Kings Of Leon -Mechanical Bull Tour Sheffield/Manchester 17th-18th June 2014
When I first heard anything about this band it was around 2005/2006, 'Muse' used to rave about how good they thought they were as a band,when I checked them out I was'nt too impressed at all I didn't like that whole mullets and moustache look,and back then didn't like 'Caleb's vocals.
So You'd be totally astonished when I tell you I was first in the queue... there wasn't one at 6.30am ,no one was around and I imagined there would be loads of people queuing early for this band,so after a few hours I sauntered back to my hotel for a freshen up and came back at 11ish,still no queues formed got chatting to 2 fans who were waiting on Blue Concourse, til it started getting busy at around 4.30ish.
I'm here so early to get a prime spot for the support band not any ordinary support band it's their good friends 'White Lies' ,so I'm excited about seeing them again as the last I'd seen them was on the Ill fated Big TV Tour in December of 2013 (Ill fated as it was the most stressful traumic thing I'd ever done read the blog Big TV Diary you'll know why folks),I am looking forward to seeing 'Kings Of Leon' do their thing as I like 'Only By The Night' and quite like 'Mechanical Bull' new songs too.
So here we are in 'Sheffield' sun is still not out and it's 4pm I'm chatting to some more die hard fans and I'm on the Red door that are nearest to the stage left (I know this because I planned it to precision and my ticket is open for me to queue at any door,Lucky me) Everything goes well until we are all told to wait by the doors and then the event staff upset people by moving them from their queues to another entrance and people who had just arrived miraculously got near the front there's nothing that infuriates me more than queue jumpers at a gig Be Warned!!, however as I was first in line I was ok but still stressed out until I got through the doors.
Soundcheck is late so we don't get through until 6.45pm and tension is building as I'm thinking of what to do when I get through my stratergies crisscrossing my brain I'm just about imploding ,this venue is imfamous for queueing chaos remember 'Pulp' (Documentry /Live DVD out 1st July shameless plug there we go done).
Tonight lucky enough after running forward in blind panic I got just the spot, the first band on are of course 'White Lies' no waiting around whoopee! They arrived onstage looking a little nervous it's an honor for them to be playing alongside 'Kings Of Leon' thy are old friends ,the supported them last year and on their 2011 Stadium tour,way back in 2009 on the US Tour they have history of band commorraderie.
'Harry' is looking very casual in black -shirt and jeans and something is missing... The Beard it's gone maybe 5 o clock shadow but gone,he looks chirpy and says "Hello Sheffield!! We are White Lies" they kick off with 'There Goes Our Love Again' and 'Farewell To The Fairground' then surely everyone remembers 'To Lose My Life' ,the crowd are not too sure who they are at first but soon recognised the 2009 album tracks and momentum perks up for them, I spoken to a few fans of 'Kings Of Leon' and more than half said they didn't know about 'Big Tv' the third album which was alarming to me as I have supported them so long (5 and half years), "Thanks for coming early to check us out !!" says 'Harry',I'm weirded out by this,it appears they are trying to drum up interest with a new audience and none of my mates have come who usually meet up at the tours so it's a strange atmosphere to start with.
The band play for around 40 Minutes and I'm loving it, it's over too quick for me ,they politely end on 'Death' and 'Bigger Than Us'.
A white curtain is draped in front of the stage ,while all 'White Lies' Gear is moved off the stage for the main act ,I find the sight of a roadie hoovering the stage particularly amusing we are told that there is no flash photography,no filming on phones etc.. ( I managed to get a few as my camera was small and switched settings will upload later to gallery and post link seperately).
When the band arrive on stage the curtain still down 'Charmer' Begins and the bass booms out, 'Caleb' is in front to my right I can see the shadows of the band as the song ends it drops,the band are now visable 'Caleb' is wearing Blue Denim Jacket jeans and red bandana round his neck,'Jared' is to my right at the end he's mainly there much of the time,'Matthew' is on guitar directly in front of me,he shocks me by playing guitar with his teeth on one track that was riveting and mesmerising to watch,'Nathan' the drummer is edged to the back of he stage behind 'Caleb'.
A song I didn't know but caught my interest was 'Family Tree' very catchy chorus ,then a few more album tracks I hadn't heard before,some fans shout out for a song so I shouted out for my fav request when it was quiet I yelled for 'Closer' and much to my absolute delight they played it for me I had no idea it was on the setlist wow what a cool moment, the stage backdrop with LED screens is HUGE and it cover the length of the stage playing back the band on stage live ,us in the crowd and some awesome graphics and lights, with video footage .
Ongoing into the mid section of the set I'm starting to recognise the song's more as the popular ones come out with 'On Call' inviting the audience to sing along repeating the chorus and 'The Bucket' getting the crowd bouncing around and chanting, this brings us nicely to 'Supersoaker' and another Oldie 'Red Morning Light' and then new single 'Temple' , more tracks I'd heard but didn't know I knew 'Molly's Chambers' was great and a highlight for me was 'Beautiful War' with the horses on the backdrop and the unison the fans had with the band was lovely.
My fav song 'Use Somebody' was up next that was euphoric with the crowd singing along it was almost encore time, rapturous applause followed before they come back on stage to 'Crawl' and another song then the finale 'Sex On Fire' with some fascinating pyrotechnics with sparks exploding down the screens its looks amazing and finishes their set in spectacular fashion,they signal they felt the love of the people and then off the stage they went.
PART TWO
Next up is 'Manchester' I only manage 3 hrs sleep before catching 5.11am train straight to 'Manchester' only to get there later than planned by 20 minutes but no matter as yet again no one there, the day goes really quick and again I meet some great people and 4 people who were at Sheffield were here also so we had a lot of chat to catch up on I have my team of people I need to get to the barrier as they are not sure whats going on and are worried it'll all be in vain, it's planned out what to do and it goes as clockwork easier than 'Sheffield'.
The boys are on again at 7.40pm they play same setlist I'm used to but 2 songs on the setlist are not on tonight for some reason perhaps running over schedule,'Kings Of Leon' had a massive welcome from the crowd and I as even more chuffed tonight when they played 'Notion' I love that song they missed it out in 'Sheffield' so it was a nice surprise, the crowd are more alive here tonight (As Manchester always Rocks!!) the band are overcome with our emotions and in a speech to the crowd 'Caleb' says
" Thank you all,we always have had the best fans ever thank you very much I mean that", he makes a joke about the security chaos on the front as its getting serious with people getting told off for filming and flash photography "Now you guys leave the fightin' to us,no fightin' , be careful security will come and get ya ha".
" Thank you all,we always have had the best fans ever thank you very much I mean that", he makes a joke about the security chaos on the front as its getting serious with people getting told off for filming and flash photography "Now you guys leave the fightin' to us,no fightin' , be careful security will come and get ya ha".
The crowd were going mental the special effects seemed to be more amazing on tonight's show and the crowd were more hungry not wanting it to end ,however I was completely knackered by the encore after my 3 hrs sleep and my feet were aching all I wanted to do was sleep, but what an amazing show they really are awesome to see live.
That's it folks,Northerners, Countrymen and Women.
See You not long from now...
LMi x
