Barns Courtney and The Kooks
Terminal 5 // New York, NY // February 28th, 2019
Photos and review by Jess Williams
Barns Courtney
On Thursday night, British indie rock band The Kooks brought their show to Manhattan’s sold out Terminal 5. The venue, sitting in the 7th ring of hell (aka 11th avenue), was packed with fans waiting for doors to open — literally, the line reached the Hudson River it was so long.
Inside the venue, fans were running to grab their spots, whether it was a floor seat or sitting on the second or third balconies with their legs hanging over. The Kooks, however, were not performing alone on Thursday night. British rocker Barns Courtney opened the show with a powerhouse energetic performance.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Barns once before and let me tell you, that man knows how to put on a show. He was quick to jump from stage to crowd and back again throughout his set, including a jumping mosh pit that he partook in from the crowd during his final song, “Fire”. It’s always such a treat to see an artist interact with their fans by bridging the gap between stage and crowd.
Though many of the front row fans were able to sing along to every Barns Courtney song, the real show was just about to begin. The lights went dark and screams erupted throughout the three-story venue as fans anticipated what was to come. The Kooks graced the stage and immediately delved into their opening song, “Always Where I Need To Be”. Lead vocalist Luke Pritchard grabbed the mic stand, tossing it to the back of the stage before twirling and dancing from stage left to right.
The band played a lengthy set of songs both new and old — after all, there is a decade and a half discography to fit into a single setlist! Fans of all ages were beaming with excitement and smiles stretching from ear to ear. The band concluded their set with their hit “Junk of the Heart (Happy)” before departing the stage for a brief moment before their encore. Fans chanted for The Kooks to come back and so they did, closing out their set with their final song of the night — the classic indie tune,“Naïve”. It was truly a night to remember!
