Austin City Limits: Day 1
This festival has been bedeviled by curious weather every year since I started coming back in 2005, but not today. Highs were in the mid to high 80s. As night fell, it was clearly in the low 70s.
The Walkmen, who play Meacham Auditorium tonight, performed at 3:30, delivering their usual dose of all-out performance. Just as all you can ask from your favorite sports team is that they leave it on the field, that’s what this New York-based quintet gives. Lead singer Hamilton Leithauser appeared literally at the point of self-destruction at different points throughout the show. No member leaves the stage who isn’t in a full sweat.
Kings of Leon, who play the Ford Center tonight, was easily the draw of the day — perhaps the entire festival. There is no band on the face of the planet riding more positive buzz than these Grammy-winning kinsman. The Followills, two brothers and two cousins, are nosing their way to U2 hype. With two members born in Oklahoma City, they might even be a more important act to see than Bono and the gang in a couple weeks.
While the attendance Friday was more than 60,000, it’s difficult to believe any less than 55,000 of those were anywhere but the Livestrong stage as the night came to a close. Unfortunately, some shoddy sound engineering muted the sound. Fans in the middle to the back of the stage could barely make out songs. That won’t be a problem for Ford Center fans.
Kings of Leon is brand-new to headling, and it shows. I saw them in 2006 at the Diamond Ballroom, and their style on stage hasn’t progressed much. That’s not to speak ill of it, but simply to point out that you shouldn’t go expecting a dynamic stage presence. This is a hardworking band who lets their music speak for them. Not a bad idea when your music is this good.
Kings of Leon play at the Ford Center tonight, doors open at 7. The Walkmen play at Meacham Auditorium on the OU campus at 8.
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