Tom Meighan has had his ‘Reckoning’ and is ‘Movin On’, but still on ‘Fire’ in Leeds

Words and Photos – John Hayhurst

This is my last gig of 2024 and what a show to bow out on. It takes some serious balls to come back from the social dead and launch your first solo album, after having been sacked by your hugely successful band, admitting an alcohol fuelled assault of your partner (Vikki Ager), serving 200 hours unpaid community service work and suffering a mental health breakdown as a result.

Fast forward from that very depth of Tom Meighan’s fall several years ago, where he was effectively condemned or cancelled by today’s culture, to see him now standing back on a live stage, smiling, fighting in the right way, and backed by some intensely loyal followers, is nothing short of a miracle, a resurrection of sorts, and my have we missed him.

Many continue to foolishly boycott his shows, but I’ve never seen such energy from the off, the band he has backing him are immense, youthful, lively and have more spark than the last 3 Kasabian shows I’ve seen put together. He bounds on to the stage jumping straight on the monitors, open arms, shades on and beckoning the crowd in, to what will be an intense hour and a half.

Any doubts about whether Meighan’s band can cut it with Kasabian’s hits are eradicated as the opening guitar salvo for ‘Underdog’ is blasted across the hall, cue massive cheers, hands in the air and the lyrics now totally fitting the current situation “Kill me if you dare, hold my head up everywhere, keep myself right on this train” refusing to be beaten by the troglodyte media, our underdog will fight till the death to get back to full concert halls.

Meighan immediately showcased his enduring charisma and stage presence, he delivered a dynamic set that seamlessly blended his new solo material with classic hits from his previous band, much to the delight of the audience. The setlist is carefully curated, he doesn’t play more than 3 solo songs in a row before hitting the hall with a Kasabian classic like “Shoot the Runner,” “Empire,” or “Club Foot”.

Meighan plays 7 new songs, from his new and unreleased album ‘Roadrunner’, including “Better Life” and “Headcase” that are available on streaming platforms. Newer material “Would You Mind” and “Rise,” were well-received, indicating his ability to craft compelling music beyond his previous band’s repertoire. The future does indeed look bright if people will just give him a second chance. This is such a bombastic rip roaring rock show, with all the bright lights and big tune choruses you can muster.

The evening concluded on a high note with an encore featuring “Movin’ On” and the explosive Kasabian hit “Fire,” leaving the audience in high spirits. Meighan’s return to the stage in Leeds demonstrated his resilience and passion for music, reaffirming his rightful place as a formidable frontman presence in today’s rock scene.