As a fan of Kings of Leon I was totally pumped to have the chance to see their performance – beamed from London and directed by Fred Armisen recently. But this wasn’t just some regular “viewing”. Along with other fellow bloggers, I got the chance to experience it in style, thanks to American Express.
The Kings for Leon performance was the 13th in the American Express UNSTAGED series. It’s part of American Express’ ongoing efforts to create an unforgettable concert viewing experience for their Cardmembers and music enthusiasts. And it gave me a chance to experience the superb American Express Cardholder service and exclusive access first-hand.
UNSTAGED is a cool concept which combines top directors or famous personalities who direct a concert featuring top musical acts. Together, they create unscripted, unexpected musical stories and performances. It’s a very refreshing concept when you think about it…after all, where else can you see Steve Buscemi directing Vampire Weekend or The Killers directed by Werner Herzog?
I got to see the 13th UNSTAGED concert in true American Express style.
The night started out by getting to ride in style in a plush tour bus with super-funky ceiling mirrors.
Getting off the bus at Revolution Recording Studios, the paparazzi were waiting for us. I felt like a rock star!
After we got off the bus, we got our photo taken on a mini-red carpet and complete with a backdrop with the night’s theme.
Once inside, we had a chance to mingle before the concert from London was beamed on the tv screens.
Then it was time for the concert. Kings of Leon hit the stage! One cool feature is called “Choose Your Cam”. It allows audience to control their viewing experience throughout the performance by switching between the main director’s stream and a second camera to capture alternative vantage points, from backstage to the front row. Talk about a personalized viewing experience!
As the concert went on, I got to have a delectable three-course meal with these lovely people.
Inspired by the concert, a bunch of us decided to take a shot at doing our own recording. Which also sort of made sense, considering our venue.
If you missed the Kings of Leon performance, or want to re-live it again, check out the American Express UNSTAGED YouTube channel. It’s got other past performances as well.
Overall, a fantastic evening and a great chance to feel the superb customer service experience from American Express.