Acoustic Indie Rock in Cuban Heels
The Kooks performed an outstore in support of their new album ‘Never/Know’ at the 1865 in Southampton last night for Vinilo Record Store. No frills no support just two guitars in front of a sold out crowd.
For a band that formed in 2004 releasing the first album ‘Inside In / Inside Out‘ in 2006. It was great to see a split of older and young in the audience, dare I say a good number in the crowd in groups were not even born in 2004 so great to see The Kooks music transcends generations and is definitely still relevant.
My first Kooks live experience was main stage at The Isle of Wight Festival in 2017, a great performance in the sunshine that cemented my appreciation for the band beyond the recordings.
Setlist
- Sofa Song
- Ooh La
- She Moves in Her Own Way
- Compass Will Fracture
- Stormy Weather
- Sunny Baby
- If They Could Only Know
- Seaside
- Junk of the Heart (Happy)
- Never Know
- Always Where I Need to Be
- Naïve
Unlike a lot, not all of record store instores where you get a thirty minute snapshot of a new album sandwiched between a few fan favourites, outstores generally guarantee a good hour set which is what we got and they delivered it brilliantly.
It may have been no frills but Luke Pritchard was the perfect performer, not many can pull off Cuban heels and still maintains a mop of hair that makes most of us jealous. But seriously just effortless vocals and guitar that delivered that Kooks sound we all wanted. I’ve posted a couple of Tik Toks from the night so take a look (once you finished reading obviously)
The night was also a great reminder how good a guitar player Hugh Harris is, the outstore was billed as acoustic but nobody minded his semi-acoustic which like his band mate he played effortlessly throughout looking more relaxed than most in a day at the office.
The crowd lapped it up, the setlist was a perfect mix of old and new, well curated for a night like this and most were singing along start to finish.
Thanks Vinilo for another great outstore and thanks to The Kooks for a great night. And best day thanks to The 1865 for being what it is, a great local venue.
If you’re reading this, thanks for getting to the end and it would be great if you would comment, take a look at past articles and maybe share with friends, the socials are worth it as well.
