Kaiser Chiefs speak of Leeds United homecoming gig

Kaiser Chiefs have spoken to NME.COM after coming offstage at Elland Road.

The band played a giant homecoming show at their beloved Leeds United FC's stadium watched by 35,000 people, and admitted after planning the show for over 18 months beforehand it went beyond their hopes and expectations.

"It couldn't have been better," declared drummer Nick Hodgson. "We've planned it for a year, and when you've planned it that long you want it to work and get really into all the details, but it couldn't have gone off any better."

Hodgson added that he realised it was going to be a special show from the moment they opened with second album track 'Everything Is Average Nowadays'.

"When we came on and played 'Everything Is Average Nowadays' the reaction was unbelievable. It made us think 'This is what it's going to be like all gig'," explained the drummer.

"Plus it was great to see the new songs going down well. The crowd were just having a good time throughout the show, there wasn't any tension or fighting, everyone was singing along. It was just perfect really."

Read NME.COM's report from Kaiser Chiefs' Leeds United homecoming show now.

Earlier Kaiser Chiefs had been supported by newcomers Friendly Fires, The Young Knives, Kate Nash, who got 'love letters' from the Elland Road crowd, The Enemy and Mark Ronson, who played a surprise DJ set.

For more from Kaiser Chiefs homecoming stay tuned to NME.COM, plus look out for next week's issue of NME, on UK newsstands from May 28, for a special souvenir edition.

Meanwhile if you went to the gig, send your reviews, stories, pictures and videos to news@nme.com with Kaiser in the subject line and we will publish the best.