Dukes of Leon, or Kings of Hazzard?
Southern Rock Revival
As Bo Duke, the lead singer, Caleb.
Yeah sure, if there is a band that has become the music industry equivalent of the Dukes of Hazzard, or at least the Hollywood movie remake, it is Kings of Leon. Hands down. Lead singer Caleb Followill is Bo, his cousin on lead guitar, Matthew Followill, is Luke, and the band rounds out with Caleb's brother Nathan on drums and his other brother Jared on bass. Together, the Followill boys, sons and nephew of a Pentecostal preacher from Nasheville, Tennessee, took the Green Stage on Friday as the sun was setting on the bluest-skied day Fujirock has seen in five years. Glory be!
As I watched them from the field, I couldn't help but wonder what they tell their dad they do for a living. The music is the hard rockin', foot stompin' stuff a group of ol' southern boys is supposed to come up with when they're out in the barn or whatever drinkin' moonshine and playin' their electric gee-tars. Fender Stratocasters of course.
The set they plowed through like a supercharged tractor through a cotton field mined the tradition of southern rock's cranking guitars, though with the odd 21st century addition - a short loop here, a scuzzy effects pedal there. The major difference from the old southern school was that every song was the three-minute version. No "Whipping Post" here, boy, this is southern rock without the jam. And yet, and yet . . . yes, the music was full of those power chords that speak of big engines, the open road, and infinite American might - in other words, notions that are totally retro, but of course still propped up by the power brokers who don't want to let them die. The only thing I really can't figure out tho, is why they're more popular in England than in the US? Could it be because Roscoe P. Coletrain never graced the primetime lineup on Channel 4?
As Luke Duke, we have Matthew (left) and, wait a minute, that's not Daisy!? (Jared, at right)
Nathan's still got that original southern rock style.
Reported by dave (2007.07.27 / 19:10)
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