The Kings of Leon are huge in the UK, discuss

[Max Hauser]

Okay. The Kings of Leon are about to release a nerw album in the next few weeks. And I am currently watching a TV show on ITV2 about how cool they are. Yet they seem to playing at a local Nashville venue (coupla hundred attending), yet their 'home' fans seem to be genuinely unimpressed.

They have headlined Glastonbury. Which you have to be a big player to do. I mean David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Jay Z big...

After five albums and being thought of as being a serious players in the UK, I'm curious to know...

Do Americans realise how absolutely massive the Kings of Leon actually are in the UK? I get the impression that if America do, the British are sure going to miss them!

[FanboyStranger]

Kings of Leon are a pretty big band in the US. They get substantial radio play and were playing large arena/stadium shows over the past year. In fact, I just saw them two months ago, but only because Built to Spill were opening.

[The Confessor]

There are actually quite a lot of those American indie guitar bands that appeared in the early 2000s that are much bigger in the UK than in the U.S. The White Stripes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Strokes and Kings Of Leon are or were all bigger in the UK than they were in the states. For some reason I just think that UK audiences "got" those groups more than Americans did.

[jessecuster3]

They would still be playing tiny places here in the US, if they hadn't gotten an opening gig for U2.


However, I don't think you can judge a tiny show in their home of Tennessee as anything more than they are playing for their friends in their home. Their tour still includes large stadiums and arenas in the US.

[KMACthaKilla]

i like them. i have seen them in movies, on the radio. i think they are used and enjoyed in the us, but maybe prefered for their direct music in the uk. i love them, got 3 cds. i think for most people in the us we know their songs and like them, but they're not one of those bands people are all over. people i know like justin beiber and lil wayne, maybe because i am younger but still i don't expect that people like that are going to pay much attention to a band like kings of leon. they deserve more respect in the states.

[FanboyStranger]

i like them. i have seen them in movies, on the radio. i think they are used and enjoyed in the us, but maybe prefered for their direct music in the uk. i love them, got 3 cds. i think for most people in the us we know their songs and like them, but they're not one of those bands people are all over. people i know like justin beiber and lil wayne, maybe because i am younger but still i don't expect that people like that are going to pay much attention to a band like kings of leon. they deserve more respect in the states.

I think they're a lot bigger in the US than they're being given credit for. Maybe teenagers don't flock to them, but among my demographic (late 20s-early 30s), they're one of the biggest rock bands out there. I'm not a big fan, but almost everyone else I knows loves them, more so than 'big' bands I enjoy like Arcade Fire. I went to see them at the First Midwest Bank outside Chicago this summer, and there were nearly 30,000 people there. I'd place them around the Pearl Jam level as far as current popularity. (I mean Pearl Jam now, not in 1994.) Plus, they are one of the few actual rock bands from this decade to get any mainstream radio airplay in the States.

[Melanieshaman]

After five albums and being thought of as being a serious players in the UK, I'm curious to know...


FIVE ALBUMS! wow i have only just heard of them, and it was second hand I heard the name from ne of my 16-year-old nephew's friends. I don't think I have ever heard their music.

[digger2307]

Well theyve been around for a fair while in the uk now, personally not a fun of there newer stuff, really liked the first album. The UK taste in music difference alot from the US, but thats also due to the uk being like 1% the size of the US, plus the UK does have a horrendous taste in music if you ever listen to any mainstream radio station, most bands only have a life span of 6 month then dissappear again. not heard the new album yet but the direction tehy were going in I dunno if ide like it, ill give it a listen tho and see what its like. the strokes are fromt eh UK aint they apart from teh bassists who ukranian or summin, no?

[The Confessor]

the strokes are fromt eh UK aint they apart from teh bassists who ukranian or summin, no?


Dude, The Strokes are from New York. Musically, they're just about as New York as New York can be!

[Ziggy Stardust]

Dude, The Strokes are from New York. Musically, they're just about as New York as New York can be!

Never realized New York music was so.... boring and one-dimensional.

As to the Kings of Leon, I like what I've heard oft hem so far.

Closer strikes me as VERY sensual for some reason. May be the beat....

[J. Robb]

Kings of Leon are (or at least were) big in North America. "Sex on Fire" was one of the most overplayed songs of 2008 and "Use Somebody" in 2009.

[Adam C]

Never realized New York music was so.... boring and one-dimensional.

Are you saying that Talking Heads and Sonic Youth have been lying to me all along? :'-(

[The Black Guardian]

Are you saying that Talking Heads and Sonic Youth have been lying to me all along? :'-(
Well, New York of the 70s and early 80s wasn't...

