Kings Of Leon, The Mooney Suzuki

This rather odd gig-venue-within-a-shopping-centre is always going to be, well, rather odd, and tonight was no exception. In brief, The Mooney Suzuki provided an energetic, indulgent, but helplessly likeable opening - no doubt for the primary benefit of the well represented industry, throwing themselves and their instruments all over the stage and whipping the groundlings into a dangerous frenzy.

Cue much stage-diving and energetic jostling as the Boys Of Leon take to the stage. A glorious mix, all that testosterone-fuelled headbutting to the tune of Molly's Chambers. Royal the Kings were not tonight though, with Caleb apologising for his flu-ridden vocals and looking like he'd spent a godawful day at HMV, which he had. Matthew on the other hand was on fine form, but it was a tight, even terse set that left little room for the trance-inducing genius I've seen them achieve previously on tracks like Milk and Trani. More Milk and Cookies than anything else for Caleb tonight I think.

When: 1/11/04
Who: Kings of Leon, The Mooney Suzuki
Where: Islington Academy
Review by: Jane Rich
Pitchfork reviews: Kings of Leon, Mooney Suzuki