Seismic-Sound: Needtobreathe … Quite Possibly The New Kings of Leon. Whether We Like It Or Not.

Well not to say I told you so …. but I told you so.  A couple of years ago, I went to see a relatively unknown band that I had come up with in one of my late-night searches scouring the internet for some fresh new talent, both local and national. I stumbled up on this band that was from South Carolina known as Needtobreathe , and was instantly taken a back with their ridiculously tight sound, and not going to lie …their “Kings Of Leon” sound. 

Sure I had heard that they were Christian, but I still try to keep an open mind when it comes to music . I sat and listened to a couple of their tracks and was dumb-founded by the quality of their music overall. Was it a authentic sound? I guess that all could be argued, but very little out there is. Not long after , I purchased a download of the album … I was hooked. I also noticed shortly afterwards ( I read the small print in The Stranger) that they would be playing in Seattle at  Chop Suey (video is below) with Serena Ryder, so I jumped on the opportunity to see them and invited a couple of skeptical friends along.

Well quite simply … I was impressed and have never really looked back. I gloated that these guys were an incredible cross-over band and had “everything” that those shallow money hungry labels look for….. looks, talent, and some really good, radio-ready appeal (Atlantic had their eye on them, but wouldn’t truly pull the trigger back then). About a year and a half later, a fresh face and uber-successful Taylor Swift found them and fell in love and brought them on tour (still currently touring), and the rest is now history. Their star is rising, and the Christian messages are getting more eschewed, so you can’t really tell what their reference point is ….  you know it’s easier to sell those records to the “secular” public, but nonetheless; while Kings Of Leon flounder and struggle with their successful demons, there is a new band on the rise to take their place. I guess it’s true when they say that “everyone’s replaceable”(maybe not everyone). Look for their new album “The Reckoning” to drop on September 20th, 2011.