are Kasabian having an awesome autumn?

Kasabian have just dropped a brand new release ‘ALYGATYR’, amidst a tour in which guitarist and songwriter, Serge Pizzorno has taken over as the band’s frontman. How’s that working out for them?

2021 - A surge of Serge appreciation

Picture report from Nottingham

by John Springett of Spring Image Photography www.springimages.co.uk

As if 2020 wasn't traumatic enough, Leicester's indie icons had left a question mark hanging over their future when pre-pandemic front man, Tom Meighan, left under a dark cloud of consequences.

The band carrying on, after that was a decision that split opinion in the music world and their fan base.

Autumn 2021’s return was always going to be a make or break moment.

As these UK tour dates were sold out in advance, on the strength of their songs and past achievements, half the battle was won.

The real proof (and future) would be in the audience reaction to the new Kasabian’s live performance.

Yes, a huge band who obviously have so many fans, are already ahead of the game but music is a funny old business and nothing can be taken for granted.

Although Serge had previously proved capable of going “solo” when the band took some time out, that this would translate to the very real skill of fronting a rock band.

Additionally, Kasabian needed to live up to the “saving guitar music” claims and “where are the new rock n roll bands?” challenges that some of the biggest artists were making - and being reported on (mostly for clickbait) - over the last couple of years in what’s left of the national music press.

In short, there was a lot to live up to.

With all the above, and more, it wasn’t a given that Kasabian would walk back on stage and be greeted, again, with the affection and respect that audiences reserve for a favourite band.

Also, it’s 2021.

After a year and a half lost of humanity’s collective life lost to the upheaval and tragedy of the pandemic - including the shenanigans required to attend a live music show safely - music fans want actual bangs for their bucks.

20th October, Nottingham.

Kasabian are back on home county (East Midlands) turf for the Rock City show

Relief.

By all accounts (mates, live reviews, social media feedback) so far, word is that the gig not only went with a bang, but that Serge is such a stage-craft honed, genuine front man, that the crowd were chanting his name during their set.

Shout-along-with-joy mosh pits mirrored the musicality of the band and adrenaline rush in the air.

It's true to say that Kasabian fans are more than on side.

Up and down the country, fans of this band are witnessing something special rising like a phoenix.

These reactions had been hard earned, not taken for granted. Some “Team Tom Meighan” fans refused to come to these dates.

Maybe they missed something essential?

The thanks from the stage to this evening’s audience acknowledged the amount of appreciation felt for their support.

Maybe the uncertainty before facing their audience added to the flame of their performance but the Kasabian of this post lockdown world are obviously a new favourite band (with a six album back story!) who are literally on, ahem, 'Fire'.

As the band tweeted the day after the show:

“Nottingham, still trying to get our heads around last night, WOW!!!!!! Absolute scenes”.

Fast forward a week.

Alongside it’s first live performance (at the home town show in Leicester on day of release, October 27th) the new single, ‘ALYGATYR’ is #1 on Spotify’s Transistor playlist. https://kasabian.lnk.to/transistor

2021

Q: Are Kasabian having an awesome autumn?

A: Yup, looks like it.

…and to answer those “where are the guitar bands” questions, Kasabian have done the right thing at the right time by taking The Skinner Brothers on the road as special guests.

TheZineUK is a documentary of music movement threads weaving a tapestry.

Our ace, Louise Schofield, recently interviewed Zach of The Skinner Brothers before their Isle Of Wight Festival show for This Feeling.

As @TheSkinnerBros tweeted (rightly) in September:

“We will be joining @KasabianHQ as main support for their entire UK tour! This is massive”

Really is. A month later they are tweeting:

“Shoutout all the new followers coming in from the @KasabianHQ tour”

On tour in Liverpool. Not gonna lie, tho, Katie Owen’s #StageStyle often give me boot envy. It’s a real thing.

Not only that, the true story of Katie Owen (a Kasabian fan from school!) being the tour DJ is what rock n roll dreams are made of.

Katie came into the cast n crew of our situationist story in 2017, again, courtesy of This Feeling and being a fab DJ!)

Making a party, Katie also DJ’d TheZineUK’s first #MusicPeopleParty that December (and presented her first filmed interview in January 2018, for us).

It’s just heart warming to see so many people coming along in these hard-as-f days.

Of course, there are people who doubt that the newer wave of guitar music artists and allies are creating a #FertileEnvironment in a hostile environment - and each to their own opinion - but look and listen again, friends. Especially on the grass roots music venue circuit being culled.

When bands like Kasabian use their platform to give the up and comers on this rising star circuit, extra support, the musical eco system of alternative rock gets a boost just when we all need it. Even the biggest bands started somewhere and got some help.

2022

Kasabian are playing the Neighbourhood Weekender in May, supporting Liam Gallagher at Knebworth Park in June (with Michael Kiwanuka, Fat White Family and Goat Girl) then headlining the Isle Of Wight Festival next autumn.

Come back and beyond.

Seeya later ALYGATYR!

https://www.kasabian.co.uk/

All images by kind permission John Springett (c) https://www.springimages.co.uk/

Extra news/words Caffy St Luce/Events Dept.

Thank you Stasi at MBC PR for the photo pass.

That Break! This Feeling!

Artists blown away by audiences and vice-versa = This Feeling!

Louise Schofield presenter (also a This Feeling DJ over the weekend)

#TheZineUK - September 2021

Informative informal interviews by Louise Schofield where excited, exciting talents talk feedback, creative process and more!

Despite everything, artists are still coming through.

The Chase (who started their rock n roll dreams as child musicians) had just played their first major event.

Isle Of Wight is the daddy of music festivals and This Feeling is the mother of opportunity for guitar graced talent.

There’s a soft spot for both in our tale.

