IT was a case of lights, camera, Kooks when the Brighton boys rocked-up at The Apollo in Manchester.
Because, not only were they playing to a packed audience of die-hard fans but an ITV film crew were on the sidelines filming for the new series of police drama Blue Murder.
An usual choice for a mainstream production company one might think, but not so now with The Kooks rapidly entering the mainstream arena with each and every guitar-pop hit they churn out.
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The band burst on stage with their current hit Always Where I Need to Be, from the long awaited "difficult second album", Konk. But there was nothing difficult about their performance as the venue erupted in a wave of crowd jumpers and girls climbing the shoulders of the nearest strongest men.
The new material went down a storm with fans who bought the album just seven days previous and already knew every word. Mr Maker, a pop bag blend of catchy lyrics and a sweet story to tell, was one of the highlights.
But for the fans, mainly students, who had not managed to bag themselves a copy, the band managed their set list well, integrating the old and new school Kooks to suit every taste.
Naïve, from 2006's Inside In/Inside Out, was easily one of the biggest crowd pleasers. Indie rockers, complete with side-swept fringes and skinny jeans (and that was just the boys), jumped in harmony, screaming the hit back in the face of the band, in a "we know the song better than you" kind of way.
Left to fly solo, lead singer Luke took to the stage to give haunting renditions of Seaside and One Last Time.
The second half proved even more indie rock and roll than the first. The sweat was flying and more and more revellers were thrown out for crowd surfing.
More tracks from the number one second album ensued. Do you Wanna and See the Sun were instant hits, but it was Shine On which really got us going.
From the outset it was Inside In/Inside Out that people were really there for. I want it Back and Ooh Laa were greeted with rapturous applause, as was Jackie Big Tits and the beautiful Time Awaits.
She Moves in Own Way sang the band, and they certainly did. With Luke giving us one last euphoric performance, while stage diving into the unsuspecting crowd during Eddie's Gun.
Drum sticks flew through the air, and as the TV crew packed up, The Kooks sauntered off into the sunset, leaving nothing left to do but wipe the sweat off our faces and the beer off our shoes.
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Kat Dibbits
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