Kaiser Chiefs w/ Priory
The Showbox, Seattle, WA
04.22.15
Crossing the pond, British indie powerhouse Kaiser Chiefs threw down anchor on Wednesday night at the Showbox, along with blow-up Portlanders Priory, whose unique style of indietronica has brought them one step closer to wrangling the spotlight. Kaiser Chiefs has been filling the airwaves for well over a decade, earning plenty of top honors with multi-platinum albums and killing UK charts with their catchy sound. The Showbox was crammed with bodies and anticipation, cultivating a warm Seattle welcome next to different waters on friendly shores.
Kaiser Chiefs were johnny-on-the-spot at ten ‘o clock, reciprocating the energy buzzing through the house. Singer Ricky Wilson informed the audience that he had lost his voice, communicating throughout the show with impromptu messages scribbled across a large pad of paper; and, while his voice may have been compromised, his singing and enthusiasm was not. Wilson jumped to and fro, even landing a spot on the drum kit, perched high above the stage and completely owning the crowd. His singing was, ironically, smooth and sweet, and spot-on. At times he seemed to be playing a game of Pictionary, drawing an image of clapping hands and whatever else that came to mind. Dressed in black with a plain white tee, Wilson concluded his dance-laden set with a raffle, as one lucky attendee won a bag of merch and another had the honor of taking home his white shirt, handcrafted with a marker to say “thank you Seattle.” Nevertheless, everyone was a winner at this show. Kaiser Chiefs played one encore song, “Oh My God,” ending a very special Wednesday at twenty past eleven.
Fellow neighboring musicians to the south, Priory opened the evening with their infectious NW sound. Happy to be back in their own territory, singer Brandon Rush took the opportunity to crowd surf at the end of their set, stating, “The only reason I did that is because we’re back in Seattle, back in the Northwest, and I wanted to feel united!” Their radio smash “Weekend” was played second to last, getting everyone on the same page for a night of sure fun.
Kaiser Chiefs Set List:
The Angry Mob
Ruffians on Parade
Everything Is Average Nowadays
Everyday I Love You Less and Less
My Life
Modern Way
Na Na Na Na Naa
Never Miss a Beat
Ruby
I Predict a Riot
Coming Home
Encore:
Oh My God
Review by T. Monte
Photos by Alex Crick
Kaiser Chiefs
Priory
