| |
Whiskyfun
Home
(Current
entries)
Concert
Review
Index
(All Reviews
Since 2004)
Leave
feedback
 |
Copyright
Nick Morgan and crew
|
|
|
Concert
Review by Nick Morgan |
|
 |
| Hammersmith
Apollo, London, Tuesday 21st June 2005 - by
Nick Morgan |
 |
| Music
fans will recall that this was ‘the best concert
that I missed‘ from last year, so I was naturally
delighted when the Kings
found their way back to the UK, and in particular
to three sold-out nights at the Hammersmith Apollo.
|
| Not
surprising really as they seem to have found their
way into the hearts (and pockets) of the Brits far
more successfully than their home audience –
both (brilliantly produced) albums – Youth
& Young Manhood and last year’s Aha Shake
Heartbreak have been runaway hits, and their visits
here are always over-subscribed. In fact their debauched
rock and roll lifestyle as they toured the first
album provided much of the material for the second
– music great but shame about the secondary
school lyrics and obvious sexual innuendo. But Carry
on Rock and Roll. It’s a joy to be in a packed
hall of mainly mid-twenties rock and rollers and
realise that there is hope after Coldplay, Travis
et. al. after all. And if one might have a sense
that there is a little too much of the marketers
hand about the band then this is one instance when
it can be forgiven – perfect product, perfect
marketing. |
 |
For
those that don’t know the Kings are four Followills;
brothers Mathew on lead guitar (looking like Johnny
Depp doing Keith Richard doing Johnny Depp), Jared
on bass (a sort of cross between an oversized Ronnie
Wood and Sid Vicious), Caleb on guitar and vocals
(he’s the one that looks like Legolas minus
the bow and arrow and skateboard), and Cousin Nathan
(he’s the one with the beard, bass-pedal power
foot, and bubblegum). |
From
Tipton - no – not the one near Birmingham
where I played my first paying gig, but Tipton County
near Memphis, they bring a Southern soaked rock
and roll with echoes of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Creedence Clearwater and at times
even the Band. But there are traces of Europe in
there too – you can hear the Buzzcocks, Motorhead,
Golden Earring (yeah Johannes – they made
it!) and certainly a riff or two from the Keith
Richards ‘Play in a Day’ tutor. But
the sound is no rip off – it’s a real
mixing pot, and the result is something quite unique,
not least thanks to Caleb Followill’s out
of this world half sung, half spoken, and half muttered
(hang on – that’s one and a half!) vocals.
The glue, as they say, which holds the whole thing
together.
Pity then that the one downside of the show (apart
from the typical June London heat wave, which had
venue promoters Carling rubbing their lager soaked
hands) was the sound system. I mean I know he mutters
and all – but aren’t you supposed to
be able to hear it nonetheless? Too bad really.
Onstage these boys were as tight as ninepence –
showing an uncanny ability to start a song, do the
bit in the middle, and then finish perfectly. They
powered through almost all the material from both
albums at pretty much top speed, with barely a word
to the audience. |
| Spare
and simple in their playing, they were supported
by an equally understated yet effective light show
(marvellous when it projected their giant shadows
on the back of the stage during ‘Spiral staircase’).
Phew! If it was thirty degrees outside then the
Kings raised the temperature inside by another 30
– energy (as they used to say as an excuse
for anything in the good old days of punk rock)
and raw power by the bucketful. They can come back
and visit any time. |
 |
|
And I hope I’ll be back too. But bad news
rock fans! Serge and I are at loggerheads, like
nations divided in a confrontational standoff, over
the Rebate I negotiated on my Whiskyfun expenses.
I mean, how can a few French farmers matter when
compared to my globalised free market rock and roll
reviewer’s lifestyle – stretch Hummers,
Green Point fizz, Chinese Ray Banns, and even American
HP Sauce? No, I can’t give it up. But Serge,
I’m reaching out to you. Lets call a truce
and let the good times roll again. How about we
make a comic romantic gesture of reconciliation
for our public by getting engaged at the top of
your Tower of Eiffel? What say you, “oui”
or “non”? Nick Morgan (concert photos
by Kate) |
Check
the index of all reviews:
Nick's Concert Reviews
|
|
|
|
|
There's nothing more down there... |
|
|
|
|
