Kasabian Live @ O2 Wireless Music Festival

Kasabian @ 02 Wireless Music Festival
30th June 2005

Words: Claire Bussey
Photographs: © Holloway Live Photography

After a late, messy, short set from Babyshambles, headliners Kasabian stormed on stage, held their pints in the air and yelled "now let's have a f***ing proper gig!"

With confidence levels clearly still high after Glastonbury, the band played a splendid set as the sun went down over Hyde Park. Despite the slight difference in crowd size and atmosphere, the band were genuinely humbled by the crowd's reaction and kept saying "thank you" and "bless you", making a stark contrast from the previous over-hyped and over-rated appearance from Babyshambles.

The set was an ideal length and included all the crowd-pleasing singles as well as some newer tracks. Highlights of the set were 'Cutt Off' and 'Test Transmission', with 'Reason is Treason', and 'L.S.F.' getting the most singing and dancing and 'Processed Beats' getting people on shoulders and mobile phones held aloft in the crowd. The sun finally set as people grabbed their partners for 'Butcher Blues' and singer Tom Meighan shouted "I just can't stop losing control" … "and nor can you, you f***ers!" Kasabian really seemed to be enjoying themselves as they grooved away and went crazy with guitar and drum solos and extended instrumentals.

With the crowd warmed up and eager for more electronic beats, Kasabian did a beautiful acoustic version of U-Boat then left the stage. Not to the traditional cries of "More!" but to 30,000 people singing "Aaah, aah" from Club Foot over and over again until they strolled back on stage and obliged us. Thanking everyone for sticking around in the rain, they dedicated 'Club Foot' to the Gallagher brothers and combined it with an awesome light show, to end the 2005 02 Wireless festival in exhilarating style.