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2009/10/12 - Council Bluffs, Iowa - Mid-America Center

8 Reviews

Sunday, October 18, 2009 - 10:51 pm - maddiebelair

I thought it was a really good show. I love Caleb & the rest of the band. Shit happens, people f*ck up. Caleb apologized for everything that happened anyways. They played well, too. Yeah, I understand, I was a little pissed that they were in a bad mood & that they didn't play the entire encore, but cut the guys some slack. They've been touring for awhile now, they're just tired & they've been doing a great job not letting it affect their performance.
*I love you, KOL, keep up your good work =)

A letter to Caleb

Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 6:37 am - longroad

Dear Caleb:

I understand.

You strive for perfection. Every show is important and you always want to put on a fine performance. I get that. I wouldn’t expect less.

I am confused.

Do you do this for the fans or yourself? If it was for us, you have a strange way of showing it. Berating your audience? Why? We all came to “the Mac” to see KOL. To be entertained by a band whose music we love. There wasn’t any other reason for us to be there. Apparently we, along with your sound crew, weren’t good enough to make the show perfect. You seem to lament the fact that most of your audience doesn’t know KOL’s older stuff. Again, why? Are you not interested in winning over more fans? You don’t see the opportunity every performance provides to show your new fans that there is more to KOL then “Only by the Night”? That the new fans can be hooked by your live performance and go out the next day to snap up your older material to discover a new side of the Kings? It’s too bad you don’t appreciate that. The great bands understand that some are late to the parade, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t eventually become some of your biggest fans. Well, unfortunately, you definitely didn’t achieve that in Council Bluffs. You may have turned some of them away.

I am embarrassed.

I introduced KOL to friends, my wife and even my eight year old son. Like me, they think you guys ROCK. I will never forget driving in the car with my son in the back seat, listening to my iPod, singing “On Call”. Not only was he belting it out, lost in your world of music, but he was mimicking your voice. Priceless. I couldn’t get my wife into KOL until “Only by the Night.” She then “discovered” the rest of your albums and rocked out to Molly’s Chambers and The Bucket with the best of them. I took her to the concert. Let’s just say she isn’t too impressed anymore. Why did you do that to me? All of my hard work went down the drain in your 75 minutes of expressed frustration.

WHY?

I DON’T UNDERSTAND.

PS: Others have commented that, despite your bad night, the show still rocked. For the most part it did, but you seemed somewhat disinterested. Also, admittedly, my wife and I are still on a high from seeing a fantastic performance by Pearl Jam in Chicago. In Chicago, the crowd was lethargic at the beginning (it was also Monday night and that does make a difference), but Eddie, ever the showman, gently pointed out that the energy was lacking and vowed to make it feel like Saturday night. They did. PJ ended up playing for 2.5 hours and blowing the roof off the United Center. That is what you guys need to strive for. Develop the ability to turn a mediocre night it an unforgettable one. It is YOUR SHOW and YOU CAN CONTROL the outcome.

Best regards and until next time…..

Attitude? Check. Guitars tuned? Check? My undying love for you.....CHECK!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - 12:07 pm - Elexakis

I was so excited that I could hardly speak
seeing KOL in my home state, oh what a week!
Spanning the crowd from June’s London could not compare
to the hundreds of fans breathing in cold Iowa air.
You ARE the KINGS in the UK and abroad
but here we are still a bit more seemingly slack-jawed.

It was the worst gig of yours I have ever seen
but by other band’s standards, it was still pristine
in the fact that you can ROCK OUT like none other
on stage with your cousin and your brothers….
but…the short set list and disenchanted eyes
as you kept looking at your watch, willing time to move by.

If this had been the first time I had seen you
I would have felt more disappointed and blue
but I’ve seen you at your rocking and rolling best
with tears in my eyes and hand at my breast.
Calling attention to the “idiots” in your crew
was not good, just not the thing to do.

My hope is that you take some time off
you NEED it, you deserve it, don’t get all soft.
Reboot, record and please don’t make more “pop”
because SOF fans don’t love you like I love you. Stop
before it’s too late, before another crowd is let down,
make Council Bluffs just another memory of a toured town.

Sadly Mediocre

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 10:31 pm - scholtzmj

This was my fifth time seeing the group as well and definitely the weakest showing. In the band's defense to an extent, I was near front center and Caleb's guitar was way too loud and Matt's was almost inaudible. So maybe there was something to his complaints. Still, no need to stick it to the fans like that.
The first few times I saw them were in spring of 2005 and fall 2007 and even though the crowds and venues were MUCH smaller it seemed they put more on the line. They recaptured that feeling last night with a few of the old songs (Taper, Bucket, Molly, Four Kicks, Slow Night) and Crawl as well. That alone makes this better than most concerts you could see for any band formed after the 90's.
I think the fundamental flaw is that the new album is just far less powerful both on record and live. It might be an easier "quick listen", but that just brings in all the obnoxious teeny bopper fans that probably piss the guys off as much as anything. And there were plenty of those in attendance last night. Ugh. Loading the setlist with OBTN tracks and ignoring some live staples (King of the Rodeo, Spiral Staircase, Trani, etc.) lessens the impact and energy of the show.
I got ahold of a setlist last night and they had "Manhattan" and "Black Thumbnail" listed for the encore but obviously that didn't happen.
10 out of 11 OBTN tracks (had they played Manhattan as planned) is about five too many. And I'd take three of their 2 or 3 minute album tracks over Knocked Up any day. Get back to where you once belonged Kings!

