LIVE: The Kooks at Manchester Academy

Forming back in Brighton in 2004, indie four-piece, The Kooks, returned to Manchester on April 21st for a second night of their tour to celebrate their upcoming album, ‘The Best of…So Far.’

Although it’s been over ten years since the release of their debut album ‘Inside In Inside Out’ in 2006, the gig became a night of nostalgia that everyone desired- with the band taking the audience on a journey through their biggest hits of the past ten years.

The support set from Liverpool born band, Clean Cut Kid, couldn’t go unnoticed by the crowd- delivering a faultless upbeat performance with infectious harmony hooks from husband and wife duo, Evelyn and Mike; not forgetting Saul and Ross who complete the four-piece wonderfully. Complemented by glistening choruses, the tracks ‘Vitamin C’, ‘Make Believe’ and ‘We Used To Be In Love’ receive the best reception from the crowd.

Following their set, an enormous large sheet draped over the stage as anticipation built for the arrival of The Kooks. It wasn’t long before the lights dimmed and blue and red stage lights lit up the sheet, exposing the silhouettes of Luke, Hugh, Alexis and Peter, better known as The Kooks.

Plunging into ‘Eddies Gun’, the band had the audience in the palm of their hands- instantly taking them on a blast to the past with their debut single they released in 2005. Twelve years later and the track doesn’t seem to date, as the audience pogo along to the buoyant melodies.

The 24-track set list was predominantly dominated by the debut album, ‘Inside In/ Inside Out’, but it was also the album that the audience seemed to be craving- reminiscent of the audience’s teenage years. ‘I might get emotional at this next one,’ Luke Pritchard exclaimed, as he clutched onto his acoustic guitar, before playing the first memorable chords of ‘She Moves In Her Own Way.’

The band also played a handful of tracks from ‘Konk,’ ‘Listen’ and ‘Junk of the Heart,’ keeping the crowd entertained with variation throughout their one hour and 45 minute set.

Pritchard silenced the crowd with a thought provoking keys performance of ‘See Me Now’, explaining how he penned the song as a letter to his late father- making it equally as memorable as the lively tracks on the set list.

‘Seaside’ also wasn’t forgotten amongst the set list, sparking a unanimous sing-a-long that radiated throughout Manchester Academy nearing the end of the set, before the band bowed out with ‘Always Where I Need To Be’ and ‘Junk Of The Heart (Happy).’

Although it wasn’t quite the end of the show, the crowd were still eagerly anticipating the band to play their notoriously popular track, ‘Naïve’. Chants engulfed the crowd, before The Kooks embarked up on the stage to play a final three tracks.

But despite not only ‘Naïve’ stealing the show, a surprisingly great handful of tracks played throughout the evening also stole the show- demonstrating that The Kooks are force not to be reckoned with, constantly having the ability to churn out timeless classics that everyone knows and loves. Taking one final bow, The Kooks proved they have a right to celebrate ‘The Best of…So Far,’ hopefully with many more years to follow.