The Cavern
Rock & Words
KINGS OF LEON
"I'm on call, to be there.
One and all, to be there.
And When I fall, to pieces.
Lord you know, I'll be there waiting"
“D”
Main Decade: 00’s
Main Eras:
Indie (2001-???)
Key Members:
Caleb Followil, Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Matthew Followil, Lead Guitar
Nathan Followil, Drums
Jared Followil, Bass
Key Songs:
Red Morning Light, Sex On Fire, California Waiting, On Call, Closer, Holly Roller Novocaine, King of Rodeo, Crawl, Wasted Time, Use Somebody, Molly’s Chambers, Wasted Time, Slow Night So Long, Camaro, Notion, Tape Jean Girl, Pistol of Fire, Fans, Razz, Trunk
I'm not exactly a fan of country or southern music… But ahh! What a wonderful mix the Followill brothers achieved, taking the exact doses of Southern rock, hard rock, garage, indie, and a very retro touch that make their work a delight and one of the most interesting things to come out in the last 10 years.
Furthermore, Kings of Leon have maintained a more or less consistent level of quality in their albums, unlike many other indie bands that started strong and then fizzled out spectacularly. We could say they are the most successful band of bearded brothers since the Bee Gees, but with the added bonus that they aren't unbearably saccharine and have never had Sir George Martin's help in production.
Let's look at the formula:
The Strokes + ZZ Top + Allman Brothers image + Eagles + The Clash + Creedence Clearwater Revival-style vocals + ((Bee Gees – honey – George Martin) + (The Hanson + Jonas Brothers) x 1000 talent) = Kings of Leon
My first encounter with the band was the video for “Red Morning Light,” which I stumbled upon some time ago while randomly flipping through TV channels. I have to be honest, I was blown away. I said to myself, “Who is this amazing seventies band I’ve never heard of? Could it be that Stillwater wasn’t just a myth after all? What have I been missing?” Of course, I was fooled, not only by the totally retro sound but also by the image the band projected in the video, with hairstyles, mustaches, and seventies clothing. Not only that, but even the recording method, the cameras, the lighting, everything was perfectly set in the seventies, so it really caught me off guard, and for a good while I swore this was a band from 35 years ago that, due to some unforgivable oversight, I was only just now discovering. Wrong!
The story of Kings of Leon is also much more interesting than that of many indie bands. No newspaper ads seeking a guitarist, obviously. Being a family band gives them a very special touch, since most of those groups are just a pretty face. The Followills are different; they have considerable talent and intelligence. Nathan is the oldest brother and plays drums. Caleb is the middle brother, plays rhythm guitar, and is the lead vocalist. Jared is the youngest brother and the band's bassist. And finally, Matthew is the cousin, lead guitarist, and was born between Caleb and Jared.
The brothers are the sons of Leon Followill, a Pentecostal pastor who spent his time traveling the country preaching, with his entire family in tow. Therefore, much of the boys' upbringing was handled by their mother, Betty Ann. During their father's services, Nathan and Caleb would sometimes play drums and tambourines to add some rhythm. Later, it seems their father was excommunicated from the church, and Leon and Betty Ann divorced. The boys stayed with their mother in Nashville, Tennessee, which is where the band would form. There they met Angelo Petraglia, a composer who would introduce them to the music of the Rolling Stones, The Clash, and others, and teach them how to write their own songs, becoming their fifth KOL (Knowledge of the Latin American). By this time, Nathan had mastered the drums, and Caleb took up the guitar. They spent some time writing their own songs and performing here and there in a rather informal way. After a while, they somehow managed to get RCA to sign them, even without a bassist. Talk about luck! The record label asked them to complete the band, and they quickly recruited the younger brother, Jared, then just 16 years old, who had absolutely no musical knowledge, and saddled him with an electric bass. The next step was to complete the family combo, and since they had run out of available brothers, they brought in a cousin who was a skilled guitarist and already played in a few other bands, Matthew, who was a little older than Jared. The band's name was chosen in honor of Leon, the brothers' father, and their grandfather, who shared the same name.
Their debut album went largely unnoticed in the USA, despite positive reviews. It found greater success in Europe, where they embarked on a successful tour. The debut is excellent, boasting an outstanding blend of influences and styles, achieving a unique sound unlike anything found in either 1970s Southern rock bands or early 2000s indie acts.
They perhaps dipped slightly on 2004's *Aha Shake Heartbreak*, which continued the same raw, revival-inspired style; and on *Because of the Times*, where they seemed to be trying for a more commercial sound, incorporating elements from other indie bands. But they came back strong with 2008's Only By The Night, where they aimed for a bit more production and slightly refined their sound, perhaps a touch more commercial, but without selling out, and taking a brief turn to refresh their sound and reinvent themselves. Which I applaud. Perhaps along with Youth And Young Manhood, it's the best Kings of the Moon album. Creedence failed to reinvent themselves and burned out in just four years, so a new sound was essential, and they passed the test well. Their fifth album, 2010's Come Around Sundown, already shows them as formulaic and lacking in ideas.
There are rumors that they're currently experiencing internal problems, and a few weeks ago Caleb left the group mid-concert. They canceled some shows, claiming Caleb had throat problems, but rumors say the sibling rivalry is at its peak and the band could announce its breakup at any moment.
Let's hope not, because I think they still have a lot of rock to offer, as they are undoubtedly one of the smartest and most creative groups of that wave of indie bands from the early 2000s.
By Corvan
Aug/22/2011
