Kaiser Chiefs
Park West - Chicago, IL
November 13, 2008

Park West is one of those venues you walk into and immediately feel underdressed. The interior is styled more like a lounge than a traditional bar/venue, which, I guess, satisfies a demographic that other Chicago venues don’t cater to. Still, the roomy, laid-back atmosphere could work well for a number of mature rock bands that favor sing-along, bouncing crowds over the raucous mosh-pits of dimly lit close-quarters.

Enter the Kaiser Chiefs, who I’d seen a few years back when they opened for Weezer and Foo Fighters, before they’d built a self-sustaining audience on the power of three impressive full-lengths. Kaiser Chiefs were an admittedly less enthusiastic act a few years ago, but – with more experience under their belts and the confidence of a headlining act – they’ve grown into their exotic international flair.

They took the stage with an energy that lasted all night, layering deep, rich vocals on proto-punk guitar riffs and poppy synthesizers. Their dapper attire rang true for the Brits, personifying the band’s work-hard/play-hard attitude.

Lead vocalist and front man Ricky Wilson was a driving force throughout the set, multitasking with a cowbell and tambourine at parts and interacting directly with the audience. When he wasn’t balancing precariously on the edge of the stage, Wilson was running out into the audience and standing on objects that weren’t meant for performance (tables, walls, etc.). At one point, Wilson traveled as far as the back bar to get another beer and stood on the countertop – where the bartender promptly asked to see his ID.

The energy onstage, coupled with the sing-ability of the group’s most recent release (2008’s Off With Their Heads), kept the audience enthused and entranced. They exited the stage to cheers, prompting an encore. Unfortunately, the Kaiser Chiefs led off the encore with “Can’t Say What I Mean,” which drips with a Beatles-esque pop quality that played to Brit-pop stereotypes and didn’t seem to do too much for an audience awaiting a final burst of energy. But the band struck back behind the anthemic power of the final song, “Oh My God,” leaving the audience with a warm nostalgia that lasted until bedtime.

Mark Sherbin | all photos © pensatos.com