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COUNTRY BOY: Front man Caleb Followill performs with Kings of Leon at Vector Arena in Auckland.
It was all in the family as rock act Kings of Leon performed the final date of a world tour in Auckland. Music reviewer Chris Schulz was there.
They may have a complicated back story that rivals the White Stripes for sheer shock value, but Kings of Leon – a Nashville rock act consisting of three brothers and a cousin – sure like to keep things simple when they’re performing.
Forget about fancy props, video screens or theatrics – the Followill boys emerged onto a stark black stage with little more than the essentials for an electric country-fried rock show in front of a two-thirds full Vector Arena.
Their no-frills approach meant the focus was placed squarely on the music. But the Kings didn’t disappoint, keeping up a relentless pace despite admitting it was the end of their world tour to promote third album Because of the Times – last year's No. 1 hit album.
It was a show that saw a heaving moshpit sway constantly, while punters played air guitar and danced in the aisles. It impressed one woman so much she removed her shirt for a topless mosh in her seat.
With a show like this, you couldn’t blame her. The band quickly warmed up with Black Thumbnail before blinding the audience with a eye-piercing light show during Taper Jean Girl that should probably have come with an epileptic seizure warning.
The intensity kept up with a grimy rendition of My Party that was so loud front man Caleb Followill’s vocals sounded even more distorted than on record. Let’s face it – his accent is hard to understand at the best of times.
But that wasn’t a problem during On Call – a showstopper with the crowd singing over a bass riff so big it threatened to dismantle the venue’s overhead air-conditioning units.
It was so loud many punters may have been forgiven for thinking they were watching a different act. The rhythm section – consisting of bassist Jared Followill and drummer Nathan – gave the band a surprisingly heavier sound than you'll hear on record.
It helped that they left the ballads at the door. The show only slowed down briefly during Milk, as Caleb sang sweetly about a girl who’ll “bartend your party” under a single spotlight, and during the first song of the encore - a ramshackle version of Knocked Up.
But just before tour fatigue appeared to be setting in, Caleb unveiled his impression of a banshee during the spooky Charmer – a blatant Pixies rip-off that saw the Kings end the way they started - hard, fast and heavy.
A ninety-minute rock show packed full of hits with hardly a ballad in sight? Talk about crowd pleasing. They may keep things simple – but these country boys sure ain’t stupid.
