Keane at the Palace Theatre

Band: Keane
Venue: The Palace
Date: 16th April 2009
Reviewed By: Espylyn

Keane are back, better than ever and taking the stage as its mission in life to reward their punters with some top notch piano rock music. Having sold over 8 million records, the UK (East Sussex) band, bring their latest album to our shores and what better way than to spend a Thursday night in Melbourne's fabulous venue, the Palace, watching a band who wants to take the stage over.

It’s been 5 years since Keane hit our shores and the crowd’s reactions tonight will tell me the band is forgiven! Keane are known for their piano song introductions using delayed and distortion effects on the keys. It was in the year 2000 when the band initially tried this different approach in the studio and it’s certainly paid off. Their first two albums have been listed as best albums of all time in certain UK magazines and they have a string of awards to add to their collection. The new album Perfect Symmetry has challenged the band and they love it!

I enter the venue and take pride in getting rather close to stage as there was a large area unfilled by punters. It didn't take me long to realize that it may have been empty due to a certain person in front of me dropping a few el-stinko's. So whilst I'm trying my best to catch the essence of the gig and not of that around me, I found I had to move about 3 songs into the set to get away from the smell! I pity those I left behind.

Keane fans are a variety of people of all ages (many with UK accents) and there is a solid crowd in the venue tonight. The punters are more than ready for the band and a grumbling through the speakers tells us its time- lights dim and out they come, Tom Chaplin on vocals and guitar (such engaging front man skills), Richard Hughes on drums, Tim Rice-Oxley on piano and tour member Jesse Quin on bass. They start the show with The Lovers are Losing which is the first single off their new album Perfect Symmetry, and Keane tell us this is their best album yet.

Everybody’s Changing is a boppy song, Tim going off like Paul Mac on keys, bopping and grooving away and spending about quarter of the time actually sitting on the stool, his performance tonight is dramatically pleasing to watch! Bend and Break takes us through some amazing light display, whilst singer Tom glides up and down the stage greeting fans and taking in the vibrant crowd. Nothing to Say is such a fantastic song, and the song is done justice live. Tom has a strong live voice which carries throughout the entire show without any form of tiredness. The song Again and Again has lyrics that glide around the room and next few songs This is the Last Time and Spiralling is music that takes me back in time to the 80's. Spiralling is a pretty song with lots of Woo’s blended into crowd participation. Keane certainly enjoy and are grateful to the crowd for clapping and cheering which is constant between songs - and loud!

The next section takes us on an acoustic edge with Tom singing Your Eyes Open then Try Again to which this song is joined with melodic keys and a big tom/bass drum that is incorporated into the tune and gives extra sound to the already defined song. Tom certainly enjoys this part of the set and the punters lap it up, they just love him!

Back to full band and lights and more grooving moves, You Haven't Told Me Anything ends with humble grins from the boys as the applause fills the room one more time. Can these boys get enough of this audience? I don’t think so! You Don’t See Me has a nice acoustic vocal start with shakers then the drum kicks in and is carried on with lush vocals delightfully wrapped in keys, the song ends with a boom and smiles galore. The album title is next, Perfect Symmetry, with sexy vocals from Tom blended with backing vocals by the rest of band, this fills the song up and it sizzles for crowd. Tom tells us we all need to raise the roof for Somewhere Only We Know which is soon followed by a high climax from Crystal Ball, definitely a stand out song. Tom is like a monkey on stage, and this song is such a funky moving song and before we know it, the thumping drums tell us the show has ended.

Thank you from all band members who leap up and clap us back and off they prowl. The crowd won’t give up, they beg for more and naturally Keane come back. Keyboard start and high vocals launch into Better Than This with jazzy snare sounds and a polished bass. Next song is delivered with bright white lights and a powerful rock start which then heads down a notch for Is it any Wonder and punters around me scream for joy. The band launch slowly into the song Bedshaped (not sure this is a fitting last song) and Tom’s vocals are still sounding glorious – his voice has barely missed a beat tonight. The crowd sing a long to this song, knowing it’s the last. Will we have to wait another 5 years? Judging from the Keane members, I don’t think so.

www.thedwarf.com.au