Live Review: Kaiser Chiefs – Employment in Perth 2025
23 November 2025 at the RAC Arena in Perth
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
The live alter ego of Kaiser Chiefs is an entirely different beast from their recorded persona. But first…
The five-day Test Match between Australia and England wrapped up in just two days, leaving the travelling Barmy Army short on bang for their buck and restless for entertainment. Luckily, they found a place to skylark beyond the pubs – at Perth’s RAC Arena, where the UK’s Kaiser Chiefs returned last night to mark the twentieth anniversary of their debut album Employment, performing it in its entirety.
The album was released in 2005, becoming one of the defining records of the mid‑2000s British indie rock scene. While the record was a massive success in the UK – reaching No. 2 on the Official Albums Chart and becoming the fourth best‑selling album of 2005, it climbed to No. 23 on the ARIA charts, reflecting the band’s growing but still niche following in Australia at the time.
From the entrance to the bar, the atmosphere was unmistakably English, echoing the feel of Perth’s northern suburbs long before the first chords of British indie rock rang out. Thousands of fans poured in, their voices carrying heavy accents from Cockney to Leeds, many proudly wearing white shirts emblazoned with the iconic “Three Lions” crest. Afterall, Kaiser Chiefs are considered “Leeds legends” and have contributed significantly to the city’s music scene. Their success has helped put Leeds on the map for indie rock, and their songs – such as “I Predict a Riot”- are often seen as anthems for the city and its fans.
The Australian tour opened in Perth with an intimate setup, the stage pulled closer to the sound desk to shrink the distance between band and audience. Around 4,000 fans packed into RAC Arena, a respectable turnout for a Sunday night, creating a club‑like atmosphere inside a world‑class venue
When the lights dimmed and the opening riff of Everyday I Love You Less and Less rang out, the crowd erupted. As for this first timer and for many in the crowd, we were drawn by the lead vocalist, Ricky Wilson, a frontman who refused to stand still. He was mesmerising and captivating thanks to his on-stage shenanigans. He zipped across the stage in a three-dimensional spectacular. By the second track in I Predict a Riot, he was jumping as if he had ants in his pants, and swinging his wired mic like how an ’80s rockstar would in the heydays of rock. His energy, playful banter, and ability to orchestrate sing-alongs and engage the crowd transformed the arena into an English drunken kareoke experience, and with the intimate setting, everyone felt the proximity. And there were plenty of sing-alongs. He grinned and occasionally hand-punched in the air like the late Freddie and sometimes stretched his arms like the Christ the Redeemer while standing high at the edge of the platform.
Each track of the album was delivered with conviction and animation, from the riotous energy of I Predict a Riot to the cheeky bounce of Na Na Na Na Naa. Even the deeper cuts, like Born to Be a Dancer and Team Mate, carried significant weight, proving that this record was never just about the hits. The demographics spanning across six decades were committed to the mood, as self-appointed backups, including a young lady pressed against the front with a kid whose head could barely reach the top of the crowd barrier.
The band was tight, clearly relishing the chance to revisit the album that launched their career. Guitarist Benjamin Witt (of The Chemist, Romeo Walker, Gun Fu, replacing Andrew White who’s on sick leave for the Australian leg) and keyboardist Peanut Baines added texture and flair, Simon Rix’s bass anchored the boom boom base, and Vijay Mistry’s drumming kept driving, occasionally standing and waving to the crowd. Together, they sounded raw, and despite the Arena venue, the atmosphere felt like a massive club.
The screen visuals were occasionally trippy such as a cat with glowing green eyes appeared to be hanging from a ledge, optic blasting whoever is in its way. while another cat reached upward.
When the final notes of Team Mate faded after an hour of play, images of them were superimposed against a cartoon Jurassic Park surrounding, a link to their Glastonbury 2025 entrance when the band kicked off their set with the Jurassic Park theme tune. The five left the stage briefly before returning for a six-song encore. They opened with a cover of the Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop before diving into Never Miss a Beat and Hole in My Soul.
For the commercial listeners, the arrival of Ruby was met with cheers. As for this writer, it reminded him of David Letterman, who hosted the band over two decades ago on The Late Show. The lighting went into overdrive, sweeping across the floor and to the tiers.
The night closed with The Angry Mob, before he stood on the high boom box again for the Christ the Redeemer pose. The LED screen in the background evolved into a fiery spectacle, a perfect juxtaposition of the band that has stood the test of time.
Kaiser Chiefs celebrated a milestone and entertained us through all our senses. The show carried the energy of a packed nightclub, amplified by the world‑class sound system of RAC Arena. For a reviewer who had prepped by running through the setlist on Spotify, the live experience was a revelation – Kaiser Chiefs were far more powerful, dynamic, and exhilarating in person than any recording could suggest.
Kaiser Chiefs are playing across Australia. Tickets are available from Live Nation Australia and Secret Sounds.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank revolutions per minute, Live Nation Australia and Secret Sounds for the Media Accreditation
About the writer/photographer: The founder of Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) has been accredited to more than 200 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), Metallica, Backstreet Boys, KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK and Suzi Quatro with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Roxette, Tina Arena, UB40, Delta Goodrem, Leo Sayer and Tina Arena on social media. He has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 70 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Radio as a music journalist.
