Unfettered and unparalleled, indie-rock legends Kings of Leon kicked off their “Can We Please Have Fun” World Tour with a bang. Perfectly melding the nostalgic and the new, the band commanded thousands at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, the first stop on their run of UK and European dates throughout the summer.
Twenty-one years since the release of their debut record, the band triumphantly celebrates the May release of their ninth studio album, Can We Please Have Fun. The album marks their first release since 2021’s When You See Yourself, and finds the band “letting it all go,” “[getting] their groove back” and “[owning] who [they] are.” As Nathan Followill mentions in an interview with Audacy, the band truly made this album for themselves. And with the glowing reviews and abounding praise from its first big night out, it’s clear that the band has thoroughly enjoyed taking their restored confidence for a spin.
Starting the show with “Ballerina Radio,” Jared Followill’s pulsing bass and the band’s expansive build-up proved the ideal jumping off point for the energy-filled set. The Followill brothers (and their cousin) continued, dusting off some catalog favorites like "Comeback Story" (last performed in 2017), "Wait For Me" (last performed in 2018) and "My Party" (last performed in 2019). The band covered all their bases, performing at least one song from each of their nine records, including eight off their most recent release, and five from their award-winning classic, Only by the Night. Breaking the usual save-the-best-for-last formula, Kings of Leon performed their crowd-pleasing showstopper “Sex on Fire” smack dab in the middle of their set, followed by the live debut of “Don’t Stop the Bleeding.” As per The Guardian, this cathartic mid-set whiplash solidified their status as “masters of the beautifully restrained anthem.”
The audience was overtaken by the undulating current of the band’s passionate performance. Like a built-in choir, the nearly 14,000 fans in attendance sang along to every lyric impressively delivered by Caleb Followill. The band was locked in, unbelievably in tune with each other and the audience, issuing a captivating lesson in how to command a crowd. After 24 songs, the band returned for the encore, setting the tone with the live debut of “Rainbow Ball.” An electrifying conclusion to an already sensational performance, Kings of Leon thrilled the crowd with explosive renditions of “Waste a Moment” and “Use Somebody.” The crowd erupted in rapturous excitement, arms in the air and hands raised in praise as they echoed each verse.
Kings of Leon has been in the game for decades. After allowing themselves the opportunity to fully delve into their creative desires on Can We Please Have Fun, totally unrestrained, it’s clear the band has found what works. Giving the band a five-star rating for The Guardian, Dave Simpson reflects on the fruits of their rediscovered self-possession.
"Waste a Moment and Use Somebody are more conventional big hitters, by which time there isn’t a voice in the house that isn’t yelling along, but these are relatively rare grand gestures in a marvelous show that’s otherwise a refreshingly understated triumph."
"Can We Please Have Fun" World Tour
06/22 - Birmingham, United Kingdom @ Utilita Arena Birmingham
06/23 - Bristol, United Kingdom @ Ashton Gate Stadium
06/27 - Linz, Austria @ Lido Sounds
06/30 - London, United Kingdom @ Hyde Park
07/02 - Glasgow, United Kingdom @ OVO Hydro Arena
07/04 - Silverstone, England @ F1 British Grand Prix Opening Concert
07/06 - Dublin, Ireland @ Marlay Park
07/08 - Nottingham, United Kingdom @ Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
07/10 - Manchester, United Kingdom @ Co-op Live Arena
07/12 - Cologne, Germany @ Lanxess Arena
07/14 - Carhaix-Plourguer, France @ Vieilles Charrues
07/17 - Kraków, Poland @ Tauron Arena
07/19 - Cuxhaven, Germany @ Deichbrand Festival
08/14 - Austin, TX @ Moody Center
08/16 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
08/17 - Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena
08/20 - Phoenix, AZ @ arizona Financial Theatre
08/22 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Kia Forum
08/23 - Palm Desert, CA @ Acrisure Arena
08/25 - Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre
08/26 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
08/28 - Portland, OR @ Moda Center
08/29 - Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
08/31 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Rogers Arena
09/02 - Edmonton, Alberta @ Rodgers Place
09/03 - Calgary, Alberta @ Scotiabank Saddledome
09/05 - Winnipeg, Manitoba @ Canada Life Centre
09/13 - Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater
09/14 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center
09/16 - Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
09/18 - Queens, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
09/20 - Washington, DC @ The Anthem
09/22 - Washington, DC @ The Anthem
09/23 - Philadelphia, PA @ Mann Center for the Performing Arts
09/25 - Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
09/26 - Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
09/28 - Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
10/01 - Toronto, Ontario @ Budweiser Stage
10/02 - Laval, Quebec @ Place Bell
10/05 - Bridgeport, CN @ Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
10/07 - Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
