Coachella is 80 days away and we're counting down with a look at a variety of the artists playing the festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio April 15-17.
Today let's take a listen to Friday night headliner Kings of Leon. The band might be one that divide the Coachella faithful, given the pop accessibility of radio hits "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody," but the band's first two albums, "Youth and Young Manhood" and "Aha Shake Heartbreak" are great rock stomping gems.
The band honed its arena chops while opening for U2 and that's how album "Only By the Night" became so anthemic and spawned the band's hits. The band's new album, "Come Around Sundown" is getting some positive feedback.
More importantly, I think Kings of Leon is one of the few acts coming out of this generation of artists that has that arena headliner potential in a music industry climate that has music becoming more niche-oriented. Love 'em or hate 'em, I feel like it's the same category as Muse, who headlined the 2010 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and went on to ultimately become one of the largest bands in 2010.
On a personal level, I want to hear that rambling rock from the first two records. Here's one of my favorite tracks, "California Waiting," off the band's debut, "Youth and Young Manhood." I just love the vibe of it and I think it will be a fun fit at Coachella.
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