The Ordinary Boys

The Ordinary Boys with support from The Kaiser Chiefs - Live Review

The Ordinary Boys with support from The Kaiser Chiefs

Thursday 21 st October 2004

Manchester Academy 2

Leeds five piece The Kaiser Chiefs opened the night, playing their part rock part keyboard electro mix, to the appreciative half-full academy, a good achievement for a support act.

The band gave their all back to the interested fans, and new spectators alike, with flowing banter between songs such as the quirky, “I Predict A Riot” and the directly titled “That Is The End Of That” evoking some enthusiastic hand clapping, and dancing, warming up the crowd nicely.

The remaining space in the intimate Academy 2 venue filled up as the Ordinary Boys fans ventured out of the bar, and toward the stage, oblivious to what they had just missed. With one aim, to get as near as possible to the band they had obviously come to see; they didn’t

The Ordinary Boys with support from The Kaiser Chiefs - Live Review
The Ordinary Boys with support from The Kaiser Chiefs - Live Review

have long to wait. The familiar and nutty sounds of Madness’ “Nightboat to Cairo” sounded, and the band energetically entered the stage, matching their entry soundtrack, before crashing straight into “Maybe Someday” breaking the short wait and allowing the crowd to go as mad as the band. After the calm appreciation of The Kaiser Chiefs, the venue really begins to heat up, as the ardent ordinary boys fans energetically show the band that they mean it, bouncing up and down as energetically as the band did entering the stage. The momentum was maintained as the band played their way through The Jam like “Week in Week Out” and latest “Seaside,” creating a stomping sing-along for it’s catchy chorus.

The Ordinary Boys turned not so ordinary as they added a number of Japanese b-sides and bonus tracks, variety being the spice of life, and this did not deter or fool the devoted as they sang along like they listened every day to these rarities.

Hurtling rapidly to the end of a variety and action packed gig, “Get Your Act Together,” added more variety, as confetti fell from the ceiling. The scene resembled the tickertape parade, and got the crowd bouncing, not this time to the music, but to try and grab a piece of the falling souvenirs. If they succeeded, they were lucky, if not, they were certainly not unlucky, as they had managed to grab a piece of this extraordinary band. Follow suit and you won’t be disappointed.

http://www.theordinaryboys.co.uk

http://www.kaiserchiefs.co.uk

Katherine Tomlinson

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