Leeds's favourite musical sons produced a high-octane performance that brought the house down at the city's newest and biggest live music venue.

Support acts The Hair and the Red Light Company warmed the stage before the Kaisers walked out, accompanied by the opening chords of Dire Straits' Money for Nothing, to thunderous applause from the boisterous sell-out crowd.

After kicking-off with three songs from their new album, Off With Their Heads, due out on October 20, they launched into a triumphant rendition of Everyday I Love You Less And Less.

The new tracks had a grittier edge than some of their more formulaic pop songs and were performed with the kind of energetic gusto that earned them the title of best live act at the recent Q awards.

Kaiser Chiefs perhaps aren't the most ground-breaking band in the world but they do what they do better than most.

Andrew White's guitar and Simon Rix's basslines blend effortlessly with Nick Hodgson's drums and Peanut's keyboards to create their anthemic sound.

While in Ricky Wilson they have the perfect frontman to orchestrate it all.

The Leeds quintet were an inspired choice to open the new £4.5 million Leeds Academy – a venue which the city has been crying out for ever since the demise of the much-loved Town & Country Club.

And after nearly 90 minutes on stage, Wilson and co brought the party to a close with a frenzied version of I Predict A Riot that went off the Richter scale.

It was a fitting finale to a gig that will live long in the memory of those who were there.


Leeds Academy