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Kaiser Chiefs | Rivermead Leisure Centre | Reading | 16.10.08

Waiting for one of the UK's top bands within a leisure centre, where a faint whiff of chlorine pervades the air, is nothing short of odd.

I wait in the cafe corner among the regulars, enjoying a cup of milky tea, while next door I can hear frontman Ricky Wilson and drummer Nick Hodgson playing about with a football.

Guitarist Simon Rix (C) Adam Ososki

I'm then summoned next door to meet the duo, who instantly put you at ease with their relaxed boyish manner.

"You've probably heard this loads of times before," begins Ricky. "But you look exactly like Zoe Ball". I laugh and so the cheeky chat begins. Meanwhile Nick is consumed with keepy-uppy, until I suggest we all sit down (but only distract him from the football).

The two lads, Ricky in a baggy Cats the musical T-shirt and Nick immaculately kitted out in a slender black jumper, prepare for what must be the thousandth interview in their relatively short careers.

Forming in 2003, within two years the Leeds band had earned themselves a Mercury Music Prize nomination for debut album Employment.

Five years later, the five-piece indie band are releasing their third album Off With Their Heads and selling out venues on their UK tour, including the Reading Rivermead.

See the photos here:

Listen to my interview, in which Ricky and Nick talk about Peter Kay, Mark Ronson, Hook End in Berkshire and not being able to properly celebrate the launch of Off With Their Heads, which coincides with Nick's 31st - errr, 28th - birthday...