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Kings Of Leon 'come home' at V Festival warm-up

Followill clan pay tribute to UK fans and Glasvegas at Brixton gig

August 15, 2008 | 7 Comments
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Kings Of Leon "came home" at Brixton Academy in London last night (August 14) as they warmed-up for V Festival.

Playing what will be their smallest UK gig of the year - along with the weekend festival sets (August 16-17), the band have arena tour including shows at the 02 and Wembley Arena in London booked for the end of the year - the Followill clan used the occasion to give single 'Sex On Fire' its British debut.

The 2008 Glastonbury headliners barely spoke throughout the set, which mixed songs from their existing three albums and forthcoming record 'Only By The Night', though at one point frontman Caleb Followill admitted the UK felt like "home" to his band.

"Thank you very much, we're Kings Of Leon. How you doing out there, alright?" he asked early on. "It's good to be back home."

Proving it was no empty stage sentiment, the singer later told the crowd: "We just played a show in America and we couldn't wait to get back to America, but it took us one show and we could wait to get back here!"

He then added more emotionally: "We want you guys to know that we know we wouldn't be where we are without you. You're the people who stuck with us through it all, and we'll never forget it."

Clearly taken with the UK, the band also declared their love for support band and labelmates, Glasvegas who opened the show in confident fashion.

"I'd like to give a special thank you to Glasvegas," declared Caleb Followill at the climax of the Kings Of Leon's set. "I can't understand what they're saying and I'm sure they can't understand what I'm saying, we'll just have to use the universal language of drunk!"

Kings Of Leon played:

'Crawl'
'Black Thumbnail'
'Taper Jean Girl'
'My Party'
'Razz'
'Molly's Chambers'
'Wasted Time'
'Sex On Fire'
'King Of The Rodeo'
'Fans'
'Arizona'
'Milk'
'Four Kicks'
'California Waiting'
'The Bucket'
'On Call'
'Mcfearless'
'Pistol Of Fire'
'Trani'
'Knocked Up'
'Manhattan'
'Charmer'
'Slow Night, Slow Long'

The band are now set to play V Festival this weekend (August 16-17). Keep checking NME.COM for the latest news, pictures, videos and blogs live from V Festival all weekend.

discohippie

Aug 15, 2008

Nice photo there, NME. I've got some much better fan photos up over at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmgphotos/sets/72157606733783979/I wouldn't say that Caleb barely spoke. He actually talked a lot, not just by his standards but by that of most other bands out there. It was a really fun gig and a treat to see them at the Academy.

gazmassie

Aug 15, 2008

I have been to hundreds of gigs and this is definitely up there with the best of them. KOL just seem to get better and better and Sex on Fire was absolutely unreal. Best band on the planet by a mile at the moment

simonrob

Aug 15, 2008

A storming gig but the sooner they stop people taking digital bloody cameras and phones and standing there throughout filming or taking photos the better. Just dance and enjoy.

Audiogarden

Aug 15, 2008

I was stuck behind some guy who must have been 6ft6 and he just clapped along. I am only 5ft10 other than that they rocked as much as the other times I have seen them and "knocked up" felt more like being at a festival than at a 4,000 capacity venue.

Rowini

Aug 15, 2008

I spent two hours unsuccessfully trying to buy a ticket off a tout last night - there were simply NONE on offer - this is the first time I've failed to get last minute tickets in 12 years living in London. Prices quoted were from Â£130, but nobody had any to sell even at that price. Proof perhaps that KOL are the hottest ticket in town? Rightly so, I reckon. I was disappointed but have already sorted out tickets for the O2 show... just a shame to miss the 'intimacy' of the Academy.

itsnoteasybeinggreen

Aug 17, 2008

i bought a ticket for Â£100 and have no complaints after parting with my hard earned cash. They wont play Brix or anywhere that small again for a long time IMO- 23 song set of pure genius.

faye89

Aug 17, 2008

the brixton show had to be one the best shows ive ever been to, its up top with the foo gigs ive been to!! and thats major!! the followill boys really did good thursday, and its great to see an american band really showinfg their support for the UK crowd!the fact i managed to meet them all was just the icing on the cake!! cant wait for the o2 show!!!