Kaiser Chiefs inspire fist-pumping and flag-waving alike in a boisterous turn at the Wiltern

Michelle Shiers on
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“I’m not a flag waver,” insisted Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson at the Wiltern on Saturday night as fans held out small Union Jack flags. Last year, England’s quintessential lad-rockers released their fifth studio album “Education, Education, Education & War,” but it’s still their first album “Employment” that packs the biggest live punch.

||| Photos by Michelle Shiers

They opened their set suggestively with “The Angry Mob” from 2007’s “Yours Truly, Angry Mob” as Wilson jumped up and down and tossed around the mic stand.

Kaiser Chiefs seem to have a knack for writing fist-pumpers perfect for drunken crowds who want to chant along. “Every Day I Love You Less And Less” showed off their affinity for rising “ooooohhhhs” as the crowd reached toward Wilson each time he stood on the monitor. Keyboardist Peanut Baines was called to the front to instruct the audience on how to clap for “Modern Way” and “Na Na Na Na Naa” from their most recent album boasted a kind of punk fervor that brought the room temperature up a few degrees.

The biggest sing-alongs were “Ruby,” with Andrew White’s buzzing rhythms, and “I Predict a Riot,” with Simon Rix’s ominous bass line, but it was a cover of The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” that very nearly created an actual riot for fans in the pit. They closed the main set with the moody “Coming Home” from the newest album. Unsurprisingly, much of the audience were English and one fan even held up a Leeds United flag that was eventually draped on the stage during the encore.

Based on the energy given and the energy received by Kaiser Chiefs one would never have guessed this was not a sold-out show. Wilson could no longer hold back from a little flag waving as he grabbed the Union Jack for a couple flicks during “Misery Company.” They finished with “Oh My God” from their debut with the appropriate lyrics “Oh my god I can’t believe it/ I’ve never been this far away from home.”

Kaiser Chiefs were supported by New York-based indie-rock trio We Are Scientists and Portland’s electro-pop band Priory.