ShareTom Meighan performing his The Reckoning Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Thursday 13th April 2023.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
It has been a very difficult time and a very different journey for Tom Meighan since he was sacked two and half years ago as the front man of the hugely successful band, Kasabian. And on Thursday night he took to the Rock City stage on the first leg of his solo career.
Dapperly dressed and looking every bit the rock and roll star in dark sunglasses, he came on, stood arms aloft and launched into new song Shout It Out, showing instantly that he is ever the front man that he always was.
The crowd may have been small in numbers but when the opening guitar salvo for Kasabian’s Underdog, blasted around the room, there were massive cheers from his loyal followers, who had their hands in the air belting out the lyrics.
The set list of this aptly named The Reckoning Tour showcased the incredibly inspirational songs that he has written during his personal difficult time. Songs such as Would You Mind with its haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics was a real highlight, whilst other new songs such as Acrobat, Scared, Rise, Everyone’s Addicted and Better In The Dark were bombastic rip roaring rock songs with big tune choruses.
With all of the swagger of Liam Gallagher, Meighan is still a mesmerising front man, and with his five piece band giving off immense energy, the whole set was youthful and lively. And when the Kasabian classics such as the explosive Shoot The Runner, Ill Ray (The King), the anthemic Empire and Club Foot that ended the main set, the crowd were as boisterous as ever.
The title track from his Movin’ On EP opened the encore before he closed the set with the absolute banger from Kasabian, Fire.
Two and a half years is a long time in the music industry and people have long memories. But Meighan showed that he still has the ability to get a crowd jumping and his enthusiasm for his craft means he is exactly where he should be, on the stage.