Some would say the Kings of Leon never went away; others would argue they are just coming back and now some fans are simply crying in a corner. Yesterday it was announced that the Nashville-based radio-friendly rockers are canceling two weeks of shows so drummer Nathan Followill can recover from an accident that took place over the weekend. After a gig in Boston, the band's tour bus had to stop short to avoid a pedestrian, and that left Nathan with a broken rib.
There's some backlash and outcry on the internet about the canceled shows, mostly because this isn't the first time the band hasn't followed through. While we hope Nathan has a speedy recover and gets the rest he needs, we gotta say, way to luck out, West Palm Beach. If all goes according to plan, the Kings of Leon will still be gracing the Cruzan Amphitheater stage on September 6. And perhaps that show will be as cool as Questlove filling in for Nathan on the Tonight Show last night with Jimmy Fallon (check that out after the jump too).
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With the release of Mechanical Bull last year, Kings of Leon steamrolled back onto the radio airwaves. Let's be real: No one liked Come Around Sundown, the band's 2010 weak attempt at re-creating the band's earlier magic. On a recent media conference call, drummer Nathan told us that during the writing and recording process, the band "didn't really know what to expect, because we had taken a break and stepped away from the music scene for awhile to enjoy being at home with our families and being fathers and husbands," adding that though they were out of touch, when making Mechanical Bull, "it all just kind of fell into place. Once the record was finished, we were all very pleased with it, but also I was surprised at how quickly we were able to do it but still keep the Kings of Leon sound and the integrity of our craft."
While the album put them back on the map, the guys knew that the live show had to be on point. Caleb, lead singer and Nathan's brother, said, "I believe we are tighter as a band personally and musically right now but also creatively. We know that when we made this album and before we embarked on this tour that we wanted to do something different and challenge ourselves to have more fun on the road. In order to have fun, we have to do stuff that gets us out of our comfort zone."
Obviously Nathan's injury is putting a damper not just on the rock-hungry fans' plans but on the band itself. Touring is a huge part of its identity and income. It's what made Kings of Leon this big. With fingers crossed, we're just hoping Nathan pulls through in time for the South Florida date.
If a member of the Followill clan is down, they all suffer. And if Nathan needs more time to recover, West Palm Beach is one of the first shows on the chopping block. But we have a feeling the band will make up for it. Caleb revealed to us his latest inspiration: "I'm learning a lot from people like Taylor Swift," he admitted. "The more time you spend with your fans, the more you get back."
We hope to spend time with the gang soon. Go get better now, ya hear?
2014 Mechanical Bull tour with Kings of Leon, Young the Giant, and Kongos. 7 p.m. Saturday, September 6, at Cruzan Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansbury's Way, West Palm Beach. Tickets cost $25 to $85 plus fees. Call 561-795-8883, or visit livenation.com.
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