WORDS AND IMAGES SAM HOLT
Kaleo, the Icelandic Delta blues/folk-infused rock band, stopped off at The Halls, Wolverhampton, as part of their recent tour after previously touring America and Europe. This tour, known as The Payback Tour, comes after a touring sabbatical, and according to vocalist Jökull Júlíusson, they’re using it to get back on track. While the band originated in Iceland, I believe they are now based in America. They are fronted by the charismatic JJ, supported by David Antonsson on drums, Danny Kristjánsson on bass, and guitarist Rubin Pollock. They are also joined by Þorleifur Gaukur Davidsson (Thor), who plays a variety of instruments, adding extra depth to their sound. Interestingly, their name, Kaleo, translates to “sound” in Hawaiian, a fact they shared with the release of their first album.
There were two supporting acts tonight. Opening the evening was Junius Meyvant, an Icelandic singer-songwriter whose style has been described as a mix of soul, funk, and folk. His sound was intriguing, and I was captivated by his dry sense of humor, especially when he shared a story about his first kiss. I particularly enjoyed his blues song “High Alert.” What I didn’t expect was for JJ to join him on stage for his final song, a collaboration that was short but very enjoyable.
Shane Smith and the Saints followed, an American country band from Austin, Texas. I found myself captivated by their fiddle player, Bennet Brown, whose interactions with Shane were fantastic. A standout from their set was “All I See Is You.” While I hadn’t heard of them before, I gather they have supported acts like ZZ Top and Willie Nelson in the past and have a strong following.
Kaleo’s setlist was dominated by songs from A/B, but they also included some new music. A little after 9:00, the lights dimmed, the stage was bathed in red, and the band began to tease the introduction. JJ entered from stage right and launched into “USA Today” and “Break My Baby.” He set the tone for “Broken Bones” by clapping before playing the song’s powerful riff. Thor stepped to the front of the stage to play his harmonica, adding another rich layer to the mix. It was an exciting start to the set. The performance included “Automobile,” a catchy tune that draws you in and leaves you whistling along with JJ. Before long, you really feel like you’re “traveling along at 100 miles an hour” in that automobile.
Much like the high notes JJ manages to hit so well in “All the Pretty Girls,” he takes it up a notch with “Hey Gringo,” a song that showcases both his falsetto and his signature husky tones. The harmonica solo by Thor adds something unique and very effective. I was impressed by how seamlessly the band shifted from rock and blues to more tender ballads like the standout “Vor í Vaglaskógi,” their rendition of a 1960s Icelandic ballad. It’s a haunting tune that stood out from the rest of the concert.
The song that perhaps resonated most with the audience was “Way Down We Go,” a track featured on many TV soundtracks. I imagine many people were drawn in by this song. The final track of the concert, “No Good,” which was used in a Renault TV commercial, was met with thunderous applause. The band returned for an encore, performing the high-energy “Rock ‘n’ Roller,” a popular choice that left the audience cheering.
The lighting throughout the night was dark and moody in places, perfectly complementing their music style—an intriguing blend of ‘Icelandic meets Americana’ that they portray so effectively. Tonight, the music spoke for itself, and it’s been an incredible night of Delta Blues—a genre I hadn’t explored until recently. The crowd, like me, seemed mesmerized by the ‘Kaleo’ of this terrific band.
SET LIST
1/ USA Today
2/ Break My Baby
3/ Broken Bones
4/ I Can’t Go On Without You
5/ All The Pretty Girls
6/ Automobile
7/ Hey Gringo
8/ Hot Blood
9/ Lonely Cowboy
10/ Vor i Vagkaskogi
11/ Skinny
12/ Way Down We Go
13/ No Good
14/ Rock n’Roller
FOLLOW KALEO
FOLLOW JUMIUS MEYVANT
FOLLOW SHANE SMITH AND THE SAINTS
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
