Pearl Jam June 15, 2008

At the dawn of the '90s, Pearl Jam came together to form one of the most influential bands of the modern era. Beginning with their iconic debut album, 'Ten,' in 1991 and continuing through to today, the quintet have consistently combined the perfect amalgam of punk aesthetics with anthemic, classic rock sounds, and in the process have created one of the most respected catalogs in rock history. For the past 17 years, Pearl Jam has remained a relevant cultural and political force, having completed countless international tours and selling over 60 million records worldwide. The Kings of Leon picks up where Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd left off and adds a dash of modern rock 'n' roll to keep things from sounding too dated. While the band, a trio of brothers plus a cousin, exhibits a love for loud and dirty rock 'n' roll that made Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama' a radio hit, there's more than long hair and confederate dreams in its music. With a keen ear for gooey pop melodies that hints at a closet love for '60s and '70s pop, the Kings may woo the fans of typical alt-rock balladry as well. The heart of the band, which borrows its "Leon" moniker from its father and grandfather's first names, still beats for the south. Sitting somewhere between the Black Crowes and the power-pop revisionism of Arlo, the Kings of Leon's Southern rock revival may help shepherd the sound into the new century.