Leon's a big band fit for a King

Kings of Leon - the Followill brothers singer-guitarist Caleb, bassist Jared and drummer Nathan, and guitarist cousin Matthew Followill - may well become the Kings of American Rock.

"If the world is looking for a big band from our generation, we at least want to give it a shot," Caleb told The Associated Press recently. "We'll put ourselves up there against anyone, because we're very competitive and we're family. Yeah, we'll give it a shot. I'm not afraid to at least try."

If they do become the band of their generation - the Top 3 debut of their "Come Around Sundown" album last month would suggest they're making headway - it may be because of the Goldilocks Effect. Everything about them is right for stardom.

Although their early albums featured way more wild-eyed, unpredictable Southern rock, KoL has settled into a more radio-friendly sound since the breakthrough hit, "Sex on Fire."

NOT TOO SOFT

In the afterglow of their "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody" smashes, they started getting all sorts of offers. "We got an offer to appear on an episode of 'Ugly Betty,' " Jared told the British music publication NME. "They wanted us to play ourselves. We were supposed to come in and help her out with some problem or other." They turned it down. They apparently turned "Glee" down as well.

EAGER

"We don't worry about , but you think about it," Jared told MTV. "We have to think about it, because we're from America. It's not for superficial reasons that we want to be big here, it's just for respect reasons, you know?"

NOT TOO EAGER

"We definitely got bigger than we wanted to be," Caleb told Spin. "That woman in mom jeans who'd never let me date her daughter? She likes my music. That's -- not cool. . . . When people ask you to do stuff, you're like, 'No, because I can already tell this record is going to get to a level where people will -- hate us.' "

WHO Kings of Leon

WHEN | WHERE 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Madison Square Garden, find tickets here.