THIS year saw Kasabian reach new career heights - headlining Glastonbury and release a fourth consecutive number one album- but the Leicester band is far from winding down.

In Tom Meighan and Serge Pizzorno they have two equally compelling, mesmerizing frontmen with such stage presence that every move and sound they make provokes euphoria. With opener Bumblebee, from current studio album 48:13, Meighen pronounces he’s in ecstasy, as were fans for the rest of the night.

Halfway through the gig, Pizzorno warned the adoring crowd that things were about to get big and he was right. Dozens of beers went flying as the crowd jumped and the floors bounced all night. This was a string quartet meets psychedelic light-show night, and despite music critique snobbery labelling them as a Primal Scream-Stone Roses tribute, with a bit of Gallagher swagger, they certainly know how to deliver what the fans want.

The playlist included Shoot the Runner, Underdog, Days Are Forgotten, Eez-eh, Thick As Thieves, Empire and Where Did All The Love Go? As they pointed out, they’ve been playing Newcastle for a decade and credit the fans there for creating one of the best atmospheres of the tour each time.

Yeah they’ll say that to every arena crowd, but I cannot imagine they’ll find a more adoring or up-for-it bunch than they did on Tyneside.

The Arena was the perfect host. The encore included Vlad the Impaler and a cover of Fatboy Slim's Praise You and left the thousands rolling out onto the streets on a high and wanting more.