There was support from two bands who brought out the best in each of Shikari's qualities. First up was dubstep group Engine Earz Experiment. They first came across as unnecessary and annoying with a couple of jeers in the background including "Yir Shite". However, in the last few songs they managed to win over the majority of the crowd and braved through a pretty rowdy set.
Up next were Canadian hardcore punk band Cancer Bats, who were favourites with the raucous crowd. They played a couple of their hits like Deathsmarch and Lucifer's Rocking Chair sending fans and neutrals into a thunderous mosh pit and really starting the night off. They might not have great music, but they certainly know how to get the crowd going with their energy and their interaction with the fans. People were ecstatic that this band played and I can see why. They managed to really hype up the audience who waited Enter Shikari.
Soon after Cancer Bats finished their set, there was a random old-fashioned sounding entertainment announcements, which people were confused about until it said "10 minutes til the show" leading everyone to scream. After the 10 minutes were up, the boys appeared, people screamed, people fainted, people roared. The St Albans band started off in style with their new songs merged together System...Meltdown taken from their third album A Flash Flood of Colour, warming up the crowd who were ready for some wild antics tonight. The moshpits starting with dubstep number Sssnakepit which started quite sedated for Shikari's liking and turned into riot by the end which started a string on non-stop moshes. Then some old school first album music came. They played Antwerpen before temporarily going back to the new album with rage song Gandhi Mate, Gandhi sending the fans into raptures. They reverted to the first album with their dancey anthem Labyrinth which they pause for their "intermission" as they comically come out with their own brand of beers and take a quick minute break before going back to their set. Then came two heavier songs Destabilise and Return to Energiser. Human pyramids then started to form during Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here (which I was lucky enough to top) and then everyone crouched before rising high to Gap in the Fence as frontman Rou Reynolds started an acoustic version of the song before it kicked in. They wasted no time to get into popular tune Juggernauts as the keyboard, guitars and drums all went insane along with the fans. The boys take a break for a second to allow the audience to get their breath back and includes a little humour needed for this carefree crowd. Drummer Rob Rolfe then exchanges some banter with guitarist Rory Clelow as they teased the fans before playing climate change awareness song Arguing With Thermometers with its cool chorus making everyone cheerfully joke around. They ended their normal set with Take to the Skies classic Mothership with everyone waiting on the great encore.
As they returned the screens around them turned to snowflakes and confetti fell from the ceiling as slow song and fan favourite Constellations is played to the delight of many. The tempo picks up again for Pack of Thieves and they finish on the highest of highs with Zzzonked which starts a riot and leaves everyone wowed. It was a great night, I have left with bruises and cuts and I have been amazed at what I have witnessed. Enter Shikari are quite clearly one of the best live bands.
Best Part: The Mosh Pits that occured.
Worst Part: The expulsion of "Sorry You're Not A Winner" from the setlist.
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