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Kings of Leon settles for superstardom with new U.S. tour
Kings of Leon
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Rarely does a band’s sound remain uncontrived after eight years in the music business, major label record deals and all. But, Kings of Leon has managed just this. And with the release of their fourth album, Only by the Night, and a headlining tour, they may finally conquer the U.S. rock scene.
Comprised of three brothers, Nathan (drums, backing vocals), Caleb (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Jared (bass), plus one first cousin, Matthew (lead guitar), Kings of Leon formed in Tennessee in 2000 and haven’t forgotten their southern roots. Caleb swaggers through each album with a stylized, twangy voice that easily lends itself to rock as well as traditional country. The other members maintain a uniform grittiness that hardly suggests the three siblings grew up traveling around the South with a Pentecostal preacher for a father and a home schooling mother. But this sheltered past has left the band with a slightly innocent, enthusiastic feel. Kings admits that they’re relatively new to many of their influences—ranging from Neil Young to Bob Dylan. This freshness shines through in their sound—they’re not holding back nor is there a sense of self-consciousness. These guys love rock and roll—no apologies.
After traveling to New York in 2003 and playing for several labels, Kings of Leon were quickly signed to RCA. They released their debut EP, The Holy Roller Novocain, followed by their first full-length, Youth and Young Manhood, which led to quick notoriety outside the U.S. Yet despite their Southern-fried, bible-belt beginnings, it took a few years for U.S. audiences to warm to their sound. In the meantime, the band enjoyed the unadulterated adoration of European audiences and the chance to tour with heavy-hitters like Pearl Jam, U2 and the Strokes—kindred garage-rock spirits. The 28 million records they’ve sold worldwide is nothing to scoff at either.
Domestic commercial success finally hit with Because of the Times, which, along with Only by the Night, marks a creative departure for the band—a new sound has emerged that is at once polished and sophisticated while maintaining allusions and direct audio paths to their past. Though one could say that Kings of Leon have officially made it, their current tour, where they’ll be playing monster venues like Madison Square Garden, still feels as if it’s the last chance to say, “I saw them when.”