Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon are breathing against the seams, waiting to burst onto mainstream radio and thunder themselves onto the larger club circuit. The young band was recently granted the honor of the #3 band to watch in 2003 by Rolling Stone Magazine. Nathan, Caleb and Jared Followill, ages 16, 20 and 22, along with their cousin Matthew have formed a band rooted on their southern influences, that were developed while playing gospel songs in church while growing up. Their father Leon was a Pentecostal minister who travelled all over the South evangelizing and had planted a voice of authority within their collective. Growing up on the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and Bad Company - Kings of Leon storm your ears in an up tempo southern version of hard rock giving the Queens of the Stone Age a run for their volume and the Strokes a run for their style. These guys are retro without appearing cool for the moment and should be more than just Kings in the near future.

The five song E.P. represents dirty sixties - style Garage rock - the Doors without the psychedelic organ. There is a beat up blues sound that stands with early ZZ Top and results in a gritty sound years beyond the band's age. The twin guitar attack provides a potent formula keeping it real, loud and tumultuous. "California Waiting" splendidly knocks home a heated wave of energy providing a feel-good buildup with a chorus that sounds so familiar, but at the same time stands unique. "Molly's Chambers" is a hypnotic slap in face that will have a go-go dancer begging for mercy.

Although the lyrics themselves are nothing revolutionary, the boys deliver the words with conviction, making a believer out of any curious listener. The band is currently working on their debut release with producer Ethan Johns who has worked previously with Ryan Adams and Counting Crows, watch out as the Kings of Leon are on a quest to rule.

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