Following the showmanship of Justin Timberlake and the glitz and glamour of Sir Elton John, February’s ACC concert slate wrapped up with a pure, honest-to-goodness rock show. In front of some 13,000 devoted fans, Kings of Leon put forth a two-plus hour tour de force fuelled by great energy and a fantastic sound.
This was a rock show short on spectacle but high on quality. Coming on stage behind a curtain, the band launched into “Charmer,” earning a raucous ovation as the curtain dropped to reveal the band featuring a cleanly shaven Caleb Followill, set against some simple, minimalist staging akin to one big indie show.
The band maintained a steady flow thanks to some quick pacing brought on by limited banter and rapid transitions between songs. That they were able to breeze through a 27-song set without overstaying their welcome highlights how far the Kings have come as a marquee arena rock group.
The special effects were used sparingly and as a result created a greater impact when they were employed. A laser light show during the three-song encore enhanced the electric feel in the building, while a deluge of foam bits made to look like snow during the serene “Cold Desert” offered a pretty cool (no pun intended) visual.
No special effect or visual stimulant was going to carry the weight of what was a crisp, clear sound that carried across the entirety of the 130-minute show. With every song, the presence of the blended together instrumentals (guitar, drums, bass, and keyboard) stood out. When a momentarily raspy Followill joked “How do you like my sexy voice?” during “The Bucket,” he had to be at least partially aware of how seamlessly his bold voice was flowing along with the musical contributions of his fellow Kings.
On another night, the show-opening performance of looming breakout star Gary Clark Jr. may well have stolen the show. The soulful-but-hard-edged blues man gained more than a couple of fans along the way through an eight-song set that showcased both his silky smooth vocals and his impressive guitar skills. With the majority of the crowd in their seats by the time he performed his hit single “Bright Lights,” Clark exited the stage to a well-earned ovation.
Speaking of the crowd, they should be credited with putting their own stamp on the evening’s dynamic environment. Considering that they stood for the entirety of the Kings’ set, and sang along to just about every track (this was clearly a crowd that followed the band beyond their two mainstream hits, “Use Somebody” and “Sex On Fire”), they made themselves as integral to the show as their beloved band.
(Image: Meghan Gribben under a Creative Commons license)
