Nashville’s finest will return to Australia and New Zealand in 2009 as Kings of Leon tour in support of their monster #1 album Only By The Night (out now through Sony). Kings of Leon will perform in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Perth, Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in March 2009.
Regular visitors to our shores, Kings of Leon will return in 2009 to undertake their first ever headline arena tour of Australia and New Zealand.
It’s been an impressive rise to the top for Kings of Leon. When Kings of Leon released their third album Because Of The Times in April 2007, Entertainment Weekly called it their "crowning achievement," while Rolling Stone wondered: "How good can the Kings of Leon get? They've already gone further than anybody could have guessed."
Coming as it did on the heels of 2003's rowdy Youth and Young Manhood and 2005's brawny Aha Shake Heartbreak, the expansive Because of The Times was indeed a pivotal and game-changing album. It led the Followills - Tennessee-bred Caleb, Nathan, and Jared, and their cousin Matthew - to astonishing success around the world, which included headlining this summer’s Glastonbury Festival, selling out New York City's fabled Radio City Music Hall, The Greek Theatre in Hollywood and London’s 20 000 seat O2 Arena in under an hour.
But if critics thought that Because of The Times was the work of a band "at the peak of its powers" (as the Los Angeles Times put it), they may want to reconsider that assessment after hearing Kings of Leon's new album Only By The Night. Only By The Night picks up where Because of The Times left off, continuing Kings of Leon's shape-shifting evolution and cementing their status as a world-class rock band.
"After three records and touring for five years straight, we knew what we were capable of," says the band's drummer Nathan. “You always want your next record to be better than your last." Adds front man and lyricist Caleb: "There's never a time that we'll make a record and won't attempt to do something better than what came before."
The fans – and critics – have agreed resoundingly. A landmark for Kings of Leon, Only By The Night has reached #1 on the ARIA and RIANZ charts, already notching up triple platinum sales in Australia, and platinum in New Zealand, ensuring Kings of Leon will reign supreme in 2009.
Kings of Leon are currently tearing their way across United States stages to rapturous audiences, as the Seattle Times attested: “The mysterious, evocative lyrics, tight, searing guitar interplay and pounding rhythm section kept the crowd supercharged.”
Support at all dates will come from Montreal up and comers The Stills. The Stills are a band with a huge reputation, further enhanced by their recently released album Oceans Will Rise, their first for Canadian label Arts & Crafts (Feist, Broken Social Scene, Constantines, Stars, etc) released through Shock in Australia.
Don’t miss your chance to see the world’s hottest band smokin’ live in 2009.
The Kings Of Leon are very mindful of the safety of their fans. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, and all standing areas have been designated 16 and over areas. Patrons under the age of 16 may purchase seated tickets only.
