Kings of Leon’s ‘positive’ message during their Co-Op Live gig left me standing in silence.
The American band played at a packed venue but despite the unforgettable set, it wasn’t until the final 40 minutes of the gig that a section of the crowd was engaged. Around the arena, you could see people with laptops, iPads and phones out - with their attention obviously elsewhere.
Kings of Leon didn’t deserve that as they put on a great show, as always. It was the fifth time that I had seen the band and I have never walked away disappointed.
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But last night I felt sorry for them having to deal with thousands of fans wanting minute-by-minute updates from the Euro 2024 semi-final. You’d have thought the biggest reaction of the night would have been for the popular single Sex on Fire, which received a great response, but that wasn’t to be the case.
I saw the opportunity of heading to Manchester for a gig as a great way to escape the football, but even before Kings of Leon got on stage I knew that wasn’t going to be the case as news filtered through of Harry Kane’s equaliser. The band ignored it throughout their performance but the celebrations started again, during one of their songs, as Ollie Watkins sealed England’s place in the final.
Eventually, the band embraced the patriotic crowd and issued a message on the big screen to confirm the final score of the England vs Netherlands semi-final, which sparked huge celebrations in the arena and a rendition from the crowd of ‘Football’s Coming Home’ song, which I didn’t enjoy.
I stood there in silence as thousands around me celebrated. If they were so invested in the football they should have stayed away and passed their tickets to someone who would have been more engaged.
I have to admit that I’m not a fan of the England national team. So, when I returned to my car and learned that Sweet Caroline was being blasted after I had left the arena, I was actually relieved to have missed that moment.
During the show, Caleb Followill stated that he sees the UK as their second home due to their popularity here and dedicated their performance of ‘Fans’ to the thousands at the arena. A personal highlight for me was the performance of Milk and Closer, two of my favourite Kings of Leon songs which allowed me to return to my teens and early 20s.
The band promised to return to the UK soon and they don’t appear to show any signs of stopping soon as they continue to put on a show.
It was my first visit to Co-op Live since it opened earlier in the year and it is an impressive venue. You can see why some of the world’s biggest artists are booked to play at the arena over the coming months and makes me envious that we don’t have an arena of a similar capacity in Liverpool to host these global stars.
It’s now five years since Kings of Leon came to Liverpool and blew the audience away at Sefton Park and with two arenas less than 40 miles away with larger capacities, our city is restricted in who they can attract 12 months of the year. Other than the summer gigs at Anfield, and the potential of Bramley Moore Dock, the big acts are disappointingly more likely to head down the the M62.
Setlist
- Ballerina Radio
- On Call
- The Bucket
- Taper Jean Girl
- Revelry
- Nothing to Do
- My Party
- Sex on Fire
- Don’t Stop the Bleeding
- Comeback Story
- Pyro
- Mustang
- Molly’s Chambers
- Milk
- Fans
- Back Down South
- Nowhere to Run
- King of the Rodeo
- Wait for Me
- Split Screen
- The Bandit
- Find Me
- Closer
- Seen
Encore
- Rainbow Ball
- Waste a Moment
- Knocked Up
- Use Somebody
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James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
