How the heck did Kings of Leon wind up at Wembley? Four years ago the Followill family – three brothers and a cousin from Tennessee, the former the offspring of a Pentecostal preacher – were a Southern States wannabe Strokes, known for their profuse facial hair as much as their stomping songs. Three albums on, with hardly a hit single between them, Kings of Leon have somehow morphed into an arena act with a following so rabid that they make a Kasabian crowd look like Michael Bublé fans.

For all the obvious faults of the mostly male audience – full pints of beer flew overhead, there were fist fights with security staff and the 30-second trip to the toilets was deemed too lengthy by many when a nearby wall would do – their enthusiasm gave the gig an edge it would otherwise have lacked. Every song was greeted like a classic, every chorus chanted along to and beats mirrored back with coordinated handclaps.

Musically, certainly, Kings of Leon were impressive. They powered through more than 20 endlessly inventive songs in less than 90 minutes with a bluesy swagger, backed by pounding drums, and as capable of channelling U2’s anthemic atmospherics as pulling hip-shaking tunes from a cacophonous punk racket.

The fabulous Fans mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd’s blues-rock with buzzy bass, Arizona boasted a Led Zeppelin-style solo and slowly swelling, psychedelic effects, while Milk had its softly delivered lyrics set to chiming guitars as a mirrorball sent shards of light spinning round the arena.

Yet what felt like a party on the floor looked like a wake on stage. The leader, Caleb Followill, his hair now short and his beard reduced to stubble, may be able to pull supermodels, but it’s unlikely that he does it with his chat.

“We’re Kings of Leon,” he offered, pointlessly, half an hour in, while asking the crowd to sing along when they already were was plain dumb.

Four family members close to causing a riot couldn’t muster a smile between them and shape-changing screens at the back proved more exciting to watch than three pretty boys with guitars. Top marks for the music, zero for effort.

Editor's choice

• U2 at Nou Camp Stadium, Barcelona
• The 50 Best Movie Villains
• The 15 golden rules of theatre etiquette