[Ziggy Stardust]

Are you saying that Talking Heads and Sonic Youth have been lying to me all along? :'-(

I'm just saying that if the Strokes sum up New York music, then it is dull and one-dimensional.

However, I have heard a ton of New York music that is fun and varied.

So, either the poster stating the Strokes IS New York music hasn't heard the other greater New York music that preceded them or New York music has REALLY gone down the tubes.

[The Confessor]

I'm just saying that if the Strokes sum up New York music, then it is dull and one-dimensional.


In your opinion.




However, I have heard a ton of New York music that is fun and varied.

So, either the poster stating the Strokes IS New York music hasn't heard the other greater New York music that preceded them or New York music has REALLY gone down the tubes.


I know New York music very well, thanks, and I also never said that "the Strokes IS New York music".

What I said was that the Strokes were "as New York as New York could be", and what I meant by that was that their music displays a large and obvious debt to the likes of Television, Blondie, Talking Heads and the rest of the 70's New York CBGB's scene, not to mention a healthy dash of The Velvet Underground thrown in for good measure. As far as the CBGB's sound goes, I maintain that the Strokes do sound as New York as New York could be. Painfully New York in fact!

Perhaps I should've been more specific about exactly which genre of New York music I was talking about...I mean obviously they don't sound like an archetypal example of Harlem hip-hop but they do sound an awful lot like an archetypal example of New York new wave...or more accurately, given their timeframe, New York post-punk revival indie rock.

The point I was trying to make being that the Strokes sound very much like a New York band, which I don't think anyone could honestly disagree with. I mean, let's be honest, they pretty much wore their influences on their sleeves.

[andthegunslinger]

Kings of Leon are an odd one.

I hate to say what I'm going to say. It makes me cringe and feel all cliched and music snobby. But they really aren't as good as they once were. By a considerable margin too.

I have a few issues with them. The major one is that I saw in 2009 at a festival. It was I think the 4th time I'd seen them so I didn't go right up to the front because i'd sort of seen everything they had to offer. But watched them from the side with a joint and a beer. Now where I was stood people were dancing and grooving and having fun. It looked the same throughout the crowd.

HOWEVER to Caleb the crowd's reaction wasn't good enough. The crowd weren't singing loud enough and the band weren't happy with the reaction they were getting. Keep in mind this was a festival, not a Kings of Leon show. There would be small unknown bands that got close to no reception earlier in the day, but Kings of Leon demanded a solid reaction. The result was they had a strop, cut their set short, didn't play an encore, swore at the audience, stuck their middle fingers up, smashed their guitars and stormed off stage.

There's a part of a "rant" he made earlier in the show on youtube. This was just him voicing his opinions, it was later he got angrier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgL1MX4XMoI

So yeah I got a problem with KOL. I was enjoying the show and it sucked that I was singing along to every song but then the band were talking about how much we (thus I) suck as a crowd. So I felt a bit disrespected as a punter and most importantly a fan.

I think fame has effected them in a negative way. I think they no longer fear going on stage. Which to me is a bad thing. Every night any band goes on stage, whether it's U2 or a local band playing in a pub should feel humble if just a few people are having the times of their lives. You earn a crowd, you can't demand it.

And I think that's the reason I don't enjoy them anymore. They've lost any humbleness and now I just look at them as another indie pop act. I bought their second album the day it came out so I've been a longtime fan but they just don't feel like the same band to me anymore. I'm not one of those dudes that goes "YEAH BRO ROCK SHOULD BE ROCK! ROCK AND ROLL MAAAAAAAN!" but it does make me cringe seeing Caleb Followhill pictures in the tabloid of him at London's fashion show. That's not really what I see Kings of Leon representing ya know?

My 2 cents anyway, I love to talk :)

[howyadoin]

What I said was that the Strokes were "as New York as New York could be", and what I meant by that was that their music displays a large and obvious debt to the likes of Television, Blondie, Talking Heads and the rest of the 70's New York CBGB's scene, not to mention a healthy dash of The Velvet Underground thrown in for good measure. As far as the CBGB's sound goes, I maintain that the Strokes do sound as New York as New York could be. Painfully New York in fact!

Perhaps I should've been more specific about exactly which genre of New York music I was talking about...I mean obviously they don't sound like an archetypal example of Harlem hip-hop but they do sound an awful lot like an archetypal example of New York new wave...or more accurately, given their timeframe, New York post-punk revival indie rock.

The point I was trying to make being that the Strokes sound very much like a New York band, which I don't think anyone could honestly disagree with. I mean, let's be honest, they pretty much wore their influences on their sleeves.All that being said, they are hands down the most boring live band I've ever seen. If a band wants to look or be bored, that's one thing. But boring? That's the ultimate sin for a rock 'n' roll band.

