Live music review: Kings of Leon and Phantogram Prove They Have Plenty of Fire at Moody Center

I hate the term “guilty pleasure.” Loving music based on the approval of others will drain you. While I’m not saying I’ll grab the aux cord to blare “Sex on Fire” during a road trip, I will die on the hill that Aha Shake Heartbreak was a seminal record for 2000s alternative and indie rock. Maybe it’s the Nashville boy in me, the lover of arena rock, or the nostalgia for how their southern riffs colored my upbringing in Tennessee. Kings of Leon rock. And on August 14 at Austin’s Moody Center, they brought a 28-song, anthemic setlist to prove it.

First, Phantogram set the night’s tone with a blend of electronic textures and ethereal vocals. I don’t know what synth-pop or trip-pop really mean, but Phantogram has it. Their biggest hits bookended a tight 10-song set with tracks like “When I’m Small” and “Fall in Love,” hypnotizing the crowd into a deep sway. Lead singer Sarah Barthel captivated with soaring vocals while Josh Carter’s sampled layers rounded out their trippy sound.

Then the Followill fam; Caleb, Nathan, Jared, and Matthew graced the stage to a roaring crowd. They kicked off the night with “Ballerina Radio,” the opening track off their latest record, Can We Please Have Fun. The pulsing bassline and Caleb’s raspy vocals echoed through the packed arena. What followed was a two-decade, career-spanning set that showcased their evolution from southern indie rockers to arena-filling icons.

But the night wasn’t all about nostalgia. Tracks from their most recent album, “M Television” and “Split Screen,” fit seamlessly alongside classics “Closer” and “On Call.” Caleb’s gritty and soulful voice cut through the arena with conviction that seemingly only 20-plus years on the road can provide.

Slower ballads like “Milk” and “Back Down South” contrasted well with the big riffs and sing-alongs that dominated the night. As the opening notes of “Molly’s Chambers” rang out, I thought back to a School-of-Rock-style music camp I attended after freshman year of high school. We played the song for our big performance and, to no surprise, received one of the biggest responses of the night. It helps when every 15-year-old musician in Nashville is a savant.

“Pyro” stood out as the band dialed back the intensity, letting haunting lyrics and a reverb-drenched chorus take center stage. The night was a perfect blend of power and nuance, with emotionally charged ballads balanced by the band’s signature rock energy.

The Moody Center felt like the ideal setting for a band that’s spent decades honing their craft and perfecting their performance. For those who have followed Kings of Leon from their early days, the show was a rewarding mix of classics and fresh energy. If the night was any indication, Kings of Leon still have plenty of fire left in them, and Austin was more than happy to bask in the glow.

All photos by Drew Doggett

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