Kings Of Leon Announce Opening Bands For Summer

Nashville-based Kings Of Leon have announced the opening lineup for their summer trek through the US. While Built To Spill and The Stills are nice for Chicago on July 24th, it is hard not to look a little further down the list and be mouth-foamingly jealous of the cities that get The Black Keys and The Whigs as opening acts.

w/ The Whigs
6/5 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Event Center

6/6 Saratoga, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6/8 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion

w/ Built To Spill and The Features
7/9 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
7/10 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
7/12 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
7/14 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7/17 George, WA (Seattle) The Gorge
7/19 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
7/20 Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

w/ The Stills
7/23 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

w/ Built To Spill and The Stills
7/24 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
7/26 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center

7/28 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre - only The Stills

7/30 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
7/31 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
8/3 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
8/5 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
8/7 Bristow, VA (DC) Jiffy Lube Live

w/ The Black Keys and The Whigs

9/3 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
9/4 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
9/7 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion
9/8 Hershey,PA Hershey Park - Pavilion
9/10 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
9/11 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater
9/13 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Walnut Creek
9/17 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
9/18 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
9/20 Birmingham, AL Verizon Wireless Music Center
9/22 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
9/23 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center

Podcast 14 - Play It, Don't Spray It

After a week away, the guys discuss upcoming shows from Canasta, Kate Nash, Frightened Rabbit, and review recent shows from Phantogram and The Whigs.

You can get to the podcast by subscribing to it through iTunes or Zune, or using the feed in any other podcast provider. Or, you can simply listen with the widget on the right of the page.

The Whigs - April 23, 2010

The Whigs dipped into local waters for opening acts. Old Fake took the stage first, with a hard-charging sound that perfectly balanced punk and blues that made them an ideal opener for the Athens trio. The trio's sound had a lot in common with The Whigs, if you stripped away the southern influences. Keep an eye for them on upcoming shows in the area, and get there early because they are definitely worth your attention. More established Chicago act, Empires followed with a solid opening set. Their sound was a bit hard to peg, for better or worse, pulling at the corners of classic rock, alternative, adult contemporary, and even metal at times. Their intriguing blend of influences was not enough to stop from wishing Old Fake and Empires were reversed on the set.

The Athens, Georgia rockers took the stage to the Braves’ “Tomahawk Chop”, with the crowd happily joining in on the arm-swinging action. The trio took on light-hearted, keyboard-laced “Nothing Is Easy” first, giving long-time fans something to swoon over before hitting the new material hard. The set was dominated by the band’s two most recent efforts, with the easier-going material from their debut feeling a bit out of place at this point compared to the grittier sounds that followed.

The loose, jangling riffs and thumping bass line of “I Am For Real” served well as a bridge to the edgier rock that would follow. The trio jumped back to Mission Control for the hard-charging “Hot Bed”, showing off the tight sound of the trio and, front man, Parker Gispert’s energetic performance as he strutted across the stage to the beat. This is a band much larger than the stage they were playing. The set dove head-first into a handful off their fantastic third album, In The Dark, only slowing down for the clunky psychedelic clutter of “Dying”. The Tim Deaux’s rolling bass line and the frantic beat of Julian Dorio showed the band to truly be a three-man show.
Gispert’s grizzled vocals on “So Lonely” colored the song wonderfully before they busted out the album’s lead single, “Kill Me Carolyn”. The fluttering rumble of “Black Lotus” closed the pack of new material well, with wiry guitar blaring through. Gispert praised the enthusiastic crowd at the end, calling Chicago “the liveliest big city – New York and LA are a bunch of stiffies”. It felt a bit ironic, given the city’s reputation for standing motionless, but the band’s raucous rockers and no-nonsense attitude brought out the best in the crowd. The rippling beat of “Like A Vibration” led off a string of fan-favorites, leading into the stomping rhythm of “Production City” and explosive, anthem-ready “Right Hand On My Heart”.

Gispert’s move the keyboard took some air out of the set for “Half The World Away”, but the move served the band well; giving Deaux, now on guitar, and Dorio a chance to rock out a bit, and providing the calm before the storm. Shout-a-long epic, “Naked” served as the highlight of the night, where the slow-burn mystery of the verses played great against the snarling, empowering hook. The swaggering “Already Young” closed the regular set, and the band returned to the stage again to the “Tomahawk Chop” for the encore. The easy-going “Say Hello” from their debut kicked things off slowly, but the trio finished strong with southern-tinged, conscious-conflicted “Someone’s Daughter” and thrashing “Need You Need You”. Having seen them previously at Lollapalooza, we confidently say that they have never sounded better, and are a must-see band at this point. Consider yourself lucky if they are coming through your town and there are tickets still available.

