Concert Review: The Kooks in Washington
The Kooks at the Anthem in Washington, DC 3/13/24
Review & photos by Sally Watanabe // Gallery
Seeing the Kooks for the first time live was an experience I had been anticipating for years. Since the release of “Inside In/Inside Out” taking the world by storm, the Kooks have established themselves as one of the most consistently adored genre bending groups over the past decade and a half. Formed in the UK, the band has released 6 studio albums while experimenting with indie, synth-pop, funk and progressive rock sounds.
Returning to North America, The Kooks graced the Anthem in Washington D.C. with their presence along their winter tour. With Daisy the Great and The Vaccines warming the crowd up, The Kooks were eagerly greeted by a packed theater running three floors high.
Nonchalantly, the lead singer, Luke Prichard emerged from the dark plumes of smoke alone to take a stand on center stage. The crowd became absolutely silent as he began singing “Seaside” with just his guitar and a microphone— and you could hear a pin drop inbetween phrases.
The entire performance was theatrical, playful and sparked high levels of engagement from the crowd. It was clear to anyone watching that Luke was laying out his entire heart out on the stage, leaping and bounding from one place to another with infectious energy. For several songs, such as “Bad Habit”, he started off with a call and response to the crowd, hooking them on the initial melody and leading us together into a fully embodied chorus.
The set list ranged from groovy disco tunes such as “Westside” to introspective tracks, flavors of nostalgic spice, and feel-good classics like “Junk of the Heart”. The band acknowledged that some of these classic songs led them to travel the world and play at places like Washington, D.C.
They kept it interesting, switching out instruments, checking in with the crowd, and just letting loose to have an amazing time on stage. There were guitar solos, drum solos, and beautifully clear and uplifting vocals.
One of the things I always appreciate about artists is when they can exhibit a dynamic range of music in their set. Upbeat and energetic songs had the crowd jumping and dancing, but there were also slow songs where the audience rocked side to side and leaned into their feelings. The Kooks have a strong foothold in the ability to create electrifying soundscapes with resonant lyrics that speak to the soul.
Before introducing one of their songs, Luke took a moment to pause things and reflect on some lessons learned. He shared the advice “you know sometimes, as you get older, you just gotta let things go… forgive and forget”.
After they performed their last song of the set, Junk of the Heart, the crowd held an applause and continued to howl for minutes on end. The intense energy was magnetic, and barely anyone moved from their spots. Soon enough, the band appeared to play two final songs, including the classic, “Naive”. With one final bow to an extremely grateful audience, The Kooks departed and continued on their tour of the world, letting their passion for the music bring happiness to all.