Las Vegas Weekly

Kings of Leon

The Joint, August 19

Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill

Photo: Bill Hughes

I experienced a show upstairs at the new(ish) Joint for the first time, and while it sounds about 10 times better than the balcony at the old place—remember, you could reach up and touch the ceiling?—I have to wonder why the designers didn’t hang the second and third levels much farther out over the floor and bring them in significantly at the sides. The floor has always been the Joint’s primary concern, and rightly so, but it’s a pretty distant view from the seats to the stage; in contrast, the balconies at the House of Blues, Pearl and even Planet Hollywood’s Theatre for Performing Arts feel much more a part of the action.

As for the night’s headliner, I can’t say I fully comprehend why Kings of Leon sold the place out several months in advance. Alternating between somewhat gritty Southern garage-rock and more M.O.R. arena cuts, the Followill family foursome did nothing to embarrass (unless you count those distracting and unnecessary video screens), but did little to stand out, either. Opening trio The Whigs, on the other hand, played like a band with something to prove. If you missed their foot-stompingly energetic set, don’t worry—they’re back at Beauty Bar on November 20, for a lot less money.