Following on from the most successful year of their career, which saw the band embark on a three-month residency tour, during which, their latest album, ‘A Kiss for the Whole World’ reached number one in the Official UK album chart, plus a headline slot at Slam Dunk Festival, Enter Shikari start off 2024 with a bang, hitting arenas around the UK for a handful of dates.
First up tonight was rising star Noahfinnce, who got the crowd warmed up with pop-punk tunes on topics ranging from “growing up on the internet” (which also happens to be the title of his upcoming debut album), Tik Tok, as well as more serious matters such as mental burnout.
Politically charged Fever 333 are up next with a chaotic set filled with songs of resistance, resilience and rage. Frontman Jason Aalon Butler is a human ball of frenetic and relentless energy, stopping only to give thanks to all the women in the crowd, as well as Fever 333 bassist April Kae and to speak up in defence of Palestine: “I’m not here to tell you what to think, I’m just here to tell you what’s going on out there”.
The visuals at this show are incredible throughout, when it isn’t confetti, or lasers, or *checks notes* Rou Reynolds appearing to dive into a 20-foot-tall water tank (yes, that happened) then it’s the giant screen behind drummer Rob Rolfe, displaying unique backdrops for each song. My own favourite of these was for ‘Sssnakepit’, as the screen morphed into a moving, luminous green depiction of the “Snake” mobile game (featured prominently on the Nokia 3310 back in the early noughties, remember that? No? When phones didn’t have internet? And had actual buttons? No? I’m old….).
Album tracks from last years ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ such as ‘Giant Pacific Octopus’ and ‘Goldfish’ are blended seamlessly with older material plus AKFTWW singles ‘It Hurts’ and ‘(pls) set me on fire’, with tracks from every Shikari album on display.
‘Jailbreak’ is another visual spectacle as lights shine from the stage to the ceiling to mimic the bars of a jail cell, during which Reynolds echoes the earlier statement from Fever 333, saying “I’m happy to be alive and on this stage, the next hour and a half is all about human connection”.
Connection is everything when it comes to Enter Shikari, as despite their ever-growing success, and the glorious grandiose theatrics on show tonight, it still some how feels intimate and personal.
Rou appears up in the rafters for a stripped back, solo version of ‘Gap In The Fence’, diverting all eyes and attention in the room to him, while unbeknownst to the remainder of the audience, the rest of the band have made their way to a small stage at the back of the standing section. Rou then makes a shock arrival in the seating section above the smaller stage, weaving his way in and amongst the crowd for a rendition of ‘The Sights’.
The rest of the set is banger after banger, with the likes of ‘Mothership’, ‘It Hurts’ and ‘Satellites’, before an encore of ‘(pls) set me on fire’, ‘Sorry You’re Not A Winner’ (*Clap**Clap**Clap*) make way for triumphant closer ‘A Kiss for the Whole World’.
Tonight was Enter Shikari at their absolute best, delivering an awe-inspiring audiovisual spectacle years in the making and one that will no doubt live long in the minds of everyone in attendance.