Kings Of Leon – ‘Molly’s Chambers’

Alright, so hit me, this is an old song. Well you know what, so is La femme d’argent which D posted yesterday, and that’s also atypically awesome. Everybody knows who Kings Of Leon are, so it kind of saves me the lengthy introduction. Three Followill brothers and one cousin form in the Deep South and name their band after a preaching patriarch called, well, Leon. They proceed to release an album and completely fucking blow up…on the other side of the Atlantic. Yes, it seems Americans aren’t that into their own bands these days, especially low-key indie ones. Check the Killers, We Are Scientists and the million other US acts who are adored by Brits and utterly ignored by their countrymen. It begs the question of where the real Rock Renaissance is happening; in the UK with Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Mark Ronson and Arctic Monkeys (not to mention The Ting Tings) or USA, where The Strokes, Kings Of Leon, White Stripes and Queens Of The Stone Age kick it old school. Considering that England has the doyen of festivals, Glastonbury, they probably win, especially considering how many amazing gigs they get each week. And guess who practically headlined Glasto this year, alongside Jay-Z? As well as playing Oxygen, Reading, Leeds and every other massive show over there? That’s right: Kings of Leon, man.

It’s hard not to like this outfit. For one, they’re all ludicrously good looking. Secondly, they make the kind of desert-fried rock that just makes you want to grab your neighbours, go get blind drunk and end up having a massive sex romp. Which, is, by all accounts, pretty much what Kings Of Leon do every day of the week. Lead singer Caleb has the most awesome drawl since the Emancipation Proclamation made ‘Southerner’ a dirty word. This band succeeds so god damn often because they refuse to conform to what audiences think about them; they’ve outgrown the Garage revival they helped kick start and become a fully fledged stadium act, helped in part by the fact that they really know how to play their instruments. Drummer Nathan Followill has a devastating groove which he constantly updates to fit the band’s sound. They’ve delved into blues, grunge and glam, and they do it all so well that you just want to smack them in their smug, pretty faces.

This post is dedicated to Juliette, my best friend in the whole wide world, who loves Kings Of Leon as much as I do. Like them, she’s about to do a stint in the U.K, incidentally to study, not get smashed and screw strapping young lads, but I’m sure she’ll find a way to fit both in. Julz and I both bonded over this song in particular, taken from the band’s first outing, Youth & Young Manhood, because of the fact that a) it sounds so positively Nirvana-esque you could swear Kurt’s singing it, and b) it’s about being attracted to a toxic boy or girl who takes over your heart, and eventually, your mind too. I think we could both relate to that in a number of instances. It’s kind of fitting that as Julz departs for 6 months, Kings Of Leon are set to release their 4th album, Only By The Night, which will no doubt result in a slab of touring that will probably coincide with her seeing them in London. In short, life’s unfair, because I should totally be doing that, instead of paying ridiculous Australian festival prices for Good Vibrations, Big Day Out, Parklife and Field Day. Have a fantastic time tubbs, this one’s for you.

Kings Of Leon – ‘Molly’s Chambers’

Sex On Fire (Online)