Photograph by Randall Vasquez, 2010.
If you are looking for some southern hospitality, then the Mechanical Bull Tour is the place to go. Kings of Leon mark their return to Toronto with a stellar rock show at the Molson Canadian Amphitheater – the only Canadian show on the third leg of the band’s latest tour. The Nashville rockers has been on the road with special guest, Young the Giant supporting their new album, Mechanical Bull which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard 200 album chart after its release in September 2013. The tour will not only expose you to some raw southern rock n roll, but also put aside all their negative publicity and solidified their place as rockstars.
Based in Irvine, California, indie rock band Young the Giant opened with songs from their 2014 release, Mind Over Matter. Their set highlighted the band’s unique sound and carefree spirit, which energized the growing crowd as they began trickling into the amphitheater. They saved the best for last, as they ended with fan favorites such as “Cough Syrup” and “My Body” leaving the crowd ready for the main event.
The evening began strong as Kings of Leon started with “Supersoaker” and “Taper Jean Girl”. KOL’s front-man Caleb Followill welcomed everyone in attendance. Since it was the only Canadian stop on the tour, Caleb promised a great mixture of old and new stuff and indeed, they did deliver. From “Radioactive” to “The Bucket”, no track was left behind in the nearly two-hour set including “Soft” – the winner of the #SongForTheCity contest.
The most memorable bit was to see how they transition from their soft indie songs to their grungy rock stuff. There was lot of energy in between but it wasn’t showy. The Followill Brothers just seem to go wherever the music takes them, which displayed their natural chemistry and made the atmosphere of the show feel exciting. Despite their bad rep, it doesn’t change the fact this band can produce some solid tunes and their work was well represented on this tour.
It was time for last call! Kings of Leon had the crowd strapped in for one last round on the mechanical bull with their biggest hit, “Sex on Fire”. If you get the opportunity to see KOL on this tour, disregard all the crappy notions about them and give them a chance. You might be surprised with what you find.
