The 10 Songs We NEED to Hear on Enter Shikari's Upcoming Tour
Monday, 13 February 2023
Written by Jack Terry
Photo: Jamie Waters
Enter Shikari are back! The St Albans quartet recently announced their seventh studio album A Kiss For The Whole World (out April 21 via So Recordings / Ambush Reality) as well as a set of monthly residencies across the UK. So, ahead of their dates in London, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Bristol and Glasgow between February and April, we sifted through their six studio albums, three compilations, two remix albums and stack of singles to choose the 10 songs we NEED to hear them play.
(Pls) Set Me on Fire
An obvious choice as the lead single from ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ but the boys are probably champing at the bit to play this live. We're doing the same to hear it. From the big singalong chorus to Rou Reynolds cutting his trademark shapes in the video, this was made for an Enter Shikari live set.
The Feast
Taking it back to where it all started. This early demo rears its head from time to time and it only seems fitting for the band to pay homage to their roots once more as they usher in the age of Enter Shikari 2.0. Whatever that ends up sounding like, though, it'll be hard to shake the memory of the rough and rowdy sound they started with.
Gandhi Mate, Gandhi
As a band that has always written about politics and social injustices, it seems only fitting that they play their angriest political song while we're in the midst of such turmoil. Plus, it's an absolute rager that has sent far larger venues into raptures, so just imagine how this will go down in a more intimate setting.
Insomnia
With this spectacular live cover of the legendary Faithless tune in their arsenal, it would only be right to revisit this one to pay respects to Maxi Jazz, who sadly passed away in December. Distinctly Shikari, while maintaining everything that made the original such a classic, there won't be a soul in the room that won't let loose to this.
Modern Living…
“I’d like to welcome all my people here,” they sing over bouncing electronics and thick basslines, like a warm embrace from a dear friend. A fantastic entry onto their most recent album (2020's ‘Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’) this has all the buoyancy, urgency and fun we’ve come to expect from the band. It’s also the song that coined the term ‘apocaholics’ and honestly it’s a stroke of genius.
Dear Future Historians
A big change of pace from our other picks, this tearjerker from their 2015 album ‘The Mindsweep’ is a gorgeous, intricate ballad that strips everything back to sparse piano and Rou’s quavering voice. It’s a raw and emotional number that acts as a perfect palate cleanser and gives the crowd a chance to catch their breath while embracing those around them.
Take My Country Back
Just as Gandhi Mate, Gandhi was to 2013's ‘A Flash Flood Of Colour’, Take My Country Back was the most overtly politically-charged track from 2017's ‘The Spark’. "Don't wanna take my country back, I want to take my country forward," sounds so cathartic and passionate with a full audience backing it, and it injects just the right positive mental attitude that we so sorely need right now.
Bull
A standalone single that once again proved that Enter Shikari aren't a band to take a break, this should still be in heavy rotation, and this will be the first time UK fans have had a chance to hear it live. Add in that featured artist Cody Frost is booked as a support for the second leg of the tour, it's basically odds-on that this will be on the setlist at some point.
Wall
Only ever played live a handful of times since its release in 2009, Wall is an under-appreciated and under-utilised feel-good banger full of gang vocals. With lines about needing cohesion and breaking free of constraints imposed on us as a population, it may just be the perfect tonic for the modern world.
OK Time For Plan B
Truthfully, we'd want to hear everything off of debut album ‘Take To The Skies’, but if we have to choose, it's high time for OK Time For Plan B to make a comeback. Missing from their setlists since 2017, it'll be a treat for the OG fans and the new kids on the block alike. Now, let's open this pit up.
Enter Shikari Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed February 15 2023 - LONDON HERE at Outernet
Thu February 16 2023 - MANCHESTER New Century Hall
Fri February 17 2023 - WOLVERHAMPTON KK's Steel Mill
Sun February 19 2023 - BRISTOL SWX
Mon February 20 2023 - GLASGOW St Luke's
Tue March 14 2023 - MANCHESTER New Century Hall
Wed March 15 2023 - GLASGOW St Luke's
Thu March 16 2023 - WOLVERHAMPTON KK's Steel Mill
Fri March 17 2023 - LONDON HERE at Outernet
Sat March 18 2023 - BRISTOL SWX
Thu April 13 2023 - GLASGOW St Luke's
Fri April 14 2023 - MANCHESTER New Century Hall
Sat April 15 2023 - WOLVERHAMPTON KK's Steel Mill
Sun April 16 2023 - BRISTOL SWX
Mon April 17 2023 - LONDON HERE at Outernet
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