Why?
When I first got together with the girl who became my wife, Kings of Leon were conquering the world.
It’s not the kind of thing I’d have admitted to anyone in 2008, but Sex on Fire was basically our song when we started dating.
Even now, that song gives me pangs if I hear it on the radio.
Though with all that hell behind me now, it’s Use Somebody that really kills me.
But five years beforehand, they were a different band.
This was peak post-Strokes guitar band time.
The music press were driving the agenda and we were all happy to be passengers.
Some of the music was just window dressing to a good night out, but the Holy Roller Novocaine EP was the real deal, and the chance to see them locally at a small venue was a no-brainer.
I took one of my oldest friends from school, and we couldn’t quite believe what we were seeing. Skinny, cool as fuck, looking like hairy school kids and more importantly, right there in front of us – just a couple of metres away in a crowd that wasn’t packed and with a high proportion of super-good-looking women dancing just in front of us.
Before Sex on Fire. Before the jocks.
Before the Virgin radio listeners.
Before we got old.
It wasn’t quite as jaw dropping as the early Strokes, but it was (insert cliché) pure rock and roll. Molly’s Chambers was primal and (my favourite) California Waiting just soared.
We still talk about this show.
And I never saw them again. Or if I did, I can’t remember it. Wouldn’t want to. Didn’t need to.
High:
On the whole thing.
Drinking:
Barely – we didn’t want to go to the bar.
Thinking:
Southern Strokes? Lynyrd Strokes? Fuck it, you’re amazing.
My Old Gig Tickets 