The New Kasabian

Five-piece unveil songs from upcoming album

27 March 2009 - Kasabian used a grand show at London’s Royal Albert Hall to showcase four new tracks from their upcoming third album.

The Leicester five-piece kicked off their set with the storming track Underdog, which is the first track on West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum, due for release in June.

Meanwhile there were three other new tracks, including Fire and Thick As Thieves. The band played to a packed crowd at the Royal Albert Hall for the heaviest sounding night of the Teenage Cancer Trusts gigs so far.

The gig, part of a series curated by Roger Daltrey, also featured The Hours – who were watched by their artist-in-residence and financial backer Damien Hirst among the crowd.

Frontman Tom Meighan said before the gig that he was delighted to be asked to play – and wasn’t feeling nervous at all.

“It’s a very memorable thing isn’t it. It’s a very nice thing to be able to do and it’s great that it’s for a good cause,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a palladium or in the middle of a desert, it’s just a show. We don’t get nervous.”

Meighan whipped up the crowd with hits like Empire, Shoot The Runner and Club Foot, with the pace only letting up for the new acoustic number, Thick As Thieves.

The band recently played warm-up shows in Leeds, Margate and Preston, and will also be touring with Oasis this summer before starting a run of their own shows.

Tom said their new tracks have been going down well with crowds already.

“It was nice to get back out there and play our songs, as well as new songs – it’s been nothing but good,” he said. “We’re in good shape.”

You can hear the full interview with Kasabian in the Music Week this Sunday on 6 Music from 1pm.


Rodrigo Davies