On the eve of the release of the new album ‘Can we please have fun?’, the Nashville band arrives with renewed energy at Lollapalooza 2024 and should use public reactions as a test for a new tour
For those with a good memory, the lineup Kings of Leon for the Lollapalooza 2024replacing the Paramore, may have sounded… familiar. And we’re not even talking about the festival’s frequent headliner changes – we remember those well. The quartet’s confirmation at 45 of the second half repeats the path they took when they came here, also at the last minute, in 2019.
This time, however, Kings of Leon arrives with renewed energy. This is what guarantees Caleb Followillfrontman of the band that also includes six brothers, Nathan It is Jared Followilland their cousin, Matthew Followill. Together, they will take the stage at the festival in São Paulo, on the 23rd, as a test to understand how to design the tour for the new album. Called Can we please have fun?the album is the group’s first released by Capitol Records It is scheduled to be released on May 10th.
“It’s an exciting time because we’re about to embark on the tour Can We Please Have Fun?so there are several tracks that we would like to be playing”, Followill tells Rolling Stone Brazil.
“For these shows now, we’re going to pick some fun songs and figure out the reactions, see what works and what doesn’t work to include or take away from the tour.”
It’s no easy task for the quartet. Even though they are dealing with a fanatical audience, which celebrated the replacement at Lollapalooza announced in February, they face the mission of balancing the new material with the classics 25 years of work in a show lasting just over an hour.
In their favor, they have a repertoire full of classics: “Use Somebody” It is “Molly’s Chambers” are almost guaranteed tracks on the show, as well as “Sex on Fire”, which usually ends his presentations. This time, however, they must include at least “Mustang”the first of the 12 tracks on the new work.
“It was difficult to choose between one song or another”, confesses Followill about the release of “Mustang” as the first single. “There are many refreshing moments on this album, with completely unique tracks. Who knows which one I would have chosen as the first single.”
According to the singer, the track represents part of the spirit of an album in which he sought to eliminate almost any external influence in the composition process: “I sat in my office and just looked around and used my imagination, like I did when I was a kid. And it shows As a result, when you listen to the tracks, there’s something about them that feels, I don’t know, inspiring and free.”
See below Caleb Followill’s full interview with Rolling Stone Brazil:
Rolling Stone Brasil: The band turned 25 and now has a new album called Can we please have fun? (Can we have some fun please?). Like this? Aren’t you guys having fun so far?
Caleb Followill: Yes yes. We had a lot of fun. I can’t wait to hit the road so we can have even more fun. But yes, that was one of the best moments I had with the band, just enjoying the process, loving every second of it.
Rolling Stone Brasil: As time passes, do you find it easier or harder to have fun making music?
Caleb Followill: You need to find new ways to enjoy it, I believe. For me, I loved the process of writing this record, I was really just trying to be free with my creativity and not let outside influences interfere with the tracks being written. So I took advantage. I sat in my office and just looked around and used my imagination, like I did when I was a kid. And it shows in the result, when you listen to the tracks, there’s something about them that feels, I don’t know, inspiring and free.
Rolling Stone Brasil: “Mustang”, of course, demonstrates well what it is saying. What does the track anticipate about the new album?
Caleb Followill: Choosing the new single was difficult – perhaps not for those around us. I think that Kid Harpoon, he quickly said that “Mustang” was going to be an impactful track. But even though “Mustang” is part of the album, every song is so unique and different. It was difficult to choose between one song or another. There are many renewing moments on this album, with completely unique tracks. So, if you listen to them individually, they will gain your attention, but if you listen to them in sequence, they all fit together, each in its own way. So I can’t wait for you to hear the other songs. Who knows which one I would have chosen as the first single.
Rolling Stone Brasil: How long did the album take to produce?
Caleb Followill: The recording itself didn’t take that long. We would go into the studio for two weeks and then be free for another two weeks. So the recording itself took about two months. But of course I started writing everything a few months before and we followed everything until the end, so in total the process took about six months, but the recording itself took place in two months.
Rolling Stone Brasil: The album comes out on May 10th, but before that you’ll stop by Brazil. And it’s been five years since they last performed here. Should we expect surprises? New tracks or any classics you haven’t played?
Caleb Followill: This is an exciting time because we are about to embark on the tour Can We Please Have Fun?, so there are several tracks that we would like to be playing. At the same time, we have a lot of classic material and we’re deciding what goes in and what doesn’t. For these shows now, we’re going to pick some fun tracks and understand the reactions, see what works and what doesn’t to include or take out of the tour.
Rolling Stone Brasil: This will be your sixth time in Brazil – where your fanbase is immense. The first visit is almost 20 years old. Do you have any particular memories of a time you came?
Caleb Followill: Yes, man, so many good memories of Brazil. I remember what I think was our first tour there. We were on a fun little tour with the Arcade Fire and the The Strokes through South America. Looking back, it must have been special to be a rock fan and go to a show with these three bands. But yes, we always really enjoy it when we go to Brazil. Beautiful place, beautiful people. Our fans there are excellent and we are always trying to come back.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
