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Review: Kings of Leon, Ashton Gate stadium – ‘A show of epic proportions’
This was a show of epic proportions: the mighty Kings of Leon out on the first night of their tour to celebrate the release of new album Can We Please Have Fun.
Their first show in Bristol for over 20 years, a lot has changed for the band who are now stadium rockers that fill arenas all over the world.
is needed now More than ever
The Vaccines are a great choice for support. The crowd is in indie wonderland, dancing and singing along to every word of their greatest hits set until out of breath and sweating.
All My Friends are Falling in Love is pop perfection. Post Break Up Sex is indie perfection.
The stadium starts to get busy, the pitch bustling with anticipation for what promises to be an epic two hour set. And the Kings certainly manage to pack everything in.
Easing us in with new album opener Ballerina Radio, it’s a gentle beginning for a crowd showing their appreciation from the get-go.
Those that were there for the hits didn’t have to wait long. It’s not bad to have On Call and The Bucket in your back pocket, songs that are made for a stadium to sing to.
Caleb Followill’s vocals are flawlessly gravelly in all the right places, oozing with passion and appreciation for the crowd’s participation as they provide a deafening chorus for Sex On Fire which appears surprisingly early on.
I’m surrounded by euphoria as hit after hit rolled by. King of the Rodeo is a surprise addition that has the crowd tapping along, attempting to join in with the speedy lyrics of the chorus and largely failing.
They finish with an epic version of album closer Seen. But there’s always going to be an encore, and before long the band taje to the stage once again to smash out three more numbers.
Waste a Moment is a set highlight: an anthemic chorus and a bassline that gallops along delivering the perfect ‘sun setting over a stadium’ moment.
The night, of course, ends with Use Somebody. 20,000 people in high spirits, drinks held aloft, and a lot of hugging going on. If ever there was a perfect song to finish a set, that’s the one.
Hopefully, the Kings won’t wait another 20 years before heading back to Bristol.
All photos: Rogan / Ashton Gate Stadium
Read next:
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- Review: Skindred, Bristol Sounds – ‘Ten hours of rock and metal’
- Review: Glastonbury 2023 – ‘Wonderful, unique and utterly chaotic’
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