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Live review: Kings of Leon
Are Kings of Leon, who played the 4,000 capacity Austin Music Hall a year ago, a true headliner at ACL Fest?
Yes.
With Caleb Followill’s vocals and the band’s steady step forward, the band was pretty terrific at ACL, especially with ‘On Call,’ with its steady bass and drum communication, and opening number ‘Crawl.’
But the band whiffed on ‘I Want You,’ the recent album’s most engaging number, sending a bunch of folks headed for the exits. Too slow and grooveless, it was.
But ‘Use Somebody’ was exquisite, perhaps the theme song of ACL. He’s got the worst haircut in rock history (Flock of Seagulls laughs), but Caleb is a tremendous singer. The people next to me were singing along at the tops of their lungs, but all I heard was Followill.
It wasn’t magic, but it got the job done.
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Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: ACL 2009: Friday, ACL Festival 2009
Comments
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By Jeremy Piven
October 2, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this
Caleb’s going bald Corky and that’s hard for a young rock star (seriously, would there be the same affinity for The Stones if they were all baldies? I dunno, I’m asking). So maybe we can cut him some slack on the follicle front and instead heap major goofing for singing something as utterly insipid as “your sex is on fire” without smirking.
The Worst Haircut in Rock History Hall of Fame… to be revisited.
By Nick
October 3, 2009 12:36 AM | Link to this
I was a little further back and maybe it’s just me but I found the sound level/quality to be a little off. At times the sound level seemed to fluctuate drastically and at other time it seemed that there was no mid-range or trebble. It sounded muffled. I actually heard the YYY pretty clearly at times and from where I was this should not have happened. I was approx 500 ft from the rear center speaker. Seeing as the rest of the crowd behind me seemed to clear out halfway through the set I am guessing that I was not the only one to notice. I overheard others saying the same thing. KOL performance was great, I just wished someone had turned up the volume!!!
By Eastsider
October 3, 2009 9:37 AM | Link to this
It’s a shame that those of us who weren’t right next to the stage couldn’t hear Kings of Leon very well. I hope they get the sound issues fixed before Sunday night…
By shortcake
October 3, 2009 6:37 PM | Link to this
I heard Kings of Leon perfectly, from my front porch. Loud and clear. I’m on a high hill off Walsh Tarlton.
By ed
October 5, 2009 9:48 AM | Link to this
the sound for KOL was horrible. even though we were in the rear we should still be able to make out the lyrics. not impressed…we left. ACL sound team get it together for next year. sorry KOL had to deal with that.
By TTP
October 5, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this
Sound was horrible for Kings of Leon. Someone droppped the ball. In camparison to the other year where we were at the same spot for Bjork, that concert was much louder.
By Jeff McCrary
October 8, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this
Am I the only one who feels the need to point out the fact that Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder came out for the final number to finish the show by shaking and banging two tamborines along with the Followills?