It began, quite literally, as a bedroom project for Jordan Jeffares. After recording demos in his Atlanta bedroom, he met other musicians who would help him breathe life into Snowden. They self-released a self-titled EP in 2005, and some of its songs then appeared on their debut LP, Anti-Anti, the following year. Their sound quickly earned them comparisons to moody NYC bands like Interpol and the Strokes—at one point the oft-traveled band was even based here—and tours with the likes of Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Snowden (above, doing “Anti-Anti” for Fearless Music) have stayed busy on the road and releasing live DVDs and EPs, and they’re finally putting out their second album, No One in Control, in May (stream one of its singles, “Keep Quiet” below). But first, they play Mercury Lounge tomorrow night.
If many American music fans were late to the party that is Kings of Leon, it doesn’t feel evident at their live shows. Two songs into the band’s encore, and those in the sold-out Izod Center crowd sang as loudly to the moody, seven-minute “Knocked Up” as they did at the beginning of the night. Lead singer Caleb Followill noticed: “It makes me think you guys might have more than just the last record,” he posited, to cheers. “It’s about fucking time.”
Kings of Leon’s stellar performance on Saturday showcased the pinnacle of the band’s overdue rise to stardom in the United States—after becoming stars in the United Kingdom long ago. Playing to the newer fans, the Followills started their set with the two songs that open their newest album, Only by the Night, “Closer” and “Crawl.” But from there they moved backward through their discography, mixing songs like “Molly’s Chambers” (off their first album) with a heavy dose of their third album, Because of the Times. Both their strong radio singles and their coarser, Southern rock-influenced songs resonated with the crowd. The rest of their nearly two-hour set showed why Kings of Leon is one of the best live acts today, featuring moments like the chill-inducing “Revelry” and the sing-along chorus of “Sex on Fire,” which has become a must-see addition to any rock and roll bucket list. —Sean O’Kane
Remember when Kings of Leon used to play small venues? Well, that’s no longer the case. As the band’s fourth album, last year’s Only by the Night, has charted in the Top 10 in more than 10 countries, the Followill family’s career is on fire. And now Kings of Leon is doing an arena tour across the U.S. Still trying to score tickets to Saturday’s sold-out show at the Izod Center? Then try to Grow a Pair of free ones from The House List. Just fill out the form below, listing your name, e-mail address, which show you’re trying to win tickets to (Kings of Leon, 9/12) and a brief message telling us your favorite way to spend a late-summer Saturday night. Eddie Bruiser, who could always use a few good ideas, will notify the winner by noon on Friday, September 11th. Good luck.
