First For Music News

NME Festival Guide
2009

Kasabian turn massive Glastonbury crowd into giant choir

Pyramid Stage crowd are 'on fire' for anthemic set

Kasabian turned one of the biggest crowds so far at this year's Glastonbury festival into a giant choir tonight (June 27).

Such was the size of the crowd at the Pyramid Stage that it swamped the festival's biggest field as the group kicked off their set.

Taking to the stage with the intro of 'Underdog' already playing, Kasabian coolly picked up their instruments and launched straight into the opening track of latest album 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum'.

It wasn't long before the audience were called into service as a giant choir of backing singers.

"Hello Glastonbury, how are you?" frontman Tom Meighan greeted the crowd after the first song, before adding: "Is this fucking beautiful or what?"

The group then launched into 'Cutt Off', which, along with 'Empire', had the crowd singing along loudly early on.

The band showcased several songs from their recent Number One album, including an intense version of instrumental 'Swarfiga', during which Meighan launched his tambourine into the packed crowd, and a groove-heavy version of 'Fast Fuse'.

Guitarist and songwriter Sergio Pizzorno then took over vocal duties for 'Empire' track 'Me Plus One', before Meighan and a trumpeter returned for 'The Doberman', which saw the frontman change the lyrics to appreciate "those perfect Glasto skies".

In the brilliant late evening sunshine, it was the giant crowd's turn to shine next, as they bounced along, singing loudly to recent single 'Fire'.

'Vlad The Impaler' built the intensity further, before the audience exploded for 'Club Foot', dancing and singing along.

'Stuntman' kept the sea of people dancing, before the band cranked up yet another notch.

"You've been fucking awesome, unbelievable!" Meighan told the field of would-be backing singers. "This is the best festival in the world!"

The band then performed a cover of Candi Staton's 'You Got The Love', which led into 'LSF'.

The latter drew the loudest sing-a-long of the set, with many of the crowd still singing the song's anthemic refrain after the band had left the stage.

Kasabian played:

'Underdog'
'Shoot The Runner'
'Cutt Off'
'Processed Beats'
'Empire'
'Where Did All The Love Go?'
'Swarfiga'
'Fast Fuse'
'Me Plus One'
'The Doberman'
'Fire'
'Vlad The Impaler'
'Club Foot'
'Stuntman'
'You Got The Love'
'LSF'


NME.COM is coming live from Glastonbury throughout the 2009 festival. Stay tuned for the latest news, pictures, blogs and video interviews.

Head to our NME Festivals section for the latest Glastonbury picture gallery, and check out the NME Festivals Glastonbury blog for dispatches straight from Worthy Farm. For all of our coverage go to the Glastonbury 2009 homepage now.

Plus make sure you get next week's issue of NME, on UK newsstands from July 1, for the ultimate Glastonbury 2009 review.

Kasabian tickets:

More Kasabian tickets

 

More News

 

Comments (2)

Add a comment

awc29 

Jun 30, 2009

why have you not mentioned the sound problem?! was very dissapointed as i was in the front barrier and couldnt hear vocals and guitar barely at all, even the band looked pissed off at how crap the sound was and how bored the crowd looked!

Beaver89 

Jul 11, 2009

I agree, Kasabian were my highlight of the weekend and so got down the front and couldn't hear them at all. It took me 2 minuted to notice they were on stage so quickly moved back through the crowd whereat least we could hear it but it wasn't much better.That said it was the only sound problem of the weekend that I noticed. Just sod's law it happened during my favourite!

Add your comment

Pic: Andy Whitton

Pic: Andy Whitton

Listen to full tracks now. Users outside the UK can hear 30-second clips of each song.

Free weekly music news, videos and MP3s in your inbox: