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CONCERT REVIEW – KEANE
Riviera Theatre
Chicago, Ill.
February 17, 2005
Entertainment
Art
Story by JON SINGER
Photos by LYLE A. WAISMAN
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To many, Keane is the latest Radiohead clone from England. But the band has super-catchy songs, and you can never have enough of those.
Coming to Chicago fresh off their "Saturday Night Live" appearance which Paris Hilton hosted, Keane gave their 20-something audience a great show. The fact that the band is only a trio, and lacked a guitar of any sort, didn't thin the group's sound. Excellent drumming from Richard Hughes and keyboard work from Tim Rice-Oxley perfectly complemented vocalist (and sometimes keyboardist) Tom Chaplin.
Chaplin shared a carefree view of life at times. He introduced the hit "Everybody's Changing" by saying "Jump around, have a good time. This song is about not giving a shit about what other people think." He also shared that "She Has No Time" is "About a girl who made my life a fucking misery." But Chaplin offered smiles to the crowd, too. He was not a downer. He also transformed his schoolboy looks into those of a rocker in control of the mic and crowd.
The one negative to Keane, on disc and live, is their more introspective and sloooow songs. Keane had to wake up the crowd after songs such as "Hamburg Song." Luckily, Keane has just enough great songs that they were able to do that. Highlights included "Bend and Break" and "This is the Last Time".
Wrapping the show, Keane came back with "This is the Last Time" and "Bedshaped" for the encore, and they did a classic British bow while standing arm in arm at the front of the stage.
Throughout the one-hour show, the group showed a genuine appreciation to be with the Windy City crowd.
"This was a great place to play," Chaplin said near the end of the show. "But we've been here all day, and no one was here. It's nothing without the people. It's all about the people and the band coming together."
PARTIAL SET LIST:
1. "Can't Stop Now"
2. "Everybody's Changing"
3. "Sunshine"
4. "Snowed Under"
5. "We Might As Well Be Strangers"
6. "Bend and Break"
7. "Nothing in Your Way" (new song)
8. "Hamburg Song"
9. "Your Eyes Open"
10. "She Has No Time"
11. "Somewhere Only We Know"
ENCORE:
12. "This is the Last Time"
13. "Bedshaped"
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