Tom Meighan – the former frontman of Leicester’s legendary Kasabian, played a solo homecoming show at the weekend, in front of hundreds of loyal and wildly enthusiastic fans.
When Mr Meighan stepped out onto the stage at Aylestone’s ‘Party at the Park’, on Saturday (July 20) he was wildly received. The audience came for a party and he certainly delivered – whipping up good vibes and crazy, infectious energy from start to finish.
Strutting around in a striking black and gold jacket, he looked every inch the showman – a rock and roll star who was born to be on the stage. However, Tom’s appeal isn’t just in his easy swagger and the belting vocals which made him famous in his Kasabian hey day. He is loved just as much for his down to earth nature – his ‘cheeky chappy’ charisma and roguish charm. For all his success (and controversy), he is still Leicester through and through, and it was never more apparent than on Saturday night, when he sang and bantered his way through a 14 song set in the heart of Saffron Lane.
“It’s like a wedding,” he joked as he pointed out familiar faces in the audience. “I think I went school with half of you lot!”
It was clear that Tom was in his element, feeding off the audience and bounding about the stage with rampant energy. There were parts of his performance which were reminiscent of the great Freddie Mercury – the way he commanded the stage with forceful vocals, fist pumps and expert showmanship.
The laddish swagger of Liam Gallagher also came to the fore at times (as well as plenty of ‘f-words!’) resulting in an interesting and captivating mix.
Love him or loath him, Tom Meighan is someone you simply can’t take your eyes off – an infectious performer and a wild card who really couldn’t care less. He does his thing, and whether you are put off by the mistakes of his past (which he has apologised for extensively), you can’t deny that this guy is brilliant – a force of nature who isn’t without flaws, but one who is authentic, talented and above all, unapologetically himself.
During his Saturday set, he was joined on stage by a single acoustic guitarist, and yet not once did the performance feel empty or fall flat in any way. Tom filled the stage with his energy and huge personality. ‘Big Tom’ they call him (although I’m pretty sure this isn’t meant in the literal sense)… He is a Leicester legend – a local lad done good and one who’s never forgotten his roots.
This is Tom as we’ve never seen him before – raw, stripped back, solo and utterly unstoppable.
He showcased a mix of songs, including those from his solo album ‘The Reckoning’.
These were sandwiched between ‘Clubfoot’ and ‘Fire’ – two of Kasabian’s biggest hits. By the end of the show Tom really had set the stage on fire, with the crowd begging for an encore. However, it was one which he was unable to deliver due to licensing restrictions.
The good news is that you can catch him at Leicester’s O2 Academy, when he visits as part if his Raw ’24 tour on December 21. His new album ‘Roadrunner’, is set for release on September 13.
For more information, visit: https://tommeighanofficial.com/
By Louise Steel
