Nashville.com Visitors Guide To Nashville, TN
Last Thursday night, Kings of Leon delivered a electrifying performance at Bridgestone Arena, marking the 35th stop of their “Can We Please Have Fun” tour. The band, which formed in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 25 years ago, treated their hometown crowd to an unforgettable evening of music and visuals.
The night kicked off with an energetic performance by Phantogram. Their opening set, enhanced by stunning lights and lasers perfectly synced to each song, set the tone for the evening. The crowd erupted during their hit “Black Out Days,” which has garnered over 300 million streams on Spotify, providing an early highlight to the night.
Then Kings of Leon took the stage, opening with “Ballerina Radio,” the lead track from their latest record. The song was accompanied by mesmerizing visuals of fast-moving cityscapes projected on the video screens, drawing the audience in from the very first note. The crowd, was singing and dancing from the moment the band stepped onto the stage.
The stage design featured vibrant imagery that perfectly complemented their songs, creating an immersive experience. To the crowd’s surprise, their massive hit “Sex On Fire,” which boasts over a billion listens on Spotify, was played early in the set, defying expectations that it might be reserved for the encore.
One of the night’s most unique moments came when the band performed a special “song for the city,” honoring Nashville with a heartfelt rendition of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own.” This slowed-down, intimate performance allowed both the band and the audience to appreciate the moment together, creating a truly special connection.
Fun fact: the members of Kings of Leon are all related, consisting of brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill, along with their cousin Matthew Followill. Their familial bond has been a defining feature of their career, contributing to the tight-knit energy they bring to the stage.
As the night progressed, the band played fan favorites including “Mustang,” “WALLS,” and “Closer.” After a powerful set, the audience, still buzzing with energy, chanted for more, prompting a three-song encore. Kings of Leon returned to the stage to perform “Rainbow Ball,” “Knocked Up,” and their chart-topping anthem “Use Somebody,” closing out the night with a wave of nostalgia for longtime fans.
The night was a hometown reunion and a celebration of Kings of Leon’s 25-year career, it was a great night of new material mixed with classic hits.
–Sidney Roberts
SET LIST:
Ballerina Radio
The Bucket
The Bandit
On Call
Nowhere to Run
Manhattan
Razz
My Party
Sex on Fire
Revelry
Beautiful War
Pyro
Dancing on My Own
(Robyn cover) (#songforthecity; first performance since 2014)
Supersoaker
M Television
Back Down South
Mustang
Molly’s Chambers
WALLS
((Big outro))
Waste a Moment
Find Me
Seen
Closer
Encore:
Rainbow Ball
Knocked Up
Use Somebody
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