[Lord Bravery]

Well theyve been around for a fair while in the uk now, personally not a fun of there newer stuff, really liked the first album. The UK taste in music difference alot from the US, but thats also due to the uk being like 1% the size of the US, plus the UK does have a horrendous taste in music if you ever listen to any mainstream radio station, most bands only have a life span of 6 month then dissappear again. not heard the new album yet but the direction tehy were going in I dunno if ide like it, ill give it a listen tho and see what its like. the strokes are fromt eh UK aint they apart from teh bassists who ukranian or summin, no?

lolwhut? The UK has horrendous taste in music...? When did this happen? The UK is music pioneers. Sure there is a lot of philistines who listen to pop crap, but so many great bands and genres start out in the UK.

[andthegunslinger]

Word. Plus I think it's impressive that we have music that isn't pop or r'n'b topping our charts unlike the US's Billboard chart (not insulting the US, just stating.)

They might not be pioneers of sound and the best bands ever but I think it says a lot of positive stuff about our taste that now and then acts like Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Razorlight, My Chemical Romance, Kaiser Chiefs, Kings of Leon and Rage Against The Machine have number one singles.

I'm really not a music snob by the way. I'm not saying indie/rock is the only type of music that matters. I'm a MASSIVE hip hop nerd. I've spent the better part of the last year learning to freestyle to a high standard.

Sure there's a lot of rubbish from X Factor winners and acts you'll never see again. Then when you look at number one albums got acts like Arcade Fire, White Lies and Kasabian getting number ones.

I think this alone proves the UK rocks in regards to taste in music. As well as the Rage Against the Machine #1 campaign. :)

[The Black Guardian]

Agreed with both of ya. The UK tends to have better taste than the US. I get the feeling that a higher percentage of Brit adults buy music than in the US.

[The Confessor]

All that being said, they are hands down the most boring live band I've ever seen. If a band wants to look or be bored, that's one thing. But boring? That's the ultimate sin for a rock 'n' roll band.


That's interesting...I've never actually seen them live, despite being a pretty big fan. A number of my friends saw them back around the time of the Is This It? and Room On Fire albums and thought they were excellent, but I couldn't really comment myself.

Mind you, I've seen them playing live on TV and always thought they were fairly tight as a live act, although I confess I've never felt blown away by what I've seen of them live on TV. I dunno...maybe you caught 'em on a bad night or maybe they genuinely are just a bit dull live.

[Lord Bravery]

Word. Plus I think it's impressive that we have music that isn't pop or r'n'b topping our charts unlike the US's Billboard chart (not insulting the US, just stating.)

They might not be pioneers of sound and the best bands ever but I think it says a lot of positive stuff about our taste that now and then acts like Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Razorlight, My Chemical Romance, Kaiser Chiefs, Kings of Leon and Rage Against The Machine have number one singles.

I'm really not a music snob by the way. I'm not saying indie/rock is the only type of music that matters. I'm a MASSIVE hip hop nerd. I've spent the better part of the last year learning to freestyle to a high standard.

Sure there's a lot of rubbish from X Factor winners and acts you'll never see again. Then when you look at number one albums got acts like Arcade Fire, White Lies and Kasabian getting number ones.

I think this alone proves the UK rocks in regards to taste in music. As well as the Rage Against the Machine #1 campaign. :)

Oh yea i didn't mean to come across as a snob... but yea, there is more to UK music than X Factor crap etc.

And you're right, where else could indie bands or more underground acts get high in the charts?

[J. Robb]

The UK charts seem easily swayed by fads, so while good bands may make it high up, so do novelty songs like Mr. Blobby or Bob the Builder.

[howyadoin]

That's interesting...I've never actually seen them live, despite being a pretty big fan. A number of my friends saw them back around the time of the Is This It? and Room On Fire albums and thought they were excellent, but I couldn't really comment myself.

Mind you, I've seen them playing live on TV and always thought they were fairly tight as a live act, although I confess I've never felt blown away by what I've seen of them live on TV. I dunno...maybe you caught 'em on a bad night or maybe they genuinely are just a bit dull live.Their shtick is that they show no enthusiasm whatsoever, and they don't do encores because... I dunno, some mean kids who beat them up when they were kids played encores or something.

The main thing, though, was that they played the entire first album note for note with not a single variation or bit of spontaneity.

[andthegunslinger]

Just had a dream that I was seeing The Strokes live. S'weird. :)

[Royal Flush]

Not too huge in Canada although they are my friend Mark's favorite band, but honestly I think they are a bit overrated

[howyadoin]

Not too huge in Canada...Big enough to pack GM Place in Vancouver (20,000 seats).