NME Festival Guide
2009

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Kings Of Leon close first night of Reading Festival

The Followills top the bill on the Main Stage

August 28, 2009 | 8 Comments
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Kings Of Leon closed the opening day of the Reading Festival, headlining the Main Stage tonight (August 28).

Having played their biggest UK gigs ever this summer, it was fitting that the Followill clan returned to top the bill at one of the first festivals they ever played.

"I know it's cold out here but it wouldn't be the same if it wasn't," declared frontman Caleb Followill. "I know I say this every night, and I don't want anyone to think I have a problem, but I want to get drunk and party tonight."

The band played a set that spanned their whole career, including 'Molly's Chambers' and 'Red Morning Light' from 2003 debut album 'Youth And Young Manhood', plus the likes of 'Fans', 'Four Kicks' and 'Knocked Up'.

Naturally, the best receptions of the night were for 'Only By The Night' singles 'Sex On Fire' and 'Use Somebody'.

Kings Of Leon played:

'Be Somebody'
'My Party'
'Molly's Chambers'
'Red Morning Light'
'Fans'
'Revelry'
'Closer'
'Crawl'
'Four Kicks'
'Charmer'
'Sex On Fire'
'The Bucket'
'Notion'
'On Call'
'Taper Jean Girl'
'Slow Night So Long'
'Knocked Up'
'Manhattan'
'Use Somebody'
'Black Thumbnail'

NME.COM will be coming live from both the Reading And Leeds Festivals sites this weekend (August 28-30). Stay tuned to NME.COM/festivals for news reports, blogs, video interviews and photos from the event.

Get next Wednesday's (September 2) issue of NME for the ultimate Reading And Leeds Festivals review.

Plus have your say on this summer - fill in the annual NME Festival survey now to cast your verdict on 2009, and tell festival chiefs who you want to see next year.

Watch an interview with Kings Of Leon below:

Video courtesy of BBC.co.uk/readingandleeds

acedrums

Aug 29, 2009

that was absolutely pathetic (reading) - I watched until the set was pulled from air because Caleb is a total fucking prima donna these days. The entire set was marred by a total lack of enthusiam. Caleb is looking fucked and being immensly arrogant. Matt was leaning on the drum riser during slow night, bored. They desperately need to take time out and find an interest in there music, or move on. Only By The Night was frankly awful, just a huge, cheesy half finished cash in on their Glasto success, and now the effects of that success are all to evident. Given that they are a band that produced one of the best albums I have ever heard (Y&YM) followed by two more good albums, it pains me to say this, but maybe it is time to take an extended holiday, and come back when Caleb has got over himself (and probably been to rehab) and they feel revitalised to write good music again and start, dare i say it, enjoying being in a great band and playing for adoring fans. Gutted to say the least.

acedrums

Aug 29, 2009

oh and NME, I cannot beleive this article...they were 'in the mood' were they? Sure Caleb said that with no conviction at all. When he mentioned it was cold, and that reading 'would be the same otherwise' to a cheer from the crowd, and then mumbled 'or not' to the side, easily picked up on TV. He also shouted to the sound desk to 'turn the fucking guitar up.' It was a pathetic display of rock star arrogance in a show devoid of passion or interest, from the bands side of things.

sydney1

Aug 29, 2009

NME, are you kidding me? â€œClearly the band were NOT in the mood to make the most of it!!â€I agree that Kings of Leon should be admired for their music but after last nightâ€™s performance their attitude is defiantly in question. You would think the prospect of playing in front of hundreds of thousands of avid fans would stir some kind of excitement and emotion from the band. Sauntering on stage they jumped straight in to a set list without so much as a â€˜HELLO READING!!â€™. Naturally the shivering crowd felt cheated after, persevering through a day of dodgy weather just to experience the hot music atmosphere of â€˜Sex is on Fireâ€™, they were instead treated to an lengthy tribute of ballads and past album classics that failed to generate any festival cheer. They clearly were not in the mood for delivering any crowd pleasing antics or sing along hits. To make matters worse the band continued to follow a pattern of trudging through songs, bored expressions on their faces and cigarettes in mouths. Matthew appeared jetlagged and disinterested and spent a large part of the gig sitting on the drum stand. When finally Caleb decided to speak up, on lookers were shocked by his aggression, directing lyrics of â€˜I donâ€™t careâ€™ towards the crowd, scowling and frequently turning his back to face stage staff. As their performance continued it was clear that KOL had been rubbed up the wrong way and in response the crowd became increasing disconnected until a tension of a stand off was inevitable. â€˜I know Reading is sick of Kings of Leonâ€™ Caleb uttered lazily â€˜Kings of Leon are sick of kings of Leon, But we worked hard to get here and we are ******* Kings of Leon, so we donâ€™t care!â€™ The whole performance lacked enthusiasm and energy despite delivering a technically perfect repeat of what is undoubtedly a hugely successful album. The band produce a quality of music reflective of their experience and talent but perhaps the long awaited fame and respect has taken its toll. Retaliation from the fans was shown by a majority walk out after they played â€˜Use somebodyâ€™, a recent hit single. It seemed they didnâ€™t appreciate the constant insults, and after KOL only achieved a status of performing Lions the crowd hung around to watch them jump the final hoop then decided to opt out and make their way back home.

Steve Francis

Aug 29, 2009

I have attended Reading since 1977. I am a big KOL fan. I took my teenaged daughter to her first festival yesterday. It should have been a great day that she will never forget. Kaiser Chiefs performed with enthusiasm and a sense of occasion. KOL were able to approach a crowd that were brimming with anticipation and exitement. They managed to lose the crowd within the first 15 minutes by playing technically excellent but boring ballads and mediocre album tracks. Come on guys, we were wet cold but still very much on your side. We needed high intensity KOL classics one after the other. We got a stilted and self concious set. People left in their droves. I remained in the hope that things would improve. It did not and ended in a rant that the crowd did not need. 'worked hard to get here'. I have no doubt that you have, but so has every fan that purchased albums and attended gigs. For some their parents have also sweated blood to try to give their kids what should have been the experience of a lifetime. One teenaged girl went home realising that KOL are just moody has beens. Please come out again and prove me and her wrong!

bandfodder

Aug 29, 2009

Totally agree with everything said above. Come on have some balls NME and get out of bed with Sony and tell it like it was, utter turd. The band made Zero effort to win over the crowd and played/acted as if they couldn't be bothered. Turns out KOL are not worthy to headline a festival. We paid good money and I feel cheated. Production and sound was spot on.

Parmo_85

Aug 31, 2009

Must have saved it for leeds, 'coz they totally nailed it. Put Artic Monkeys to shame, not that it was hard considering the poor setlist they had

stairway2notion

Aug 31, 2009

*Clickity Click Click, time to be a pretentious prick. Blah Blah they are so arrogant, Blah Blah Blah sold out, Blah Blah Blah. If only the band, or any one on earth actually cared about your opinions as much as you do.

Kerrie Kins

Sep 2, 2009

I can not believe what i've heard about KOL at Reading Fest.. They totally rocked Leeds! They were very complimentary to the crowed and played some hits which include Sex is on Fire twice for us. Well worth the money and wait at Leeds.. :)