Ooh La Kooks Live

In the interview we did before the show, Luke said they're planning for their next album to "sound like sex." He pretty much embodied that on stage at the Doug Fir. He oozed charisma and confidence and the right amount of self-absorbtion balanced with him doling out attention to all the females in the front.

At my second concert of the night, it shocked me how well the sold out crowd knew the lyrics to their songs. During a lot of songs, I could hear the audience almost better than Luke - and it wasn't just like they sang along to the singles - no - they sang along to everything!

Luke was all over the stage, alternating guitars as well as sometimes swapping them out completely to just rock the mic and repeatedly standing at the edge of stage on monitors and singing within inches of the faces of those who were singing back.

The biggest audience reaction seemed to come during an impromptu 'Jackie Big Tits', their first song of their three song encore. It was performed by a solo Luke on acoustic guitar. This song wasn't originally supposed to be played - it wasn't included on their printed setlists taped around the stage, and was introduced by Luke saying that he "never in a million years" thought he'd be playing the song. People in front of me shook each other in astonishment that it was being performed - screaming at each other "Jackie Big Tits! Jackie Big Tits!" What an excellent thing to scream :)

In the final songs, I received nudging from the girls around me (Carrie and Marisa) and comments of "He's looking at you!" "He's looking at you!", which was rather obvious and which he confirmed by telling me that he had been after the show.
And that's what I love about a Kooks show - the connection, which I brought up to him just after their soundcheck in the afternoon. The only other time I've seen them was late 2005 supporting Editors at the Barfly in Glasgow. I had never heard a tune of theirs or even seen that much press, so I didn't know what to expect. I just stood there in awe as he endured a bit o' heckling from the back and picked one girl to sing the entire show to. It was amazing watching that unsaid connection and I was also amazed by their set - the energy, the calibur of the songs. It didn't seem like a support act had [literally] strutted onto the stage in the least. A fully formed headliner with a whole new breed of stage presence? Yes.

After they got off stage there was a rather funny/weird battle between a roadie and a gaggle of girls for the final setlist left on stage. The farce lasted several minutes and included a girl running on stage, being removed by security, girls reaching and bargaining, and then the roadie ending the ordeal by throwing it to the ground behind where they all stood resulting in a mad dash.
A boy also ran up to members of the band to plant kisses on them afterwards.

Making their way out of the venue, Luke stopped to chat, but also wanting to know what I thought of Arctic Monkey's set that he had been disappointed to miss. I compared and contrasted.

"Very diplomatic - I like that. But who got the better review? I'm very competitive."

I hemmed and hawed.

And that's the thing - they are so opposite - their live shows and pop aesthetics, that there is really no comparison to be made. But maybe Kooks took a lead - specific show versus specific show. Maybe a commanding lead. They are just too fun! And in your face engaging.

With a few more words and another kiss on the cheek goodbye, Luke was out the door as were we - the night over, but the energy still alive.

Setlist:
Sea Side
See the World
Eddie's Gun
Matchbox
Ooh La
Come on Down
Time Awaits
She Moves in Her Own Way
Oil
Sway
Sabateur
Naive
Always Where
You Don't Love Me
Jackie Big Tits
Make Love
Sofa Song

'Ooh La' Kooks MP3

Audio Interview to be posted in a couple of days

'Naive' Lily Allen Kooks cover MP3

Comments

[mark]

Thank you for the Lily Allen cover, nice write-up as well.

[mercedes]

really cool what you wrote, i'm from Argentina (south america), i love the kooks, and i hope i can feel the same thing you expressed in this note. Where are you from?
thanks !!
mercedes,

[Sarah]

Ahhh, yes. Luke is such an amazing performer. The way he connects with–well you know it all already. Anyways will you post the audio interview? Pleaseeeee :).