The Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum band Kings of Leon released its eighth studio album, When You See Yourself, earlier this year and is coming to the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Aug. 25.
Kings of Leon, whose hit songs include 2008 tracks “Use Somebody” and “Sex on Fire,” have been dominating the modern rock scene since forming in Nashville, Tenn. in 1999. The tour will stop at outdoor venues across North America, with $1 of each ticket going to the band’s new foundation called Inherit the Music, which funds music education and increases accessibility to music. The band has been eagerly waiting to perform live for the past year and a half.
“We actually finished [the album] right before the pandemic,” said vocalist Caleb Followill. “We were planning our next move … but that all stopped.”
Making When You See Yourself was a unique experience since all the members felt like they were on the same page and drawing inspiration from the same places.
“There was a different atmosphere in the studio … we had a clear picture going in of what we wanted to make, and that’s not always the case,” said Followill. “I feel like I had a bunch of stories I wanted to tell.”
Kings of Leon were also the first to ever release a new album as a non-fungible token (NFT). An NFT is a digital property that represents real-world items that can be bought or sold online and is generally one of a kind or very limited. They have unique identifying codes and allow buyers to take ownership of the original digital item.
The band made six “golden ticket” experiences available which offered fans four front row seats to a show of their choosing on each tour for life, as well as an exclusive track called “Going Nowhere.”
“We wanted to have to take advantage of the chance to be on the forefront of something,” said Followill. “It’s a way for artists to get back ownership of their craft … this is something that’s yours.”
Releasing the album as an NFT also gives fans the chance to own a special piece of the album, and many artists are now following suit.
Having to put their original album and tour plans on hold for more than a year has made the band even more excited to return to live shows, they said.
“I’m going to be probably as excited to be there as the fans are … we’ve been cooped up like everyone else,” said Followill.
Although not excited to leave his family and especially 2-year-old son, the high of performing live makes it worth it, he added.
After this North American tour, Kings of Leon will head to other countries and plan appearances at festivals, so don’t miss them at the Jones Beach Theater on Aug. 25!
“Jones Beach, man, that’s a fun gig,” Followill said. “You just see a lot of familiar faces that got you to the place you are now, it’s always a fun experience.”
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit jonesbeach.com.
For more entertainment coverage, visit longislandpress.com/category/entertainment
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