Going to see Kosheen is like going out with an old friend who's back in town for the night. You know; the madcap one you always used to party with. The one you haven't seen for a while but as soon as you get together you know it's going to be drinking, dancing and mischievousness all the way.
So it's hard for Kosheen to go wrong when playing live to a crowd in a city that readily nurses them as one of their own. It is hard however, for hip hop support act Afrosaxonnot to go wrong, as they throw out a rather lacklustre set to an indifferent crowd. It's Blowpop, Bristol's best and biggest breaks night, and it seems that even if they do have some rhymes of substance underneath their mostly anaemic offerings, Bristol's audience just aren't willing to work at anything without a dance beat behind it.
But as soon as Kosheen stalk on stage, the grumbling stops and welcoming cheers of relief ring out for the much missed band. In return, they launch into a blinding opening of all their Resist classics. Sian as usual, stunningly fervent in movement, voice and expression whips through drum and bass backed favourites Pride, Empty Skies and Catch, and those who have forgotten quickly remember why they bother keeping in contact with their old buddy Kosheen.
People change though, and with the release of second album Kokopelli fans realised it wasn't always going to be like the good old days. They divided into those who accepted the change, and those who refused to do anything but pine melancholically for what was.
Tonight however, there is no room for lamenters in the Academy. Kosheen debut two new tracks from the forthcoming album out early next year that prove they are intent on sticking to the rock driven path of Kokopelli. And even if they disappoint those who are still praying for a return to dance-based tunes, Overkill is promising enough. Decoder and Substance's breaks and basslines and Sian's matured lyrics give it the edge it needs to lord itself over other rock mediocrity. Whether the tracks have quite the same impact when squeezed down onto disc remains to be seen.
Then after a stormy Avalanche, and refreshing All In My Head the night is over all too quickly. But not before a fantastic rendition of Suicide, which leaves you with the feeling that as long as your mate still has the same old spirit inside, you are always going to have fun together.
