Kings of Leon at the Santa Barbara BowlContact: Nina Gordon @ Full Coverage Communications / Kristen.Foster@fullcov.com

Web: kingsofleon.com

Players: Caleb Followill – vocals, rhythm guitar; Matthew Followill – lead guitar, keys, backing vocals; Jared Followill – bass, keys, backing vocals; Nathan Followill – drums, percussion; Liam O’Neill – keys, percussion, backing vocals; Timothy Deaux – rhythm guitar, keys, percussion, backing vocals

Four-time GRAMMY winners Kings of Leon lit up the bowl in Santa Barbara as part of their tour celebrating their ninth studio album, Can We Please Have Fun (released earlier this year). With trademark rhythm and bass lines and tight drumming, the band delivered high energy and fantastic solid sound throughout the evening.

Opening with rhythm guitar and edgy vocals on “Ballerina Radio” (from the new record), the group shared material from as early as 2004 (“Milk”), playing songs from Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004), Because of the Times (2007), Only by the Night (2008), Come Around Sundown (2010), Mechanical Bull (2013), and When You See Yourself (2021). Polished and fun, the brothers put on a fantastic rock show.

Playing selections from all but two of their albums, the group performed for a packed happy crowd, with great visuals behind the group all evening, Caleb Followill’s clean lead vocals shone through for almost two hours and there was plenty of crowd involvement, with singalong moments on fan favorites “On Call,” “Sex On Fire” (which had an especially clean live sound), “Pyro,” “Closer,” “Knocked Up,” and “Use Somebody” (from hit records Because of the Times, Only By The Night, Come Around Sundown).

From tender vocal moments (“Beautiful War”) and group ‘oooohs’ (“Revelry”) and howling (“My Party”) with the crowd, to retro video game graphics on screens around and behind the stage (“Nowhere To Run”), 70’s style filters (“Split Screen”), and syncopated driving sound, the group presented a captivating show that inspired even the most conservative attendees to sing and move along.

While the visuals and overall presentation were stunning and added to the ambiance and feel of the show, the focus was most definitely sound-first, and the band had it in spades. Tight, clean instrumentals, powerful vocals, and solid harmonies—along with the great pace of the setlist and interspersed crowd interaction—made for a memorable, non-stop experience.

Adding a debut live performance of “Fairytale” (from 2021’s When You See Yourself) for their "song for the city" segment of the evening, Caleb delivered more soaring vocals. “Back Down South” brought a guttural kickdrum sound, and “The Bandit” got everyone fully rocking out, elevating the crowd’s energy before launching into the VIP song section of the evening with their most popular hits.

Rounding out the show with “Knocked Up” (the crowd knew every word) and “Use Somebody” (2010’s Best Rock Song GRAMMY winner), the latter created mild bedlam and an amazing cohesive vibe in the venue.

The 5,000-seat outdoor space felt somehow like family and the show felt like a warm homecoming. Kings of Leon is a unifying rock force with major chops that put on an incredible show and are most definitely worth taking in as a live experience.

Photos by Jackson BeenhamThe post Kings of Leon at the Santa Barbara Bowl first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.