Miles Kane LIVE @ Brixton Academy

Much anticipation and hype surrounds the tour Miles has embarked on, his biggest headlining tour to date. This evening it comes to a head at Brixton Academy and does not disappoint. You can always count on Kane to provide a stomping, energetic, sweat inducing occasion and tonight was no different. The journey to the academy, via some pre-gig pubs of course, throws up the usual characters you expect to see at a gig for this young man from the Wirral. Paul Weller hair cuts, Fred Perry getup and enough swagger to fill Knebworth in ’96 is on the menu tonight.

As we make the ever familiar walk through the security into the intimidating main room we catch the last 2 songs from support band Family Rain, a band who themselves provide promise for the scene in the months to come. The tour DJ spins through rock n roll, Britpop and Indie classics to warm up this already well oiled crowd. Its as What’s The Story (Morning Gory) comes on the mammoth system that the atmosphere really heats up. As the rush of the crowd crams forward and pints fly through the air Miles takes to the stage and the crowd go, what can only be described as, bat-shit crazy. The young man takes to the stage and, like a whirlwind, flies his way through the opening songs all from the second album, ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’. It’s with such haste and incredible enthusiasm that he does so that all seem to blur into one, or maybe that was the pre-gig pints taking effect. The first, of many, raucous moments occur when fans favourite, Re-arrange, is played with enough venom to kill a herd.

This sets the tempo for the evening however there is the odd moment of calm and tranquillity, albeit very brief, with acoustic numbers such as the Marc Bolan sounding ‘My Fantasy’. At times like this the moshing-circles of certain death become arms around the shoulder safe havens. It’s with a fickle nature such as this that the crowd journey their way through the evening, one minute wanting to rip their counterparts head off to the next wanting to hug and serenade themwhilst declaring their undying love.

For me, and many more around the venue, the best moment comes in the form of a to The Rolling Stones half way through Give-Up. The woo-woos from Sympathy For The Devil can be heard all around the Academy and brings a nostalgic smile to many a face, however I would guess at least 90% of this crowd weren’t alive when this was first aired by The Stones I’m sure.

Finishing off the night with an encore and more specifically Come Closer Miles shows why he is a force to be reckoned with. Whilst he may not be the commercial success that his best friend and song writing partner, Alex Turner, has become his live element is a string to his bow that he can not be criticised with. Leaving the venue feels like walking away from a boxing ring having just gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson. You can see many famous musical influences in young Miles such as McCartney, Marr and Gallagher and surely this is a recipe for success?