Kings of Leon and White Lies in Concert - St. Louis, MO - September 30, 2009

Those who arrived late at the show to simply see headliners Kings of Leon did miss a significant opportunity to see a great upcoming band. White Lies are perhaps too frequently compared to the legendary Joy Division. They do share a certain dark, bleak feel at times, but White Lies' songs often provide a ray of light and hope that would be out of place in the Joy Division soundscape.

White Lies were placed on many critics top 10 lists of artists to watch for 2009, and their first album To Lose My Life... hit #1 on the album chart at home in the UK. The album placed in the top 5 among US Heatseekers, but White Lies are still a relatively undiscovered gem in the US.

The band kicked off their set with UK hit single "Farewell to the Fairground" which is a perfect example of the group's bleak songs with a ray of hope. The protagonist waves "goodbye to this dead town," but leaves with "the light still in our eyes." The band is clad in black and white with matching black and white stage lighting. It's a stark set that serves to focus attention on McVeigh's shiny chrome guitar. The sound of White Lies is kinetic post-punk that would frequently be danceable in an edgy club. The band is led by lead vocalist Harry McVeigh's plaintive yet powerful voice. Bass guitarist Charles Cave provides an occasional strong vocal counterpoint. Based on their engaging stage performance, White Lies remain a band to watch deserving of significantly more commercial success in the US.

Nearly exactly a year ago Kings of Leon released their fourth studio album Only By the Night. It was greeted rapturously by UK audiences who had sent the band's previous album to #1. In the US Only By the Night debuted at a strong #5, but there was no hint of the success to come. On the day that the US breakout single "Use Somebody" hit the top of the mainstream top 40 radio chart for the first time, Kings of Leon took the stage in St. Louis for the second show of a fall concert tour jaunt filling arenas. The band became the first act since 2005 to top alternative, adult top 40, mainstream top 40, and AAA radio charts with the same song. The last song to accomplish the feat was Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."

The up side for Kings of Leon of all of the success is clearly the drawing power and recognition from a huge crowd of new fans. However, these are an audience that is most familiar with the more pop-leaning songs of Only By the Night particularly ready to hear the anthemic "Use Somebody" and its massive European hit cousin "Sex on Fire." Kings of Leon lead man Caleb Followill expressed perhaps a bit of mixed feelings about "Sex on Fire" by introducing it as a song that many members of the audience most likely mess up while singing in the shower, so the band and the audience could mess it up together. He added that the song was deserving of that treatment. However, Followill did strongly acknowledge the whirlwind year the band has experienced by stating the Kings of Leon now really feel like kings.

Kings of Leon live present a tight, well-honed show. There is somewhat heavy leaning to material from Only By the Night, but longer term fans will be pleased that a number of past favorites remain in the set list. The band give the crowd its money's worth in songs spending very little time on stage patter or speaking to the audience. Bright color-changing lighting and video above the stage that adds to the experience but is inobtrusive enough to never detract from what's happening onstage complete the picture. The hits are delivered before the show is complete, and a stream of fans leaving following "Use Somebody" caused Caleb Followill to offer a "Bye" and express his happiness that they got to hear their favorite songs.

Kings of Leon's fall tour jaunt with openers White Lies is definitely a show to catch if you have the opportunity. Kings of Leon will headline the Austin City Limits Festival this Friday and White Lies will be there on Sunday. The two acts tour together on nine more dates through the south and midwest. It's a solid rock show tempered with major pop hits from Kings of Leon and warm, danceable rays of light from White Lies. Fans of live music will not be disapppointed.