Live Review + Gallery | Kaiser Chiefs @ Bristol Sounds

Kaiser Chiefs | Lime Garden

Bristol Sounds

26th July 2025

Photography by Sam Wilson

Amelie Peters

Writer/designer and sub-editor for Epigram. If you wish to summon me, say something relatively pretentious about post punk music three times, click your heels and I’ll appear.

Supported by Lime Garden, Kaiser Chiefs aren’t afraid to play their many hits at their headline Bristol Sounds set

Clouds loom over the previously sun-stroked harbor side, the grey moodiness of the sky threatening to spread its disillusionment on spectators through cold droplets. This doesn’t deter the crowds gathered to sing the infectiously poppy tunes of the Kaiser Chiefs. Decked out in colorful ponchos that’d make Anna Wintour weep, the repetitive notes of the Kaiser Chiefs deflect the rain or, probably more accurately, makes the audience forget that their clothes have taken on an extra ten pounds.

Opening for the band is the Brighton four-piece Lime Garden, self-described as ‘wonk pop’, a term that I’m sure breeds clarity in their musical direction. The ear-worm melodies and diverse blend of styles create a fresh, upbeat performance, chosen to open perhaps for their intensely poppy nature, the band whilst fresh, needs coherence in direction. With an obviously extensive repertoire of influences, their debut album ‘One More Thing’ is a perfect example of nominative determinism.

Lime Garden’s lates single ‘Love Song’ stands out, with its heavy synth influences and broken-up pop lyrics, the youthful teenagehood that entwines itself within the lyrics is incredibly sweet and reminiscent of the Disney Channel. Wonderfully fresh, feminine and with so much potential, Lime Garden are figuring out who they are musically and it’s wonderful to see.

Known for their high-octane performances and easily regurgitative lyrics everyone knows the words to, Kaiser Chiefs open with ‘I Predict A Riot’ and ‘Ruby’. Whilst every band wants to begin a set with a bang, I question the choice to play the most popular two first. The succession of the two hits lead to a fantastic ten minutes but pulled energy levels up too quickly, rather than a climactic build that could have led to an incredible level of energy and a possible mosh pit; the climax of the night was right at the start.

Having heard the valour and praise of the band from my parents and their friends, the crowd I expected was not present. Instead of the aged and long-lasting fans I’ve come across at their other gigs, the group I encountered was much younger and much more inclined to point up in the air: I’m still at a loss for why.

A key point that captures my awe is the band’s musical evolution, having enjoyed the various new albums and singles. But having the opportunity to hear the first album live in its entirety is a treat I believe more bands should give their fans. Unabashedly playing their hits and the songs that garnered them such an audience, Kaiser Chiefs swerve from the entitled superiority many bands fall akin to. The care for the fans and the avoidance of pretentious artistic whims is lovely and sadly rare in this musical age.

I particularly enjoyed the cover of The Ramones’ ‘Blitzkrieg Bop‘, the dulcet tones of Ricky Wilson, a man who looks like he belongs as an American game show host, lend themselves beautifully to the song and the added Kaiser Chiefs zeal made the swirling poppy hit fantastically their own.

As the night comes to a close, the heavy resounding bass of ‘Reasons To Stay Alive’ echoes around the haloed stones of the Amphitheatre and the crowd sways like a zombie hoard to the deep energetic riffs.

The tension in the crowd builds to the last note of the second to last song, then ‘The Angry Mob’ plays and the crowd becomes and behaves just as the song says. The sun long set, the moon shines down and places the entire audience into a trance-like state influenced only by the fluctuations of the band.