KINGS OF LEON -- 4.18.2009 -- BOSTON

With two very close friends, I had the pleasure of checking out the Kings of Leon performance last night at Boston University's Agganis Area. Consider this less of a review and more of a commentary.

1. The Area: I am typically skeptical of area concerts due to the riduclous variability in sound quality. Even when designed specifically for great sonic performance, there are inevitably too many spots where the mix doesn't cut through the air just right. That being said, Agannis is relatively new and therefore has a serious advantage both in terms of audio technology and acoustic design.

2. Since when do college or university areas serve beer? I will readily admit that I would have been delighted by the availability of these beverages when I was in school.

3. The band: Amazing performance, as expected. I would have preferred to hear My Party much later in the set, but hearing it at all is good enough. It is by far my favorite KOL song.

I'm sure that most of you are aware of the more recent KOL bandwagon. Anyone and everyone is frantically downloading about Sex on Fire and discussing it with their friends as if its some sort of underground sensation. The band, quite obviously, has picked up on that sensation yet treated it in a very interesting way last night. Their set, while full of newer songs, also contained a significant number of older hits. For all of the more recent fans, these songs probably meant little to nothing. But, for those of us that have followed the band for years, it is a striking and sentimental look back at a band playing significantly smaller venues in years past.

Caleb Followill himself pointed the phenomenon out -- in a break between songs during the encore -- saying that "Sex on Fire wasn't the first song we ever wrote." In my mind, that is a briliant comment. He of course welcomes new fans, but lightly pokes fun at the bandwagon aspect of fandom. That comment was the hilight of the night for me.

For all of the newer fans, welcome to the family.