Upcoming Shows - Week ending April 25th

Thursday, April 22nd - Lincoln Hall - 9pm - $13

Headliner: The Antlers

Opener: Phantogram

We begged you to catch, electro-pop duo, Phantogram when they played Schubas a few months ago, warning you that it would be a rare chance to catch the rising stars at a smallish venue. Now they are at the larger Lincoln Hall opening for, fellow buzz-band, The Antlers. It will not be long before venues this size will be a memory for them too.

Thursday, April 22nd - Congress Theater - 7pm - $25

Headliner: Passion Pit

Openers: Mayer Hawthorne & The Country

Having sold out Congress Theater earlier this month, Passion Pit return for what should be another sold out performance. Get your tickets while you can, as word of just how great their dance-happy, synth-fuelled rock is spreads.

Friday, April 23rd - Bottom Lounge - 8pm - $15

Headliner: The Whigs

Openers: Empires, Old Fake

You have a choice tonight, but one listen to the latest album from, Athens-based grunge rockers, The Whigs and the decision becomes clear. Blending blues and classic rock with their affinity for nineties grunge this time around works wonders for their already great sound. Get an early listen to a band you should not miss at Lollapalooza this year.

Friday, April 23rd - Park West - 8pm - $27

Headliner: Martin Sexton

Singer-songwriter Martin Sexton provides a great back-up plan for those who will get shut out of the sure-to-sell-out Whigs show. His amazing vocal range, heartfelt songwriting, and music that blends soul, blues, and roots rock is sure to please.

Sunday, April 25th - The Vic - 7pm - $21.50
Headliner: Sia

Sunday is a tough decision, sure to spread concert-loving Chicagoans across a few venues. There is no wrong choice here, and Australia's Sia certainly is a very good one. Her sound is pop, but is as unique, varied, and refreshing as her collaborations – which recently have included appearances on The Flight Of The Conchords' sophomore album, writing songs for Christina Aguilera's upcoming album, and laid down guest vocals on the David Byrne and Fatboy Slim album.

Sunday, April 25th - Lincoln Hall - 9pm - $14
Headliner: The Album Leaf
Opener: Sea Wolf

We do not normally recommend heading out to shows to see an opening act, but Sea Wolf is not normally an opening act. We love the gypsy-flavored acoustic rock of Sea Wolf more than we can possibly explain here. There is nothing quite like them in music today, and Alex Church Brown's knack for storytelling in the lyrics is just as gorgeous as the music. On album, Sea Wolf are a tranquil beauty. Live, they are an indie rock party. If you have never seen them live, you need to be at Lincoln Hall on Sunday night.
Sunday, April 25th - Metro - 9pm - $13
Headliner: White Rabbits
Openers: Here We Go Magic, Pet Lions

All you really need to know about White Rabbits can be seen in the clip of them playing "Percussion Gun" on Letterman last year. Soulful vocals, two drummers, and a ragged, heart-pounding indie rock sound make them a must-see band. Add in Chicago's own up-and-coming indie pop sensations Pet Lions, and we are not quite sure how there can possibly still be tickets available.

Podcast 13 - Is This Thing On?

This week, we discuss the recent Rogue Wave show at Lincoln Hall, drool over upcoming albums from AM Taxi, The Mynabirds, and The Dig. We also recommend a handful of great upcoming shows - including The Whigs this

You can get the podcast by subscribing by iTunes or Zune, or by using the podcast feed in any podcast provider, or just listen to it using the streaming widget on the right side of the page.

**Small programming note - Tonight's Bad Lieutenant show has been canceled due to the volcanic ash cloud travel restrictions.

The Whigs To Release In The Dark March 2nd

Athens, GA's finest band since R.E.M. announced a release date for their follow-up to 2008's Mission Control.  ATO Records will release the album on March 2nd.  Those who cannot wait a few months to get their ears on the new material can either head to http://www.thewhigs.com/ to grab free downloads of "In The Dark" and "Hundred/Million" from the band directly, or just head out to one of their December dates below:

December 4 - The Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, Georgia


December 5 - Rhythm & Brews - Chattanooga, Tennessee

December 8 - Visulite - Charlotte, North Carolina

December 10 - Black Cat - Washington, DC, Washington DC

December 11 - The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza - New York, New York

December 12 - North Star - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

December 14 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

December 15 - Pour House - Charleston, South Carolina
 
With The Features (the first band signed to Kings Of Leon's new imprint label) lending support for these shows, seems like a safe bet!  One listen to their ode to the working man, "The Temporary Blues", and you will know why we are so upset they are not hitting Chicago.