November 14, 2008 23:27

Kasabian preview new album with help from U2

The Edge comperes band's acoustic set for Mencap in London

Photo Gallery: Kasabian

Kasabian previewed tracks from their album in London tonight (November 14) after being introduced on stage by U2's The Edge.

Taking part in Mencap's series of Little Noise Sessions shows at the Union Chapel, the band played an acoustic set as they headlined the night.

Opening with 'Processed Beats', the band worked in lyrics from The Kinks' 'You Really Got Me' as the audience rose up from the pews to dance along.

"We were shitting ourselves," admitted frontman Tom Meighan of the stripped down set as he introducing first new song 'Fast Fuse', "but you guys make us feel invincible!"

B-side 'Black Whistler', fronted by guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, followed, before they performed a "romantic" cover selected especially for the night - The Velvet Underground's 'Who Loves The Sun'. Then a second new track, 'Thick As Thieves', was then previewed.

'Empire' triggered a mass sing-a-long, ahead of 'The Doberman', before Kasabian covered Del Shannon's '60s classic 'Runaway'.

The band then wrapped the show up with another cover - The Beatles' 'Why Don't We Do It In The Road?', before closing matters with a bluesy version of their own 'LSF'

Earlier the band had been introduced onstage by The Edge who stood in as compere, supporting Mencap's Don't Stick It, Stop It campaign aimed at stopping school bullying of special needs students.

"They support a really crap football team (Leicester City), their music is OK," joked the U2 guitarist. "They don't have echo on their guitars and they haven't written any songs about '60s civil rights leaders."

Kasabian played:

'Processed Beats'/'You Really Got Me'
'Shoot The Runner'
'Fast Fuse'
'Black Whistler'
'Who Loves The Sun'
'Thick As Thieves'
'ID'
'Me Plus One'
'Empire'
'The Doberman'
'Runaway'
'Why Don't We Do It In The Road?'
'LSF'

Support had come first from The Hours, who The Edge introduced as "gobby and charming", and The Reverend, whose set included a cover of Bob Marley's 'Them Belly Full (But We Get Hungry)' which worked in lyrics from The Good, The Bad & The Queen's 'History Song'.