LIVE REVIEW: Kaiser Chiefs, Corella, Bournemouth International Centre, 26/02/2026
Photo Credit: Jack Delve
Twenty years ago, Kaiser Chiefs released their debut record Employment which was well-received and definitely considered a classic to many. Two decades later, the Leeds-based band took the album on an anniversary tour which is now entering its second year. Aptly dubbed ‘More Employment’, the tour came to Bournemouth, a town that they haven’t visited in four years. As a result of this, we knew that it was going to be a treat for the crowd.
Manchester’s Corella opened the night and immediately set the tone for the night with their loud and infectious modern rock sound. Obviously being well versed on the stage, Corella wasted no time in hyping up the crowd with audience participation, especially during the chorus of Lady Messiah and Bloom. Frontman Joel Smith showed genuine appreciation about being invited to support the tour as he reminisced about listening to Kaiser Chiefs’ first album on repeat when he was younger, bringing it full circle now that they are supporting the anniversary tour. Thanking the crowd, Smith applauded the crowd’s enthusiasm and commented that they were the best audience on the tour so far, adding that he insists that he’s only said it to them! To close their support slot, the frontman made his way off the stage to join the crowd in singing Barcelona Girl, something that may not have been possible in bigger arenas. Even though this was a sold-out gig in a large town, Corella still managed to make it feel intimate and promised to return to Bournemouth in the future! 9/10
The start of any concert is important to catch the attention of everyone in the crowd and Kaiser Chiefs have an especially unique introduction to this run of shows. A parody of the Jurassic Park films precedes any music and satirises the fact they’ve been a band for well over twenty years. They’re a well experienced band however we wouldn’t quite say Jurassic!
Quickly setting the tempo for the night, the band went into Everyday I Love You Less and Less and I Predict A Riot. Playing arguably two of the best rated songs at the start would be an interesting choice for many concerts however it became evident that the whole album would be played in full, in order, which is a perfect use of time for an album as beloved as this one. The first half of the main set has clearly become so streamlined for them as the tracks are all mainstays for the sets that we have seen before. A clear highlight for us was the extended outro of Oh My God including acapella with the crowd leading into Born To Be A Dancer. For us however, this was a sort of turning point for the album portion of the evening as the audience seemed to quiet down. It must have been noticed by frontman Ricky Wilson as he spoke to the crowd fewer and fewer times. By no means did the musical quality drop however, as the tour has entered its second year, the sound of the band has obviously refined and sounds even better than when we saw them last.
After exiting the stage and a very brief intermission, it was time for the band to play the hits but not before a thrilling cover of Blitzkrieg Pop by Ramones. Unbelievably, it fit so well into their set that it immediately energised the whole venue and even if you had never heard the song before, you would’ve assumed it was the band’s own the way the band was so comfortable playing it. Despite almost not playing Sink that Ship, a track on the recent anniversary deluxe version of Employment, Wilson dedicated the song to Stephen Mulhern after quoting ‘in for a penny…’. Nearing the end of the concert, an incredible run of tracks that included Hole In My Soul (which had a light show that might have been the best visual part of the evening) with Ruby into the closer, The Angry Mob. Fittingly, another extended acapella accompanied the concluding song, one last chance for everyone to sing along with the band without instruments. Regardless of being able to count the amount of times the frontman spoke to the crowd on one hand, it did finish with a bang. Leaving the stage for the final time without a proper goodbye from the whole band, Kaiser Chiefs undoubtedly know how to put on an entertaining show that will have countless singalongs, even for the more casual fans. You shouldn’t get a ticket expecting an overly chatty band but we always have a good time in their presence and we are definitely looking forward to what the band has coming up next. 7/10
Words and Photos: Jack Delve
