It’s hard to put into words just how good a live band Kings of Leon is. What they are able to accomplish in their set is astonishing, sounding just as good (if not better) than what they lay down in the studio. Every subtle little sound and riff is there; it sounds like you’re listening to the record yet somehow the songs gain a fresh sound and feel when performed live. That’s what I like when it comes to live bands, that they can perform their songs how you know them from their records but sounds new and unfamiliar at the same time, adding an element of surprise.
This was the first time I’ve seen KOL live, and God know it won’t be the last. The Followill boys performed for 90 minutes in front of the best crowd I’ve ever had the pleasure to be a part of; they knew all the lyrics and were at the mercy of the band. Caleb Followill knew that, as he held the crowd in the palm of his hand the whole night.
Not a minute was wasted as KOL blasted through a mix of old and new songs alike, covering each of the band’s four albums. Most of the songs came from the new album “Only By The Night”, but I’m not complaining about that as that album is nearly flawless (regardless as to what critics and some fans think) and has plenty of arena-filling rock-out anthems. Highlights for me were definitely “Sex on Fire” and “The Bucket”, the latter being the song that first got me into Kings of Leon. It seemed as though only some of the crowd knew the words to the older songs, but when “Sex on Fire” began, the loudest and most deafening roar I have ever experienced at a show began and didn’t let up until the song ended.
I could keep on going on and on about how amazing this band is and how they’ve finally seemed to have reached the level of success that they have always deserved, but that would be tedious. Simply put, Kings of Leon are the future of rock and roll. Their songs, lyrics, and crunchy, southern-rock sound is refreshing and is proof that the music industry isn’t full of stupid pop acts and radio-hit bands. Their amazing sound and lyrics are carried over in full force with their live shows, all mixing into being one of the best rock bands of the past 20 years. I’ve been a fan of them since “Aha Shake Heartbreak” came out back in 2003 and knew right then that KOL were going to be big. I axnously await new music from them (as their new album is rumored to come out next year sometime) and the next time they visit Florida. I'll be there, and so should you.
Setlist
Crawl
Taper Jean Girl
My Party
Be Somebody
Molly’s Chambers
Fans
Milk
Four Kicks
Charmer
Sex on Fire
The Bucket
Notion
On Call
Cold Desert
Use Somebody
Slow Night, So Long
Closer
Knocked Up
Instrumental
Manhattan
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