It’s not surprising that in 2004, the Guardian compared new British ballad hopefuls Keane to Coldplay, similarly sensitive souls minus the guitars. The latter band’s A Rush Of Blood To The Head appeared two years prior and was highly favoured around the world for its churning, free-flowing writing style and for being easy on the ear. And so, I can imagine for a Battle, East Sussex-established, schoolfriend-formed project like Keane, there was nail-biting expectation from businessmen in suits when it came to a debut album.
Luckily, Keane’s firstborn Hopes And Fears not only became the biggest-selling UK album of that same year but also stood the test of time, becoming one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history – something vocalist Tom Chaplin expressed gratitude for onstage at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on Wednesday night to a sold-out room.
Though absent from 2013, taking a five-year hiatus, the band is currently celebrating 20 years of their debut with a national tour, supported by Wigan’s The Lathums. Though fronted by a brilliant vocalist in Alfie Moore, effortlessly strong in delivery, I couldn’t help feeling like I was waiting for something more than the jangly, folk-influenced indie rock on offer.
Showtime for the headliners, and though committed to playing Hopes And Fears in its entirety, Keane went above and beyond in terms of setlist, arty visuals, lighting, and crowd involvement. An additional platform allowed Chaplin, plus bassist Jesse Quin and pianist Tim Rice-Oxley, to move around the arena effortlessly; a second stage sees the three musicians performing separately from drummer Richard Hughes for crowd favourite Somewhere Only We Know later in the set. Frontman Chaplin also took the time to reminisce between songs, speaking of times early on when the band visited Cardiff nightclub of yore Flares, which has a Yelp review stating “I cannot think of anywhere in Cardiff I would rather go less”.
In terms of songs, She Has No Time is a set highlight – not only for the composition itself but also Chaplin’s soaring falsetto and the atmosphere the song created in the arena. Post-Hopes And Fears stopoffs included the much-needed energy sources of Is It Any Wonder, Crystal Ball and Spiralling.
Before leaving the stage for good and pronouncing Cardiff as the best singers of the tour, Chaplin looked forward to another 20 years of Keane. Masters of pop ballads and highly favoured by many in attendance – many older fans, some clearly newer – if tonight was anything to go by, the longevity of Keane’s biggest songs should outlive the band themselves. And if we know anything about British music, reunion tours and 00s nostalgia combined make for guaranteed big sellers and will continue to for some time.
Keane, Utilita Arena Cardiff, Wed 8 May
words EMMA WAY photos RHYS HAFOD [Instagram]
