My day started with breakfast at a fun cafe with my hubby Adam. Blackberry pancakes and a Mexican-Mocha...I shoulda known the day & night was gonna be amazing!!
Lemme start everything off by saying that in the last 11 months since I last saw Kings of Leon, a lot in my life has changed. These changes have caused me to drift away from the intensity of the KOL fandom as it used to exist in my life. I don't really care to meet them much anymore. Their music is still a source of happiness to me but I've also come across new music and new inspiration for joy. So pretty much, I went into this show with an excitement not so much a desire to overdose on all things KOL.
Adam and I headed to the GA/Pit line around 2:30 and there were about 15-20 people ahead of us, I wasn't too upset. We brought playing cards and I did my nails while we waited. It was pleasant. Then, Stacy arrived! Hadn't seen her since last August and as always the reunion is awesome! We were missing Andie tho
Hours pass, friends are made with fellow KOL fans. Stories are interchanged. It's all quite lovely. My brother shows up around 6. Doors open at 6:30. Adrenaline starts flowing!
The organization at the venue was chaotic so we end up getting our wristbands on the side of the line away from everybody. This causes us to have 4 Pit tickets that weren't marked which helped get our friend Elise & her friend Tash into the pit even though they had seating tix! YAY!
When the pit gates open, it's all crazy-ness. WE RUN!!!! And it's successful! We get barrier right between Matt & Caleb....there were smiles, high-fives even a little tears of joy for our spots!! haha!
The Features start around 7:30 ... they are pretty awesome. I can see why KOL signed them to their label & I think they will go very far.
Built to Spill was a little more mellow. My brother really likes them so I was excited that he got to see them.
Then the stage set-up begins for KOL. Nathan's drumset is uncovered, Nacho comes out and tunes everything....and...what is that?? someone comes out an vacuums the stage??? DIVAS!!! hahaha just kidding!
The same Mozart intro song starts...we know the Kings are coming...but wait...THERE'S FIRE!!!! and there they are!! and the lighting is soooo amazing!!!
They start off with Crawl, pumping up the crowd! There's a guy next to me who gets soooo incredibly into it. Right off the bat I realize that Caleb hones in on this dude. All throughout the night Caleb gives him a little special attention, throwing his plecs at him, throwing used shot-cups hahaha! (reminded me of Dave in Arizona hehe)
The set-list, though predictable, was outstanding. What I loved, just absolutely loved, is that they played a lot of "old" favorites first. This probably left a lot of new SOF fans dumbfounded to hear the rocking tunes of Taper Jean Girl and The Bucket.
And the new songs....ahhhhh! Immortals was awesome, Radioactive was memorable and I had already fallen in love with Southbound...but MARY!!!! WOOOOOAAAAHHHH! Mary blew me away!!!! I was standing there jaw on the floor, in awe of Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew. They were so into it, they were loving it, they thrived in it.
And Caleb's little ha-ha-ha (or whatever it is he does) is absolutely heart-melting. Matt's guitar...Jared was rocking out....SMILING!!! As I'm typing this I'm downloading the bootleg Mary just because I can't get enough (SORRY KOL!)
Seriously, the way I felt during Mary can only be compared to how girls must have felt during the Beatles first shows. Like complete disbelief that this group of guys can be sooo smoldering sexy and so unbelievably talented! It was like falling in love, I promise you.
Caleb gave a couple little speeches. He said that he and the guys were worried that after Hyde Park they'd have a hard time going back to "regular gigs" but that San Diego was effing awesome and he appreciated the love....it made me feel all special...
Truth is the crowd was incredible. Loud and active and DRUNK! of course, never louder than during SOF but it's ok...we'll forgive them.
Then Caleb said they were gonna play a song they don't play very much anymore. Right away my heart skipped a beat and thought "TRUE LOVE WAY" but no....it was even better (maybe) TRANIIIIII!!!
Our little group (including crazy, hyper guy next to me) went crazy during Trani. It was the best Trani ever! I felt like I was sweating tears, it hurt so good!!! I felt intoxicated by the music, it was just pure & raw & beautiful. I'll never forget it.
Encore was amazing too. They finished w/Slow Night So Long. Even Adam said he didn't think they could top Trani but the actual final song along with FIREWORKS...dude it was like the best kind of heart-attack there could ever exist.
Caleb got a little silly w/ the fireworks and sat down facing Nathan as they exploded behind him....oh it was glorious!!!!!
Whew....the place was buzzing. There was no doubt that we had just witnessed a spectacular event!
The group of us did go wait by the buses for a little while but by all accounts the band left right after the show. Who knows...maybe we shoulda stayed but we were cold & hungry & the amazing show was more than enough to keep us KOL-happy
This was my 14th KOL show and by far the best...the boys are at the top of their game. This break was long enough for them to enjoy performing again. Even my brother said that last time we saw them he felt that the band was just rushing thru songs wanting to get it over with. This time they really enjoyed it. It also helps that enough time has passed since SOF was a big hit and those bandwagoners have drifted away. More of the true fans are still there, even the ones that got to know them thru OBTN but appreciate their entire career. Everyone enjoyed it just as much. KOL has really found a balance between the 2 phases of their career. And judging by their new songs, it looks like they're on their way to solidify this position.
Seriously, there is no other band better than KOL right now...and the best thing of all is that they have truly earned this spot. They continue to work hard, they love what they do and it's really REALLY becoming evident.
I love them. I loved last night. I cannot wait for Irvine on Weds!!!
THANK YOU KOL!!!!
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