LIVE REVIEW: Enter Shikari @ First Direct Arena, Leeds
Off the back of their triumphant UK number 1 album A Kiss For The Whole World, ENTER SHIKARI return with a long-deserved arena tour. The St. Albans-based band are known for their pick ’n’ mix qualities, “abusing music genre’s worthless boundaries since 2003”. They’ve not just thrown out the rule book, they’ve written their own dictionary on what it is to be a band in the alternative space. It’s what makes them so formidable, peerless and enticing; earning them one of the most dedicated fanbases going. Tonight, they open this highly anticipated mammoth of a tour in Leeds’ First Direct Arena, and do it in style.
NOAHFINNCE jogs onto the stage with immediate energy, beaming as he greets the crowd before swinging straight into pop-punk jam I Know Better. The track is a sure crowdpleaser, with a chorus fronted by an infectious hook, backed with an electronic, grungey beat. Noah’s set contrasts that of the rest of the night – it’s a big stage to fill as a one-man (with band) act; despite this, his charisma oozes though the room. His short set is full of humour and feel-good in-jokes, even featuring a sample of the Harry Potter theme, a sure jab at a JK Rowling’s anti-trans viewpoints. His slot was met with a rocky opening, having issues as he plays the first couple of songs with his guitar tech by his side. Unfazed, he continues to stomp on despite his guitar completely cutting out at points. Noah includes the crowd with banter, asking “does anyone like Tok Tok? Does anyone also hate Tok Tok?” before LALALA – a song written in retaliation of a request to write a happy song that would succeed on social media. His transparency, relatability and relaxed attitude is a fitting vibe for an opening act to win the crowd on side.
Rating: 7/10
FEVER 333 are an act met with anticipation of chaos, making them a perfect fit for a bill with ENTER SHIKARI. Frontman Jason Aalon Butler is already known for his high energy, punk performances as previously seen with LETLIVE.. Tonight is no exception, as he jolts about he stage from the first swell of opener BURN IT. Bassist April Kae challenges the crowd, constantly vibe-checking them as she eggs them on. The set never pauses, showing this arena tenacity throughout. From Jason flipping a stage monitor to balance on it before catapulting himself off of it, to leaping into the crowd for We’re Coming In. Despite the lawlessness, the band are tight, heavy, and sound colossal in this 13,000 capacity room. The band make a point of honouring the women in the room, dedicating One Of Us to them, which sets off the audience in an explosion of crowd surfers. It’s exactly the vibrant, exciting eruption we’ve come to expect from the FEVER 333 outfit.
Rating: 9/10
In a contrast to what the remainder of the set will blast into, ENTER SHIKARI begin the night with Rou Reynolds appearing on stage, illuminated only by spotlight as he delivers the opening spoken word segment of System…Meltdown. He is almost drowned in the crowd matching him, before the staple SHIKARI assault of the senses begins.
There is no mucking about with the production of this tour. With a backdrop of screens that display custom reactionary visuals for each song, and a laser show worthy of Boomtown Fair, somehow, ENTER SHIKARI have stepped their game up once again. This tour is obviously meticulously crafted down to the smallest details. Stunning moments leave crowd members in awe as Rou climbs the towers at either side of the stage, conducts the lights with his hands and even dives into an interactive screen, mimicking the Bloodshot music video.
It’s an impressive celebration of the band’s career thus far, with no era of their discography neglected. ENTER SHIKARI have created their own evergreen ecosystem of music, with tracks from almost 20 years ago that still conjure relevance today. Despite their astronomical growth, the band manage to make their largest tour yet reciprocal, expansive and completely immersive.
For Gap In The Fence, Rou appears on the highest point of the stage set up, and serenades the room in a stripped back version of the song, before the rest of the band appear on the b-stage, a small platform at the back of the room to finish in the final swell of electronics. After, they request the crowd “parts the seas”, making for a dramatic scene as Rob, Rory and Chris pace through all the way back tot he main stage, high-fiving fans as they do so. It’s not their last close brush with their fans however, as for Rou’s next trick, he magically arrives on the balcony, stumbling between the seats during The Sights.
Every single song of the night has an element to write home about, with production designed scrupulously at every second. It is the ultimate blueprint for how to craft your show to match your sound. There is not one sparse moment visually or instrumentally from any corner of this vast arena. All 26 songs of the set are crammed full of thought, and exemplify why ENTER SHIKARI are deemed one of the best alternative live acts in the game.
It is no small feat for a band who are this sonically unique to not only be still active decades into their career; but in fact, stronger than ever. After the set closes on an encore of the old and the new with Sorry You’re Not a Winner and A Kiss for the Whole World x, we overhear a fan saying “They’re just the best, aren’t they. That’s all I can say”. And they’re right. At the prime of their career, ENTER SHIKARI show every act how it’s done in every scope of their live presence.
Rating: 10/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Leeds from Dev Place Photos here:
Like ENTER SHIKARI on Facebook.