T on the Fringe: Kasabian @ Corn Exchange

Aside from a stint at Ibiza Rocks (which doesn't count) and playing support to the Rolling Stones at a couple of shows, this is the first major live appearance by Kasabian since they recorded second album 'Empire', so the band are clearly anxious to see how the new material is received. Singer Tom Meighan is in an unrelentingly crowd-pleasing mood, interspersing every song with 'Thank you Ed-in-bu-ra!' and wearing a St Andrews cross around his shoulders at one point, but he crosses the line by wearing a sporran over his jeans! Of course, the packed Corn Exchange shudders to staples like Club Foot, LSF, and Processed Beats, but what of the new songs? Set-opener Shoot the Runner goes down well, as does latest single Empire, and during the encore Stuntman emerges as a future live anthem contender. By My Side and Sun/Rise/Light/Flies leave some fans bemused at their lack of energy and pace, and all in all this is a workmanlike, unremarkable gig when it should have been an occasion. Even a cover or two might have changed that.