Live Review: Kasabian, The Delta Riggs

The gatekeepers of danceable rock'n’roll were back in Australia for the release of their latest record, 48:13 – a release that sees a polarising electronica-infused return to their roots, complimented by some of their best live bangers to date.

Melbourne's The Delta Riggs opened the night with some funky neo-psychedelica just weird enough to to leave a last impression. Supersonic Casualties was a definite crowd favourite from the hour long set - everyone exploded over the epic choral hook "marching around in our marmalade shoes" - some truly weird and wonderful sounds from a rag-tag bunch of wide-brim-fedora-wearing gods. With the dreamy vocals of lead Elliot Hammond alongside some catchy guitar riffs and rhythmic bass, it felt like a very good trip.

Soon after, Kasabian made their usual dramatic entrance and launched straight into their freshest single, Bumblebeee, a five minute blast of heavy, guitar-driven melodies and lyrics that are about as complex as a bar of soap. Yet, as soon as the riff fired, everyone got amped and surged forward like a pack of wild, hungry dingoes launching into a mosh.

Next up was Shoot the Runner from 2004's Empire, and then Underdog, the lead single of West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. The crowd reacted even more fiercely - it seems if a song has ever been played on some shitty sports channel, every EPL fan in the world will know it word-by-word.

More new tracks came and went; a notable performance of Doomsday, Treat and Eez-eh between some earlier freshened up with short samples from House Of Pain, Fatboy Slim and Grandmaster Flash; with guitarist Sergio Pizzorno exemplifying his love of hip-hop by spitting some bars himself, like some deranged rock'n’roll rapper. A highlight was a mashup of Clapton's Layla and the band’s 2011 hit Re-Wired, before an encore of Switchblade Smiles, Vlad The Impaler and Fire.