I, as much as the the next guy, hate people who try to take ownership of a band and preach that they are cooler than you because they’ve been listening to whatever band longer than everyone else. This is not my intention by writing this post. I was a freshmen in college in the fall of 2003 when I first heard of Kings of Leon. They were featured in one of those “up and coming” articles in an issue of Rolling Stone. Upon reading about them I downloaded the track California Waiting. The song was one of five songs on their debut EP Holy Roller Novocain  and was also featured on their debut album Youth and Young Manhood. I instantly fell in love with them and for many years I played their music trying to share my appreciation with friends. However, Caleb Followill’s raw sound produced the same response from just about everyone - “He has the worst voice ever”, “I can’t stand his voice”, etc, etc. Since then I have seen KOL 4 times, twice in San Diego, once in LA, and once in Philly. They’re winning grammy’s, they’re on MTV and middle schoolers across the nation are still belting out the lyrics to Sex On Fire. Let me interject by saying I do NOT think they have sold out because despite all of their new found commercial success I don’t think the quality of their music has decreased. Their most recent album, Only By The Night, is actually one of my favorites. This morning I bought tickets to see Kings for my fifth time and I cannot wait. I’m gonna be in the pit for the first time and I know they will put on a great show. I’ll end with a fun fact for you, all of their album titles (not including Holy Roller Novacaine which is an EP) are five syllables. Youth and Young Manhood, Aha Shake Heartbreak, Because of the Times, Only by the Night. Photo above taken by me at the Electric Factory in Philly.

I, as much as the the next guy, hate people who try to take ownership of a band and preach that they are cooler than you because they’ve been listening to whatever band longer than everyone else. This is not my intention by writing this post.

I was a freshmen in college in the fall of 2003 when I first heard of Kings of Leon. They were featured in one of those “up and coming” articles in an issue of Rolling Stone. Upon reading about them I downloaded the track California Waiting. The song was one of five songs on their debut EP Holy Roller Novocain  and was also featured on their debut album Youth and Young Manhood. I instantly fell in love with them and for many years I played their music trying to share my appreciation with friends. However, Caleb Followill’s raw sound produced the same response from just about everyone - “He has the worst voice ever”, “I can’t stand his voice”, etc, etc.

Since then I have seen KOL 4 times, twice in San Diego, once in LA, and once in Philly. They’re winning grammy’s, they’re on MTV and middle schoolers across the nation are still belting out the lyrics to Sex On Fire. Let me interject by saying I do NOT think they have sold out because despite all of their new found commercial success I don’t think the quality of their music has decreased. Their most recent album, Only By The Night, is actually one of my favorites. This morning I bought tickets to see Kings for my fifth time and I cannot wait. I’m gonna be in the pit for the first time and I know they will put on a great show.

I’ll end with a fun fact for you, all of their album titles (not including Holy Roller Novacaine which is an EP) are five syllables. Youth and Young Manhood, Aha Shake Heartbreak, Because of the Times, Only by the Night.

Photo above taken by me at the Electric Factory in Philly.

1 note

Show

  1. strandedonthewr0ngbeach reblogged this from designdetox
  2. designdetox posted this