PS- I thought White Lies were talentless dorks, but the crowd was kind of into them, so maybe I'm wrong. I'd much rather see the Features again.

Disappointed

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 3:26 pm - lincolnfan1

While I don't have the seething anger that Metalsman has, I can totally see his point. I am more sad than mad that we didn't get treated to the normally awesome performance we get from the Kings. This is my fifth KOL concert (third this year) and the set list was definitely the shortest. I couldn't believe they stopped after only two encore songs. While I understand Caleb's frustration with his crew, he didn't really follow his own words. He said they always want to put everything into every concert for their fans. Well, them stopping short of a full concert isn't putting everything into every concert. It didn't affect their crew in any way (which is who they were mad at), it affected everyone in the audience. Yes, I could tell some of the songs didn't sound "perfect", but I would have rather heard them w/ their imperfections than not at all. Plus, all the newbies wouldn't have known the difference anyway. I'm so glad I have the memories from Red Rocks and the other venues I've seen them at and look forward to seeing them in concert again after they've been able to take a looonnngg break.

On another note, the security guys were awesome at pulling out the assholes that were trying to shove their way to the front. The MAC management, however, sucked. They were barring people from going back onto the floor when people went out to use the bathroom, buy a drink, etc, without any warning that they might not get back in.

Very dissapointing show

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 11:44 am - backspacer

Couldn't agree more with Metalsman's review, last night's show was very dissapointing. Caleb's attitude was out of control. I know it's been a long tour, you are playing to a half-full house in the middle of bumf*ck Iowa on a cold Monday night, and that you are having "issues" with your sound crew, but please show some damn respect to those of us that spent our hard earned money to come to your show. Don't berate the crowd and bitch about your sound crew at the mic. Caleb is definately working his way towards being a rock and roll cliche, the arrogant prick singer who ostracizes himself from his audience. Also it wasn't just Caleb. After their half-ass TWO song "ENCORE", Nathan chucked his sticks at the guys working the soundboard as Caleb stormed off the stage. Very classy guys.

White LIes

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 10:39 am - Metalsman

Wow, sorry gang. I was so seething mad about Caleb's punk ass attitude last night, that I forgot to mention the REALLY good part of the show. WHITE LIES!! They were FANTASTIC! Played a great set! Played hard, with emotion, and a lot of energy! Well, WELL done gentlemen! You guys are well worth an iTunes purchase!!

AWFUL SHOW!!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - 10:28 am - Metalsman

Most awful KOL show ever... Caleb was being a whiney bitch the entire night.

Let me count the ways...

He slammed his guitar down after 'Fans', stormed over to the guys at the sound board and chewed their asses for whatever reason(s). This is what started the night into a downward spiral of profanity-laden insults and pompous whining... It gets better, (actually, worse).

He points into the first couple rows and says to the crowd, "At least there are a few KOL fans that know how to rock. Show the rest of these people how it's done..." Hey, Caleb, word of advice... You ARE NOT in the UK. I don't give a flying monkey shit if you have throngs of fans in the UK, play to 20, 30, 40k+ fans a night, and are treated like 'Kings' over there. Hey, good for you. That's really great. Happy for ya. But over here, in the States, where you guys are trying to culminate your fanbase, you don't insult your adoring fans. You know, those said fans that dig into their pockets to pony up coin so that you, your brothers and your cousin can jet-set and globe-trot all over the world, and, 'live the dream'.

In case you haven't heard, Caleb, the U.S. is going through a major recession. Yes, we realize you are insulated to anything remoltely close to the 'real world'. You've got concerts, parties, after parties, after-after parties, women, booze, and Lord knows what else at your disposal. Us, as fans, who live in the a fore mentioned, real world, wouldn't have a f*cking clue what that is like. So, in turn, we pay good money to see you and your family play your fantastic music. And, for one night, we as fans, try and live vicariously through you, and your entire concert experience. So, it would be in your best interest, as performers, to make sure every person in that arena that paid their hard earned money to see you, in fact, gets their money's worth. I know, I know... poor rock stars, cut em a break, they've got it sooooo bad. 'We' wouldn't understand. SPARE ME! I'd cut out my own body parts with rusty garden tools to have the opportunity to make music with my family, and share that music with millions of people all over the world.

