The online debate over the worthiness of Lollapalooza headliners is immediately settled upon simple crowd comparisons for Depeche Mode and Kings of Leon. The brooding mope-disco legends drew the thinnest mainstage crowd I’d ever seen for a bill-topper. One could have practically walked up close enough to see the sign language interpreter. Bloc Party drew a bigger crowd on the southern field last year. The band, draped in shadow before goofy face-morphing videos that read like a tribute to Michael Jackson’s “Black or White,” opened with “Chains,” the sonar-pulse crawler that drags out the opening to its new record, Sounds of the Universe. Followed up by the space-goth of recent single “Wrong,” the set beginnings did little to convince the curious to stick it out. A reunion with Vince Clarke would have kept me around.
Instead, I hustled north to watch Kings of Leon, who had the far end of festival grounds jam packed with recent converts. “Notion,” “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” brought the cellphones up, the mass of humanity glittering like a pond surface under moonlight. The Tennessee quartet proved why it can draw six-figure crowds around the world with tight, roaring arena rock. I’ve always preferred the Allman Bros.-meets-Strokes vibe of the early two records, but the band’s best songs from that era, punched up and slicked-up went over the heads of most of the yuppies who learned about the band on SNL last year. “Sex on Fire” inspired unprecedented whooping from the Lolla throngs. Three potential Hooters waitresses near me all posed like girls gone wild for a memorial pic during the stupid smash.
The rumbling, mumbling garage numbers from Aha Shake Heartbreak stuck out from the pop-grunge of the last two records, as beefy drummer Nathan Followill smacked bubblegum bubbles while flexing through those shambling rhythms. In comparison, minimal howlers like “Closer” seem like a step back musically, if certainly not commercially. But the recent converts are catching up with the superior back catalog. When frontman Caleb awkwardly and unnecessarily propositioned the crowd for some after show hook-ups at the end of the Kings’ set, undoubtedly hundred of inebriated fans imagined living their Almost Famous–like groupie dreams.
The Followills might make Pitchfork readers shudder, but more power to them. Quite simply they’re one of the few bunch of new guitar heroes proving there’s life left in epic American rock & roll, reaching for the brass ring and private planes. Without a doubt the group proved that Lolla booked a king-sized headliner. Yeah, the Kings are still bigger in the UK and Australia. But probably not for long.
WRONG! Depeche Mode rocked it! their new and old stuff sounded amazing live. Those who missed them live or haven’t picked up Sounds of the Universe are really missing out.
Depeche Mode sounded awesome. I wasn’t a fan before, but I am now.
It’s too bad that both of these great bands had to play at around the same time. DM is classic 80’s, takes me back to my H.S. daze…and KOL is by far the best, youngest band in the last two decades. I’m estatic that people in Chicago are listening to something besides Obama! PS-Thank Perry Farrell for keeping Lollapalooza alive and well :)
I think all their albums are great but Youth and Young Manhood and Aha Shake Heartbreak are my favorites! I wish I could have been at the show!
First two albums are the best- I agree. Still, they have never recorded a song I didn’t like. Looking forward to seeing them next month in Mpls. Tickets at $44 apiece?? I don’t expect the prices to see KOL will ever be that low next time around.
The new fans have no clue how great KOL are, the new cd is great but the 3 previous albums blow it out of the water. Go away new fans, it was better when we were able to see KOL at small venues. Does anyone remember how much hard KOL used jump and wail when they played Trani? Of course not, you weren’t there
I want to know if they ended the show with Trani. I just got word from a friend from Vegas that the last two time she saw them they skiped out on what I feel is their greatest live song. Also, Only By the Night has several songs that have made me think twice before calling myself a Kings of Leon fan. Their most popular songs are the ones that i like the least. 17, Use Somebody, Sex is on Fire are all awful in comparison to Fans, Dusty, Taper Jean Girl, Four Kicks and every other song on their first 3 albums. I hope before they put out a new CD they ditch the hundres of groupies and get commited to some hard drugs again.
KoL are one step up from the Jonas Brothers, what an absolute joke of a band. Sex on Fire is pathetic and so is getting a makeover everytime you record a new album.
For all of those who knew to the Kings of Leon before “Sex on Fire” congratulations, but I must say if music is great you have to cope and understand about the evolution of music. With popularity comes growth and change. This simply is life. So, grow up and understand that you do not own or posses a band on your own. The band makes the movie and you choose to listen or refrain. So, do not blame a change in music due to a growth in popularity. Accept or let them play on in glory.
I did enjoy myself better when i saw them in smaller venues, there were less drunk idiots around me.Aha Shake Heartbreak is one of the greatest albums of all time.Did anyone remember the scream Caleb let out during Red Morning Light? It was probably the greatest wail ive ever heard.It seemed like they added more instrumentals to some of the songs,which is awsome, and they slowed down Black Thumbnail which is a perfect closing song for their set.Overall an amazing pure rock n roll show.
I can’t stand it when people say they love the new band KOL. Sorry guys, you’re about 6 years behind. The new album is so so. I yawned the first time I heard it. I miss the straight up Rock & Roll from Y&YM and Aha. The third album is amazing as well. You can tell the Yuppie record execs got a hold of them for BTN. How much reverb can you use on one album? Hopefully they give the middle finger and go back to their roots!
C’mon, let’s give credit where credit’s due…yes, KOL had 3 amazing albums before “Only By The Night”, but that doesn’t take away from how good this album is too! Different isn’t always bad…I loved their previous albums but can also embrace this one, not only for the new sound, but for the lyrics too. Overall they’re an amazing band who’s just recently getting the exposure they deserve here in the U.S. I can’t wait to hear what they put out next!
I seriously can’t stand it when people go on and on about knowing a band back when they were “good” and that new fans should just go away. I’ve been listening to KOL for years and wish for them nothing but more albums, more fans, and more success.
Don’t worry about the music snobs who love to piss on a band and proclaim themselves true fans while simultaneously wishing said band LESS FANS AND LESS MONEY. What kind of bs is that? KOL deserves every single fan they get.
Well said ANNE,Am I crazy or am I the only one that thinks K.O.L. is getting better by the day,First two disc,s were amazing,but so is ONLY BY THE NITE.Different but equally brilliant !!!
This review is B.A.D., almost as BAD as the Michael Jackson video comparison! WHY? WHY poke fun at DM’s concert? If your’re passing judgment because of their ‘thin’ crowd (I wouldnt know–I was in the midst of it all) it might be because their 80’s based crowd might just be at home, tending to their kids, what not??. KoL, I wanted to see them just as bad, but I planned ahead, and now I’ll catch them in Milwaukee.. on the cheap! DM put on a great show, to compliment the great back drop! There was no reason to attack DM like this! KoL rock, but I dont see why the low-shots on them!