From the moment I entered the Barrowland Ballroom, it was clear that Kaiser Chiefs are completely unafraid of making fun of themselves. The merch stand was stocked with slightly self-deprecating and hilarious Jurassic Park-themed T-shirts, and the band were introduced on stage by a similarly themed speech thanking cloning technology for bringing their debut album Employment back to life — the very album they’re playing track by track on this tour.

Perhaps it’s easier to poke fun at your age when it’s really a celebration of a long-standing career. After more than 20 years in the business, if you can still sell out tours with ease, give loyal fans a rocking night out, and maintain high energy while playing an entire LP plus additional tracks, comparing yourself to a “dinosaur” doesn’t sound so bad. If you age well, ageing isn’t bad at all.

The band are riding the wave of anniversary tours, where long-standing acts joyfully celebrate the records that made them famous. Similarly, The Vaccines are bringing What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? back to the stage later this month. The protagonist of this tour is Employment, the LP that introduced Kaiser Chiefs to the world — and to the charts — and gave us some of their most iconic tracks: “Everyday I Love You Less and Less”, “Modern Way” and “I Predict a Riot”. There is something extraordinary about watching a band be celebrated by their most loyal fans, who sing along to these songs with the same passion they had when they were first released.

But don’t get me wrong — the crowd was incredibly diverse in age, proving that quality music truly transcends generations. This was my second time seeing Kaiser Chiefs live, after accidentally crossing paths with them at a festival in Belgium. Once again, they brought electrifying energy and pure fun to a night out.

Article: Mona Montella