Fans rewarded by Chiefs

Kaiser Chiefs fans travelled far and wide to see the first of two gigs in Wolverhampton.

See also: Chiefs go down a storm

More than 3,000 revellers raised the roof when the five piece from Leeds performed their distinctive brand of indie rock for the first of two sold out gigs at the Civic Hall last night.

Some music lovers had spent hours getting to the concert from Milton Keynes, Coventry, Kenilworth, Stoke and Birmingham, as well as from within the city and surrounding areas.

And the North Street venue was buzzing with excitement as they packed in to see the biggest band to play there so far this year.

For Michelle Darby, aged 19 and from Telford, it was "the most amazing birthday present" as she had been a fan of the band for the last two years.

"When they first came out they were totally different and brought something new to the table and they just get everybody going," she said.

Phil Jack, 40, of Kenilworth, said it was the first gig he had seen at the Civic Hall since Blondie many years ago and it was well worth a visit.

"It is a great place for a gig and we were lucky with the tickets," he said.

"We really wanted to see the Kaiser Chiefs because they are the kind of group that take us back to when we were young and the great bands that were around then."

Colette Barratt, 46, of Birmingham, only found out it was the Kaiser Chiefs half an hour before the gig, as a surprise from her partner Nigel Simmonds, aged 43.

"It was a brilliant surprise and very exciting," she said.

Sisters Nicki Maslyn, 30 and Nancy Barnes, 26, travelled from Milton Keynes to see the concert and said they were not disappointed.

Nicki said: "We saw them a few years ago and it was excellent.

"We came out of there like we had been to a rave and we couldn't wait to see them again." Ian Cattell, 40, of Walsall, bought tickets from a tout outside the door for himself and his two sons James, 14, and Jack, 10. They said it was cool to have a dad that loved decent music.

James said: "The Kaiser Chiefs are just good and we all like them."

Jack added: "I just love my music."

Mark Slavin, 21, of Telford, said: "I am a massive fan of them and it will be the third time I have seen them.

"They have got a lot to live up to after the first album but I think it is going to be a good year for them." Gareth Kennedy, 17, of Stoke, said: "I have been to see them before and it was a spur of the moment thing to come.

"We don't mind the travelling because it is more than a show with the Kaiser Chiefs, they entertain the crowd as well and get us going."

Emma Crutchley, 20, of Telford, said it was a memorable night.

"I saw them at V Festival when they really performed and entertained and tonight was the same," she said. "The atmosphere was electric and they are an amazing band." Music fans queued for up to 12 hours through a wet and windy night to snap up tickets for their indie rock idols. Hundreds of people, some armed with sleeping bags and deckchairs, braved the rain and cold to form a massive queue around the Civic Hall ahead of the box office opening on January 9.

Within an hour all 3,000 tickets for the group's first gig had virtually sold out, with all £23.50 tickets for the second concert on February 25 claimed half an hour later.

But touts were forced to sell for face value yesterday because so many had tried to profit from genuine fans.

One told the Express & Star: "There's a lot of competition in the touting game and no unity between us.

"A lot of extra lads have turned up tonight so there are lots of spare tickets.

"I was hoping to get up to £60 but I've still got eleven left and I'm happy to take face value tonight."

The band last played at the adjacent 120-capacity Little Civic in 2004 before their meteoric rise to fame, and are the latest big name coup for the Civic Hall.

By Andy Rea