In the Skinner Brothers interview,  Zach reveals some introspect (and amusing) angles on being in the public eye.

It’s All Happening - Still!

Over the last five years, especially, grassroots venues have  witnessed a (r)evolution, despite mainstream media's opinion that "Guitar bands are OVER".  In a year of Manics, Inhaler AND The Lathums albums - to name but three (the latter two, also TF alumni) I’d tell these sofa critics, "nah, wakey wakey!"  Guitar genres and beats fuse, now that audiences make the trends.  

Lock-In. Rock out.

A tragic world needs musical joys for escapism.

In that vein, Lock-In blew the roof off This Feeling’s tent. Again, Isle Of Wight was their first festival! These uplifting, step-on-the-ladder tales are so needed.

Look again at TF “The Zone” social media and what a wealth of artists have to say.

Our  music world is devastated by the pandemic. Many things have to change.

Small venue communities like this, are a vocal blueprint for social collusion. Under the radar, over the rainbow.

Lou and Zach

Get involved at local shows like it's your last chance to dance with like-minded souls. Maybe one day, it will be, if we don't support each other.

Look what happens when they come together!

New music industrious add fresh talent to future potential by supporting a more diverse heritage: Mixing in working class to give the lucky posh some extra playmates.

We're all Playing Class Friends at gigs.

Some of the most heartwarming stories are unfolding and necessary, especially since Brexit piled on more misery. Just to be an artist or one of their allies, takes drive and determination. They deserve attention.

Spyres, for instance, are another band with a wealth of activity in the pipeline for popular music’s alternative tapestry. The reactions from their headline set at This Feeling set are jungle telegraph fireworks.

Nottingham in the area at This Feeling’s ReWired Festival Weekend (August 2021 - London/Leeds)

TheZineUK doc, in turn, consistently has new threads to weave, because we’re all part of a (perfectly imperfect) artful and rising entertainment network.

It doesn't look, think, sound or act like the old guard.

It's not so busy trying to be clique / cliche that it doesn't feel passionate, fun (and frankly often bonkers!).

It’s a moving movement and This Feeling are in the eye of a storming storm.

Want a great series to watch. It’s more Nutflakes than Netflix, but still, follow all these tales as they unfold. Gripping tunes.

Massive thanks (as ever!) to Mikey, George, Zone Rangers, the interviewees and our "Lullaby Lou" for these engaging and revealing chats. Very best wishes all, for the future - oh, and there’s more to come!

Watch here:

Have A Zone-tastic Isle Of Wight Weekend

The Isle Of Wight Festival returns and it’s JUST what’s needed to round off the great(er) outdoors that has been so much needed by so many people.

cinch presents Isle Of Wight Festival 2021 - Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th September - that’s some harvest!

One of the best things is the adventure that most of the people who will be there travel across water to attend the arts and hearts music festival that has inspired so many more over the decades.

Fwar, look at the line up on This Feeling’s increasingly iconic Stage - Zone Island is deffo in the house! (Or should that be the field?)

Up n comers who are definitely in a field of their own, it’s always ace to see faces from this doc as well as find new faves.

This year too many to mention individually and after what the human race has been through and is still coming to terms with, just want EVERYBODY to have the best weekend possible.

More on This Feeling in a bit as it’s a stage that TheZineUK can’t help but be magnetised by (and the documentary story with guitars, affected by).

There’s so much on, all over, all weekend.

It feels like there is eternally an eye/heart opener happening at the Cirque de la Quirk.

Say hi to one of #TheZineUK doc contributors, Heather Minx, if you see her (quick anecdotes teaser from her interview with festival head, John Giddings, pre pandemic)

At 7pm on Saturday evening, we’d recommend a highlight of the very cool Kashmir Café stage will be the UK’s top disco punx, Bugeye!

Having caught This Feeling tips, The K’s, at Manchester Night & Day a couple of years ago, their steady rise to this weekend’s main stage has been highly visible.

In fact, every festival has TF alumni blowing up on various stages and that’s not the half of it. If you want to catch talent on the rise, The Zone’s reputation is second to none for indie rock alumni.

For 2021, Isle Of Wight’s four day weekend gifts you this fest within it’s fest…

Many images from TheZineUK’s first trip to Zone Island became part of our Season 1 (2014-2017) Slideshow.

These early days images of our 2021 cast and crew prove that the biggest new story in music is in the grassroots music venues that we’ve all had to fight for so hard.

The 20th century had The Cavern, Erics, CBGBs etc to break out of and now in 2021 it feels like every artist is brand new all over again post lockdown.

We really do have a lot to celebrate, even while taking as much care of each other, and ourselves as possible.

Vibes! A “first band on” memory from This Feeling Stage 2017!

One way is to have the best times. Charge those endorphins!

It’s a fact that for fans of rock, indie, punk and alternative pop adventures, This Feeling tent is a stage, a community - a positive future boost giving opportunities to so many artists…

And FUN.

Trust.

Many people do not leave the zone all weekend except to (possibly) get some kip!

Look out for multi talent tasking music industry/media mover shakers Kelly Munro (End Of The Trail Creative) and Louise Schofield (who will also be DJ-ing for This Feeling) - TheZineUK’s reporters for the weekend. We’ll be sharing their Zone Rangers clips and quips.

Argh, Rianne Downey, hope that you’re feeling best soon again, you were fab the other weekend at Werkhaus. Yaay, Big Image to the rescue stepping in last minute. Have a very big one!

Oh and if you don’t get why the small venues are ON freaking fire right now, it’s because we’re seeing star turns, up close, affordably, inclusively, theatrically. We’ll keep on about it. This documentary has so many receipts . Many of them postmarked This Feeling (much appreciation).

Just one example: Gen and the Degenerates ‘Underwear’ to seeya onto your box-ticking-free adventures.