Kaiser Chiefs
The Warfield, San Francisco, CA
April 27, 2007

Veronica has a new strategy regarding show-going. If a band that she likes has a new album out, she won't listen to it before going to see them. Her thinking is that having any familiarity with the songs to be performed gives her expectations, and expectations lead to disappointment. It's seemed to work for her recently. I tell this story not because i consciously attempted this approach with Kaiser Chiefs. Instead, i followed this plan unintentionally on Friday night. I've never been a huge KC disciple. I thought "I Predict a Riot" was a good high-energy number, but didn't fawn over it. The rest of the Leeds' outfit's debut album Employment i could take or leave. When their sophomore effort Yours Truly, Angry Mob was released recently, i took a similar half-hearted listen and cast it by the wayside. Veronica however was excited to see the English rockers so we got balcony seats at for their pre-Coachella Warfield show. And amazingly, when you're not sitting with folded arms waiting to be blown away, things actually do sound pretty good. The northerners belted through a rousing set featuring their more notable songs ... the aforementioned "Riot", "Every Day I Love You Less and Less", the new single "Ruby" ... but were able to deliver even their less-celebrated album tracks with similar persuasion. I wasn't out of my seat flailing like the woman in front of us and her bizarre dancing, but i was undoubtedly impressed. Even with the touch of pretension the Chiefs seem to have borrowed from the Hives, referring to themselves as the "world famous" Kaiser Chiefs. Were they including their namesake Kaizer Chiefs football club in South Africa in that assessment? My gentle ribbing aside, i have to give props to the band for a lovely night of head bobbing. I'm a bit worried that i'm past it however ... i remember the days when getting balcony seats in the Warfield was a big drag. The floor was the place to be! Now i'm grateful that i can take a load off my feet while the band performs. Hrm ...

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