Kaiser Chiefs, Walkmen, The Little Ones
Showbox, Seattle
April 25, 2007 

Is it wrong that I find myself going to shows for the opening acts these days? I’ve got to admit I’ve been to quite a few shows of this nature lately and the the opening acts have all proven themselves, often outperforming those they were opening for. Last night, the Little Ones became a part of that select group. The entire bill included The Little Ones, The Walkmen and headliners the Kaiser Chiefs, but what I will remember about the show is the tight and inspired performance by the Little Ones.

They arrived on stage just as I had procured a drink and turned the stage into an indie pop playground full of booty shaking and tippy toe bouncing. Their set was fast-paced and engaging, only slowing down for a new song once, and then returning to full speed without a hitch for the final few.  The drummer’s flourishes were a step above most other recent performances I’ve seen, and his unbridled energy seemed to be what was keeping the band in motion so smoothly. I was asked no less than three times during the performance who the band playing was, as they never mentioned their own name, and the crowd seemed really into them. I won’t be surprised to see these guys headlining their own shows soon.

The Walkmen were up next, and while they sounded practiced and cohesive, their set didn’t pack the punch that the Little Ones did. I surprisingly recognized most of the songs, but even that wasn’t enough to improve my impressions. Their lead singer was definitely into it, but nothing stands out in my mind about the set. They were good, but just good.

The Kaiser Chiefs arrived on stage at around 11 and they played for a solid hour including the encore. I was definitely at a disadvantage as I don’t know most of their songs, and the singer wasn’t entirely understandable over the PA system. I have to admit however that their performance was great. Their stage presence was phenomenal, furiously head banging and bouncing their way through a fast paced setlist. Their interaction with the crowd was continuous: after each song lead singer Ricky Wilson (who was wearing an Easy Street t-shirt) would challenge the fans to sing along and scream just a bit louder, and the crowd obliged happily. Never have I seen so many smiling concert goers while a concert was happening. Nearing the end of the set Wilson jumped and stood on the railing in front of the stage and sung right into the fans in the front row’s faces, stirring the main floor crowd into a frenzy.

In retrospect, the Chief’s performance last night was unexpectedly good, but the Little Ones brought it first and brought it best. I suspect had I been a Chiefs fan before this it would have been a show of a lifetime, but as it was, I had a great Wednesday night and have a new found respect for the Chiefs. Should they come into town again, I may have to polish up on their material, and attend again with different eyes.