers are pumping out hipster rock tracks. But then they play Air Supply’s “All Out of Love”. What does this mean? Kasabian is in the house!
Had it happened only once, you’d brush it off as an odd coincidence. If it happens at two separate gigs, that’s planned. Not sure if this is the song of choice at all their gigs, or just their Australian ones, but you’ve been warned 
Thursday 22nd August 2010 at Trak in Toorak. Kasabian were filmed for a [v] live special, due for screening in mid-to-late August. I was lucky enough to win a double pass, thanks to the good people at the Herald Sun. Simple contest: in 10 words or less, what is Kasabian’s best song and why? My answer: “Empire” is the perfect song to invade a country to. Terrible grammar, and the band has so many awesome tracks that I don’t even know if “Empire” is my favourite, but the whole “invade a country” thing occurred to me one day, so I filed it away, and now I’ve used it to my advantage. Yes, my eejit brain sometimes serves me well
Behind an unused bar, I saw the stage really well, though you wouldn’t know that from my phone-photo of the band performing. A fabulous one-hour set, tight with one hit after another. Serge Pizzorno rocked the hipster look, with white jeans, leopard-print top and a fetching hat. There were some extra musos, and the Noel Gallagher look-alike guitarist totally freeze-framed when his services weren’t required for some songs. Seriously, he could’ve stepped off-stage, but instead showed that statues can have street cred. Rock on, Noel Gallagher look-alike!
Earlier in the year when Kasabian’s tour was announced, I couldn’t afford a ticket. Luckily for me, my dear siblings birthday-gifted one, so on Friday 23rd August 2010 I was at Festival Hall in West Melbourne. The wood floor was sticky, beer was spilt on my shoulder, I couldn’t see anyone on stage except for tiny snippets every now and then, and moshers squashed me on occasion…but nonetheless, I had a great time. I didn’t recognise all the songs (I’m a bad fan), I didn’t know some lyrics (terrible hearing), I couldn’t hear my atrocious singing, and I can’t dance for shiz, but I was still enraptured.
This gig also came with a bonus trumpeter. Totally wasn’t expecting that, but he was very welcome. Rock on, trumpeter!
I also learned the error of my ways. I’m list-obsessive, and thus when acquiring an album, I hit up Wikipedia to see if there are extra tracks or B-sides released in other places, such as iTunes bonuses, or in Japan. (Japan’s CDs tend to almost always have bonus tracks, and I’m terribly jealous.) I bought West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum in 2009 when it was originally released, and wrote a list of extras Wikipedia mentioned. However, the album was re-released when Kasabian toured with the Big Day Out festival. (They were supposed to do solo shows later, but I think they acquired swine flu.) This re-release featured a DVD, as well as some remixes on the CD. And a new original song, which I’ve read was an “Underdog” B-side.
The song in question is “Julie & the Moth Man”. The band performed this on Friday, and I rather enjoyed it. Heard it twice later on the car ride home, and loved it more. Borrowed the special edition CD, and acquired the track for myself. It’s done quite a number on me. It’s rather hot, though I’m not sure if it’s meant to be. This may say more about me than it does about the song, but you can hear it here and report back to me.
Yes, you should definitely attend a Kasabian gig whenever possible, and don’t be confused if you hear Air Supply’s “All Out of Love”
Kasabian CD albums
Kasabian Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA)
Empire Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA)
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA)
Box set of all 3 albums Buy (UK)
Kasabian
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