Also, when you stand in front of the crowd, and BITCH about your sound crew, and call them, 'f*cking idiots', it only degrades the experience. Word of advice... Don't tell the crowd that you have 'been doing this for a very, very, very, very, very, very long time', and that you 'strive for perfection every show' and that it is a shame that we, as a crowd, are subjected to your, 'f*cking idiot' crew. Pah-leeze. You haven't done shit yet. Are you guys amazing? Hell yes. The sky is the limit for KoL. It seriously is. But you haven't done this for a long, long, blah, blah, blah time. You aren't even a f*cking blip on the rock and roll radar yet fella. You COULD be. But your piss ass attitude will certainly prevent that from happening if you don't get over yourself! Ever heard of the Stones? Aerosmith? AC/DC? Metallica? Etc, etc... THOSE guys have done it for a long, long, long, etc, etc, time. Sure, you were probably bitching about it being the end of a very long tour. But all the same. Don't cry to US about it. We don't CARE! Just give us the damn music and be appreciative that people are coming to your shows.

Furthermore, it probably isn't in your best interest to tell the crowd, "Well, I was going to stay sober for this show and really keep it tight tonight and give you guys a great show...but, that shit went out the window a couple songs ago..." Excuse me? I don't give a shit if you are in a bitch-ass mood. I don't give a shit if you are strung out from being on the road. I don't give a shit if you are hung over, underslept, on your period, broke a nail, or whatever else may have been up your 'holier than thou' ass last night. All I care about is hearing your music. Save the cry-baby shit for AFTER the show. Don't make it part of the 1 hour and 23 minute LAUGHABLE 'set list' you guys put out there for us.

Also, your 'encore' SUCKED! 2 songs? Are you KIDDING ME? 2 lousy songs? Knocked up and Use Somebody? I've seen you enough to know that, at the VERY least, you throw 'Black Thumbnail' in there. But nooooo. You were in such a foul mood, that you ripped your guitar off after 'Use Somebody' and walked off the stage. Your brothers and Matt were left on stage looking like deer in headlights. So, they tried to save face, waved to the crowd a bit, then walked off stage.

I sure hope you heard me yelling at you as you were walking off. I really, really hope you heard me telling you to stick your 'Rock Star attitude' up your conceited ass, and to not come back to Iowa. I'll pass thank you very much. I don't need to spend that kind of money for ENTERTAINMENT, only to be grossly insulted by your lack of professionalism. Sure hope you don't subject the rest of your fans on your North American leg to this kind of behaivor. Should you do so, you can pretty much relegate yourself to touring the UK for the rest of your career (and that could be short lived if you continue to pull that kind of shit). The UK can HAVE YOU!

Ok, the good parts about the show. The songs they did play, they played relatively hard and loud. Nothing too spectacular. Pretty standard set list.

Minus Caleb's COMPLETE douchebaggery last night, the show would have been short, but stellar. But his God awful attitude last night completely destroyed the experience for me.

This band has a lot of growing up and soul searching to do yet. They obviously aren't ready to be huge in the U.S. And that's a shame. They could take the rock and roll world by the nuts and make it bow to their every whim. BUT, Caleb is obviously reading too many of his press clippings or something of the sort... As he is picking an awful time to be pretentious and arrogant.

I certainly don't want my money back after that awful show. But what I do hope is that the money I did spend goes to getting Caleb either some anger management or professionalism coaches. He is his, and KOL's worst enemy. They have the makings of solidifying their spots in rock and roll. But with performances like last night in Council Bluffs, Iowa, they'll be hard pressed to sell out an elementary school gym.

Kiss my ass Caleb. You were awful last night. The rest of the Followill boys were on their game though, and none of my scathing remarks in any way, relates to them.

I am DONE with KOL shows for now. I've got better things to spend my money on, than a cry-baby, whiney, prima donna, 'rock star'. I'll go see an Oasis show if I want that kind of experience. Oh, wait... Aren't they the band where the lead singer, Liam, was such a drunken, drugged up douchenuts that because of his actions, his brother, Noel, left the band? Oh yeah, those guys. Yet another example of the, 'coulda, shoulda, woulda, didn't' cliches in rock and roll. If Caleb isn't careful, that will be the similar fate to KoL. These guys are way too talented to pulling this crap.

*EDIT* As a point of reference... I did see Nathan chuck his drum sticks as the above poster, Backspacer had mentioned. Altough, from my vantage point, it appeared as though he was throwing them to the crowd. I thought they hit something, or bounced off some equipment. LITTLE did I know, Nathan was hurling them at their sound guys. Wow. Pathetic. The sad part about all of this is... Caleb didn't even have to make it a public matter. He/they could have just as easily handled that 'in-house' and say something to them without making such a damn big production out of it. Half the people wouldn't have known any different. Especially this clueless beat writer for the Omaha Herald that has OBVIOUSLY never seen a KOL show in his life... Thank god someone else posted about this show. I was hoping/wondering if I was the only one who saw the same putrid KOL performance.

They need to shut it down, and FAST. Get off the grind of the tour, take some time off. Relax a little, and get back into the studio. Besides, I need a good year or two to let the sting of this awful investment in time and money subside.

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