Tom Meighan just owns it! The second support finished but there was no big rush to reassemble an entire stage, just his guitarist plugging his effects pedals for his semi-acoustic in, a playlist taped down and a fading out of the filler music. His guitarist started playing and with his big trademark sunglasses, black and white print jacket and a big smile Tom climbed the stairs at the back corner and walked to face the crowd arms up almost triumphant, the gig hadn’t even started yet.
To cut to the chase, this guy can just instantly own a space, a crowd, a song. His energy is incredible, his voice is incredible. I’ve seen Kasabian with and without Tom and I know which I prefer, yes you expect and want to hear classic Kasabian tracks through his voice again but as a songwriter, his own music post-Kasabian stands up alongside it in equal measure.
@we.will.trampoline.gigs Tom Meighan Fire @EngineRoomsSouthampton @TomMeighan @tommeighanhq #tommeighan #kasabian #livemusic ♬ original sound – we.will.trampoline.gigs
@we.will.trampoline.gigs Tom Meighan Underdog @EngineRoomsSouthampton @TomMeighan @tommeighanhq #tommeighan #underdog #kasabian #livemusic ♬ original sound – we.will.trampoline.gigs
This is not someone who I believe is not trying to live off his past success with his former band although the setlist does suggest otherwise, this is a singer songwriter trying to carve his own way, the Kasabian songs are a perfect gateway to his new music.
Club Foot (Kasabian)
Don’t Give In
Rise
Days Are Forgotten (Kasabian)
Underdog (Kasabian)
stevie (Kasabian)Thick as Thieves (Kasabian)
Goodbye Kiss (Kasabian)
Better Life
Where Did All the Love Go? (Kasabian)
L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever) (Kasabian)
Empire (Kasabian)
Movin’ On
Fire (Kasabian)
Only four songs of his own from a fourteen song playlist, they hold their own in there. ‘Don’t Give In’ and ‘Rise’ sounded great and what a track with ‘Better Life’. Finishing off with ‘Movin’ On’. Maybe there are some messages in there. The more he tours and the more he writes you know the balance with shift towards a Tom Meighan setlist with four Kasabian classics in there as nostalgic crowd pleasers.
It didn’t look like a sold out gig which I expect is still part of his struggle he has with ‘cancel culture’. But this night is proof he is using what he knows how to do to push forward. From a musical point of view his fall from grace was a sad day as Kasabian with him were a force of nature. His new music including “Better Life’ which he openly stated he wrote for his now wife possibly attempts to atone for the past to her and to his fans. Time will tell.
He’s off to play the Isle of Wight festival this weekend. He’s on in the Big Top at the same time as Stereophonics. That’s a big headliner to miss but the Big Top will be rammed for sure and with that size crowd and those Kasabian tracks it will be immense.
