The Kings return

Followill brothers kick off their UK arena tour in Brighton

02 December 2008 - After being plagued by sound issues at the Brighton Centre last year, the Kings of Leon made a triumphant return to the venue last night (1 December).

The Nashville, Tennessee brothers launched the tour with their biggest lighting and sound show to date, and played an epic two hour set, reaching into the far corners of all four albums.

Nathan told 6 Music before the show, they felt they needed to have a rummage in their back catalogue for this end of year, festive jaunt: "No matter which way you look at it, someone’s going to leave there without hearing their favourite song, but I think we’re breaking out quite a few old songs we haven’t played in about 3 or 4 years which is kind of scary."

The band launched their mammoth set with Crawl from their double platinum number one album, Only By The Night, before ripping into 2^nd album, Aha Shake Heartbreak, playing old classics Taper Jean Girl, Razz, Milk, Slow Night, So Long, and Four Kicks which sent bodies soaring, as the crowd surfing began.

Caleb was on fine form, encouraging the crowd to give him some vocal assistance as he told the crowd: "We are Kings of Leon, feel free to sing along if you want to," and five songs in, as the rumblings of Sex on Fire rang out, his wish was Brighton’s command.

"We’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s just starting to pay off. We feel blessed to be up here. It’s been one of the best year’s of our lives, thanks to people like you."
Caleb Followill

A mass wave of chair dancing broke out on the South Balcony as those in the seated section got fired up and into the mood, while the band dug deeper into their four album repertoire.

Nathan admitted, that for him, the show was always going to be better than the last time they were there.

"Last year it was horrible," he explained. "I broke up with my girlfriend 30 minutes before I went on stage, so I didn’t really remember anything about that show. But I’m sure the sound was horrible, because it was probably me crying into my microphone."

But there was no sign of anything other than a humble clan of Followill brothers on stage, who as flashbacks of their childhood played out across the five big screens hovering above the stage, seemed glad to be back on the soil of their second home.

The sold out arena tour, marks the start of a full blown world tour taking them into the latter part of 2009, but as they hammered into the second half of the set, the band’s frontman revealed what a year it has been for them.

Caleb said: "We’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s just starting to pay off. We feel blessed to be up here. It’s been one of the best year’s of our lives, thanks to people like you. We wish you all a Merry Christmas."

And as they band wrapped up with a four song encore that included, Knocked Up, Manhattan, Charmer, and Black Thumbnail, it did feel like Christmas had come early for fans, who definitely got more than they bargained for.

SET LIST

Crawl
Taper Jean Girl
Razz
Molly's Chambers
My Party
Sex On Fire
King Of The Rodeo
Joe's Head
Fans
Revelry
Milk
Four Kicks
Pistol of Fire
McFearless
The Bucket
Arizona
Closer
California
Use Somebody
On Call
Cold Desert
Slow Night, So Long
Trani

ENCORE:
Knocked Up
Manhattan
Charmer
Black Thumbnail

Jo Youle