06.13.07 -- HOODLUMS, KINGS OF LEON
We have just learned that our buddies from Hoodlums out in Arizona are leaving the CIMS clubhouse at the end of July. When Hoodlums joined CIMS years ago, we had about 20 to 25 titles per month we were dealing with. Now it is north of 60 titles and growing. For a small store like Hoodlums, it gets to be really tough to bring in all of the required buy-ins that our programs demand. With all of the additional titles, it just started making sense for them to do their own thing. Their business is fine and they are really looking forward to killing it in the new school year. We urge you to continue to support their excellent in store programs that really speaks to the student body at ASU. We will really miss these guys but appreciate the need for their decision.
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At some point last week, Bob Lefsetz wrote:
174. Kings Of Leon "Because Of The Times"
Sales this week: 4,119
Cume: 103,437
In the top five of ALL acts I get e-mail about. A rabid fan base. But the records just don't justify a bigger career, not yet. They've yet to make that record that blows them up. I'm thinking they never will.
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Friday before last I went over to Atlanta to see the Kings of Leon. I saw the band's second show ever with 10 people at the Nick in Birmingham years ago. Count me hooked ever since. Bob has called me a cheerleader in some of his emails and I gladly accept the title when it comes to the Kings of Leon. Before this record, the only way to really see these guys was in the UK. The first time I saw them in London, I was blow away by how CRAZY the audience was. Then I would see them in the states and, although they rocked balls, the audience was still not so sure. I can remember the band telling me that Bonnaroo was the only place in the states that remotely felt like their European experiences.
So I trip over to the Tabernacle, a 2500 seater in downtown ATL, expecting to see another US KOL show. The first indication that something had changed were the scalpers asking for $150 to $200 per ticket. Really? Kids were stomping around all pissed that they could not get in.
The show was over the top. The band quit playing several times to let the audience finish the verse. Loudly. The wild thing is that the new songs got the biggest reaction and sing back. How could 2500 people be this familiar with the new material with those scans?
Come to find out, this story is repeating itself everywhere. Every show since May 1 has sold out. Tulsa, OK, Cain's Ballroom? Sold out in advance - 1600 tickets in Tulsa? Roseland Ballroom in NYC? This 3000 seater sold out in less than 30 minutes. Greek Theatre in LA? Most of the 6000 tickets available for the September 7th show are gone. To top all of that off, the band is scheduled to do ARENAS in the UK in December. The US will not be that far behind.
OK, based on what I know, this band is clearly blowing up. Why aren't the record sales reflecting that? Well, to be fair, they have sold 508,000 world wide in the first two months of release. Not shabby given the nature of the business. My issue is that this band, and any other band that does not just put out lowest common denominator tripe, is trapped in a really broken radio and retail environment in the US. Watching 2500 kids loose their minds when "On Call", the current single, is played live tells me that they know it and they love it. So, as Bob pointed out, why aren't the scans telling us the real story? I think we all know that answer.
If you are going to Bonnaroo this year, you owe me a beer. Oh, and bring your shorts. It is HOT.
