A normal Sunday for people in Bournemouth would usually consist of a poor attempt at a roast dinner, students desperately trying to start and finish the assignment due midday on Monday or a night in watching Coronation Street. But this was no ordinary Sunday, this was the day that Followill fever hit Bournemouth in a big way.
The South American four-piece began their astounding almost two-hour set at 8.45pm, following support from M83 – a French electro band that arguably received less audience encouragement than their talent would warrant. Although, judging by the crowd’s intoxicating hysteria on the first strum of a recognisable chord sequence from Kings of Leon - impatience and anticipation may have had a lot to do with the seeming dismissal of the support.
Kings of Leon have been propelled into the mainstream since the release of their last two albums at a rate that their chequered shirts and newly short do’s could barely keep up with. Yet, unlike the fickle scene-chasing fans of many other bands of the genre, the self-professed Kings of the Rodeo’s fan base which have been there since the beginning have stood proudly, like parents watching their child achieve their ambitions – something that the band are appreciative of, later telling their sea-side audience “It’s fans like you who keep us doing this”.
This was also demonstrated by the set list; entwining tracks from all four of their impressively diverse albums into their set. Starting things with ‘Closer’ and the bass-heavy ‘Crawl’ before the renowned ‘Kings of the Rodeo’, meant a crowd of hysterical fans dancing like their lives depended on it…with the occasional over-zealous crowd surfer being dragged out by security of course.
Four songs in and lead singer and guitarist, Caleb Followill, followed the typically epic ‘Molly’s Chamber’ with a brief belated introduction: “We’re Kings of Leon”. Greeted by an uproar of applause from fans hugely appreciative of the refreshingly humble approach for a band that, in 2008, need no introduction.
Whilst bassist and many a female fan favourite, Jared Followill, spent a lot of the show with this back to the audience, he turned to lend his vocals to chart topping ‘Use Somebody’ and to demonstrate his bass prowess on tracks like ‘Sex on Fire’. The musical ability of Kings of Leon is something that prevails in a way that leaves even the most fickle of music fans questioning how they possible stayed under the radar for so long. Guitar riffs and Caleb’s raspy vocals tugged at the hairs on the back of everyone’s necks amongst an atmosphere of fans clearly having the time of their lives.
And the perfect end to the perfect show? A four song encore. Leaving the audience to work themselves up into a frenzy for five minutes and to allow Caleb to no doubt consume as much Evian as his bladder capacity would allow after an immense performance of ‘Trani’, the band returned to play ‘Knocked Up’, the show-stopping ‘Charmer’, ‘Slow Night So Long’ and ‘Black Thumbnail’.
If only all Sundays were like this.
Set List:
Closer
Crawl
Kings of the Rodeo
Joe’s Head
Molly’s Chamber
Fans
Revelry
Milk
Four Kicks
Pistol of Fire
Wasted Time
Notion
Sex on Fire
The Bucket
Use Somebody
My Party
Cold Desert
Trani
Encore – Knocked Up, Charmer, Slow Night So Long, Black Thumbnail
Saturday 20 December 2008
Thursday 18 December 2008
Single Review - Calexico - Victor Jara's Hands - Noize Makes Enemies
It is unlikely that Calexico will be whatever you are expecting, or at least that was definitely the case for me. The Arizonan six-piece recorded their 2005 EP with folk, often spine-tingle-encouraging, Iron and Wine, and whilst Calexico have the same southern sound -with country and folk attributes –they inject an unexpected world music overtone to their music.
Calexico’s latest release, ‘Victor Jara’s Hands’ is no different –incorporating all of these factors into a style that is a very welcome distraction from a typically bleak British December, but arguably lacks a great deal of relevance in the modern music industry. However, perhaps this is not such a bad thing.
Kicking off 2009 with a sixteen-date tour of Europe, Calexico, although undoubtedly not everybody’s preferred musical style, are talented and definitely would appear to be doing something right.
If a band that have an established approach which exudes innovation and works for them, should they need to tamper with and manipulate their music to appeal to mass audiences? I would suggest not.
The world is a more interesting place because everybody is different, and the music industry is undeniably a better place as a result of mould-breaking bands like Calexico.
Calexico’s latest release, ‘Victor Jara’s Hands’ is no different –incorporating all of these factors into a style that is a very welcome distraction from a typically bleak British December, but arguably lacks a great deal of relevance in the modern music industry. However, perhaps this is not such a bad thing.
Kicking off 2009 with a sixteen-date tour of Europe, Calexico, although undoubtedly not everybody’s preferred musical style, are talented and definitely would appear to be doing something right.
If a band that have an established approach which exudes innovation and works for them, should they need to tamper with and manipulate their music to appeal to mass audiences? I would suggest not.
The world is a more interesting place because everybody is different, and the music industry is undeniably a better place as a result of mould-breaking bands like Calexico.
EP Review - Get Well Soon - Listen - Noize Makes Enemies
Get Well Soon are a seven-piece German band. Fronted by Konstantin Gropper who is quite the talented multi-tasker; songwriting, singing and playing a host of instruments in the band.
