Sandwiched between an arena tour and the largest UK tour Enter Shikari have ever performed, we have been treated to a handful of festival appearances and intimate shows to support worthy causes.
Tonight’s show was to support Nordoff Robbins’ #GetLoud campaign. A campaign to raise awareness of music therapy and showcase how important music is to our wellbeing. The entire show was a reminder that music is an emotional outlet and a way to express feelings and thoughts. I’d be hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t relate in some way to what the artists were expressing tonight.
We kicked off the night with an incredible performance by Kamikaze Girls. A two-piece that captivated the audience with a range of songs that resonated deeply and touched on some sensitive subjects. From the relatable introduction to panic attacks in “Berlin”, through to the story of harassment throughout “KG Go To The Pub”, you had an audience that was holding onto every word. An incredible feat considering the gig was definitely “not as intimate” as the band were used to, and I’m confident they have left with many more fans.
Considering the change in venue from their last major tour, Enter Shikari have not forgotten how to put on an unbelievable show to a more limited audience. With the same level of energy you may have seen at festival and arena shows, the band bounce around a setlist spanning over 12 years with the majority of the band’s latest album “The Spark” sprinkled throughout the show.
Within the first 5 seconds of “The Sights” it was clear that tonight was going to be something special. Six hundred of Enter Shikari’s most devoted fans were singing along, almost pitch perfect to an accompaniment of strobes, synth and head-thumping drums. This theme carried on throughout the evening with the crowd barely missing a line throughout the evening.
The setlist was a perfect mix of classic Enter Shikari songs, relatable songs from their new album, the now famous quickfire round (four songs in only eight minutes) and ‘that’ cover of Faithless’ “Insomnia” coming straight out of the back of “Mothership”.
This show had absolutely everything you could want from a gig. Wanting to dance? The Gandhi Mate, Gandhi -> Mothership -> Insomnia combination was there for you. Having a bad time? Airfield is here to pick you up. Need a healthy singalong? We have the encore of Anaesthetist and Live Outside for that.
It wouldn’t be an Enter Shikari show without detailing the incredible chemistry the band showed whilst on stage. Working off the crowd’s energy and interacting with people throughout the songs instead of just standing on-stage like robots, it really shows that music is not just a job for these guys but instead is truly therapeutic for them as well. Nothing makes a crowd enjoy a show more than when the artists are also enjoying themselves as it shows in the performance.
For those who may doubt the power of music therapy, I highly suggest you make your way to a live show soon. Music is an escape and an outlet, not just for the paying crowds, but also for the artists, something that many of us take for granted when attending shows. A massive thank you to Nordoff Robbins for highlighting the importance of music once again through #GetLive and one final thank you to Kamikaze Girls and Enter Shikari for sharing your experiences with us.