Live Review: The Kooks, The Belligerents

We would definitely pay handsomely to see a dance-off between The Belligerents frontman Lewis Stephenson and Future Islands frontman Samuel T Herring. 

Our money would actually be on Stephenson; he's got some impressive moves that are further emphasised by those debonair, formfitting navy flares - yep, Stephenson's stage presence is further enhanced when he's sans guitar. The crowd cheers when he picks up the recorder for a solo. This Brisbane five-piece silence the audience, we devote our full attention to their psychedelic sounds, which are just the right amount shambolic. Before, I Am would cause havoc on any dancefloor and an impressive amount of punters clap along during the band's stunning single Caroline, as instructed by Stephenson. Destined for greatness. 

Fellow definite article band and this evening's headliners The Kooks utilise a collage intro tape that culminates in Rock The Casbah by The Clash. "Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Da, Da, Da," singalongs punctuate the pogoing GA section during Be Who You Are, which scores a cracking reaction from those assembled. She Moves In Her Own Way ("It's not about your makeup/Or how you try to shape up"), during which frontman Luke Pritchard's British accent is accentuated, is a jangly slice of fun that inspires vivacious dancing within the audience. After the rest of The Kooks leave the stage, Pritchard takes the piano solo for See Me Now, an intensely personal song with lyrics that take the form of a letter to his late father. 

This is The Kooks' best-of tourand punters repeatedly yell out requests for their faves to which Pritchard retorts, "I promise we will play 'Naive'". His between-song banter is bland and Pritchard constantly asks, “How are you feeling?” before encouraging, "We like people on shoulders”. There’s nothing wrong with the way The Kooks play and they’re certainly technically proficient but there's a spark missing and tonight's show fails to ignite. Maybe the band cooked it at their Falls Festival appearances around the country? They seem knackered. The flashing outlines of squares/lines by way of backdrop are a bit cheap and amateurish for a band at this level as well. So we get distracted by a smug, snogging couple, especially when she actually licks his chin. 

The Shine On chorus is right up there with the most basic we've ever heard, essentially just "shine on" repeated four times. And what's with fans who shout the lyrics right in your ear, not even attempting the (admittedly meagre) melody? Main set closer, the jubilant Junk Of The Heart (Happy), is a standout and then The Kooks leave the stage without having yet played Naive. 

The crowd is hungry for an encore hollering the “oh-woah-woah-oh!” refrain from Bad Habit (a song they've already played this evening), but Pritchard's Naive comment from earlier is a bit of a spoiler since of course this fan-favourite is performed - and much appreciated - during the band's encore. 

But The Belligerents show The Kooks up tonight.