It is these kinds of quirky factors that become less surprising, and almost characteristic of Get Well Soon. In an adjective, they are; diverse. Incorporating, violins, banjos, what sounds like a glockenspiel and then fusing these into dark instrumentals not unlike the newer work of Radiohead and teaming this with Gropper’s vocals - reminiscent of Matt Bellamy’s (of Muse).
Add in Gropper’s vast American/Canadian influences which range from Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth to Leonard Cohen and the foundations for the choice of adjective should be a great deal clearer.
Get Well Soon’s latest EP is a showcase for the above descriptions and with tracks like “Christmas in Adventure Parks’ showing a more folk side to the band, their status for most successful newcomer tour in Germany this year demonstrates the success of their fine balance between dark gothic tendencies and more mainstream genres.
With it’s potentially niche audience, Get Well Soon are unlikely to beat Alexandra Burke to the Christmas number one spot this year, but Gropper’s musical talent is indisputable and music fans willing to open their minds to the more experimental; this EP could be well worth a listen.
It is these kinds of quirky factors that become less surprising, and almost characteristic of Get Well Soon. In an adjective, they are; diverse. Incorporating, violins, banjos, what sounds like a glockenspiel and then fusing these into dark instrumentals not unlike the newer work of Radiohead and teaming this with Gropper’s vocals - reminiscent of Matt Bellamy’s (of Muse).
Add in Gropper’s vast American/Canadian influences which range from Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth to Leonard Cohen and the foundations for the choice of adjective should be a great deal clearer.
Get Well Soon’s latest EP is a showcase for the above descriptions and with tracks like “Christmas in Adventure Parks’ showing a more folk side to the band, their status for most successful newcomer tour in Germany this year demonstrates the success of their fine balance between dark gothic tendencies and more mainstream genres.
With it’s potentially niche audience, Get Well Soon are unlikely to beat Alexandra Burke to the Christmas number one spot this year, but Gropper’s musical talent is indisputable and music fans willing to open their minds to the more experimental; this EP could be well worth a listen.
Album Review - Her Space Holiday - XOXO Panda and The New Kid Revival - Noize Makes Enemies
Visually, Marc Bianchi, aka XOXO Panda looks like a cross between Weezer front man Rivers Cuomo, with the tattooed torso of Travis Barker. Originally hailing from the bands Indian Summer and Mohinder, this paradoxical and somewhat unexpected appearance is undoubtedly a direct consequence of Bianchi’s background in hardcore music.
Clearly an innate courage for change, Her Space Holiday’s new album is a clear progression from previous work. Tracks from ‘Telescope’, the bands 2006 release, demonstrate Bianchi’s lyrical capability but are musically somewhat easier to apply to a genre or compare to bands such as The Postal Service.
However, whilst his latest album has the same acoustic theme and warming lyrics, there is something quite traditional or older sounding about the thirteen tracks, particularly musically on “No More Good Ideas”. Whether it’s the optimism and upbeat tone to the music – something which is seemingly becoming less commonplace in modern music, or whether it’s due to the harmonies and impossible-to-pigeon-hole sound; either way it’s inarguably refreshing.
There’s an aurora of maturity and reflection on experience that is inevitable with a singer/songwriter who has been in the music industry for as long as Bianchi. But rather than a patronising and irrelevant slant after twelve years of making music, the consequences on tracks like “Year in Review” and “The World Will Deem Us Dangerous” are lyrics that demand attention and seem to effortlessly soothe any potential personal dissatisfaction by persuading it into a broader perspective.
Lyrics such as “Hold your breath and count to three, if you know the words then sing with me” make the album at times feel not unlike a campfire session for fans of alternative music. Yet, at the end of a year that has heard numerous musicians complain about the attributes of fame and at times demonstrate a flagrant disregard for the support their fans show – Bianchi’s positivity and his audacity to bungee jump from one genre to another, at times creating new ones altogether, would appear a breath of fresh air.
Clearly an innate courage for change, Her Space Holiday’s new album is a clear progression from previous work. Tracks from ‘Telescope’, the bands 2006 release, demonstrate Bianchi’s lyrical capability but are musically somewhat easier to apply to a genre or compare to bands such as The Postal Service.
However, whilst his latest album has the same acoustic theme and warming lyrics, there is something quite traditional or older sounding about the thirteen tracks, particularly musically on “No More Good Ideas”. Whether it’s the optimism and upbeat tone to the music – something which is seemingly becoming less commonplace in modern music, or whether it’s due to the harmonies and impossible-to-pigeon-hole sound; either way it’s inarguably refreshing.
There’s an aurora of maturity and reflection on experience that is inevitable with a singer/songwriter who has been in the music industry for as long as Bianchi. But rather than a patronising and irrelevant slant after twelve years of making music, the consequences on tracks like “Year in Review” and “The World Will Deem Us Dangerous” are lyrics that demand attention and seem to effortlessly soothe any potential personal dissatisfaction by persuading it into a broader perspective.
Lyrics such as “Hold your breath and count to three, if you know the words then sing with me” make the album at times feel not unlike a campfire session for fans of alternative music. Yet, at the end of a year that has heard numerous musicians complain about the attributes of fame and at times demonstrate a flagrant disregard for the support their fans show – Bianchi’s positivity and his audacity to bungee jump from one genre to another, at times creating new ones altogether, would appear a breath of fresh air.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)