The Kooks are still riding the wave of their latest release Let’s Go Sunshine. The UK indie rock band came through New York City on their winter headlining tour which featured Future Feat and Barns Courtney as openers. It was a very cold night in the city and most fans in line skipped the coat in hopes of more comfortable dancing in the venue. A great plan because the band had fans rocking out for their entire set.
The crowd had a great warm up with Future Feat and Barns Courtney. Their high energy sets captivated all three levels of Terminal 5 and made new fans of anyone who had not heard of them before. Prior to this show I knew nothing about Barns Courtney, other than some select details I picked up on from his Instagram. A bonafide rockstar in the classic sense. His modern rock hits perfectly engaged with his swift moves, crowd pleasing engagement, and powerhouse vocals.
The Kooks went on promptly at 9:30. Their eager fans lost it as the band took the stage and opened with Always Where I Need To Be. The energy could be felt pulsating throughout the room with the rise and fall of each song. The band perfectly balanced out their set to include new favorites off of Let’s Go Sunshine and their now classic fan favorites from past records. Particularly as the band moved on to their fourth song of the night, a shift in the room could be felt. Luke Pritchard mentioned the newer record, but acknowledged that they would be playing an older one next. As the first note of She Moves In Her Own Way rang out there was a wave throughout the crowd of cheers and instant dancing.
The Kooks have an astonishing sense of self-confidence on stage and their songs will certainly be considered classics for even more years. A band that doesn’t know how to write a bad song and can translate that into an impeccable and unforgettable live show is the definition of artistry.
View photos from the electric night below. All photos by Carol Simpson. Their US tour has come to an end, but maybe you can catch them overseas? Check out their upcoming tour dates here.
Impressions Magazine 