Way Out West 2018 Day 1 (August 9) The festival's first day turns out to be pretty perfect weather wise. The sun is shining and it's not too hot. People sit in hoards outside the entrance drinking beer and wine, waiting for the gates to open. I feel lucky that I collected my wrist band... Continue Reading →
Where the Bands Are (Guns N’ Roses, 21 July, 2018)
When you go and see a band who were your heroes thirty years ago you shouldn’t expect them to be the same musicians you saw then. I know that, yet I'm a bit disappointed with some parts of Guns N' Roses' show in Ullevi last night. Axl Rose's voice simply isn't quite there any more.... Continue Reading →
I Don’t Want To Go Home (Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, 20 July, 2018)
The tiny venue, Kulturbolaget Club, is literary steaming as Little Steven and his 14 piece band the Disciples of Soul enter the stage and start playing. The band is tight, energetic and on. A five piece horn section, percussionist, drummer, two keyboard players, three back-up singers, bass, and a guitar, they play as one big... Continue Reading →
Where the Bands Are (Van Morrison, 16 July, 2018)
It was a last minute decision to go see Van Morrison in Gothenburg last night. I'm not that fond of jazzy music, but checking off "Van the man" from my bucket list was reason enough to give it a go. Morrison shows up on stage ten past eight on this very hot and sunny summer... Continue Reading →
Where the Bands Are (Ed Sheeran, 10 July, 2018)
Ed Sheeran's stage setup is deceptively simple: on the surface just a man and his guitar. In reality: a massive sold-out outdoor venue with huge screens showing his every move and grinning phizog and a bloke on hand to pass him his pre-tuned acoustic guitar. Seemingly filled with an innocent boyish charm Sheeran confidently bashes... Continue Reading →
Where the Bands Are (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, 17 June, 2018)
American singer-songwriter and guitarist, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are a really strong live act. Their show in Gothenburg has been sold out for some time now. Their latest album the Nashville Sound was released in June 2017 and has been rewarded two Grammys (Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song). On the... Continue Reading →
Where the Bands Are (Brian Fallon and the Howling Weather, 14 June, 2018)
Gaslight Anthem's frontman Brian Fallon's solo career started, when the band decided to take an indefinite break in 2015. The first solo album "Painkillers" was released in 2016 and it was quite successful. Last time Brian Fallon was in Gothenburg in December 2016, I didn't particularly like the show to be honest (though the reviews... Continue Reading →
Where the Bands Are (Foo Fighters, 5 June, 2018)
Foo Fighters' last show in Ullevi (June 12, 2015) is a modern classic: already in the second song, during the audience's favourite Monkey Wrench, singer/frontman Dave Grohl takes an unluckily step and falls off the stage slap-bang down on the ground. Nobody understands what has happened at first, but from the look on drummer Taylor... Continue Reading →
Where the Bands Are (Mando Diao, 1 June, 2018)
It's notable from the start that the band Mando Diao have decided not to let Gothenburg's ongoing heat wave stop them from doing a great show. It's never easy to play on a sunlit stage in an amusement park, but the band is doing their very best to reach out to the audience and they... Continue Reading →
Where the Bands Are (Icona Pop, 10 May 2018)
In 2009 Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo formed the Swedish electro-pop duo, Icona Pop. Their biggest hit, so far, is I love it (2012). Their musical influences are electro house, punk and indie pop. Since the release of their breakthrough album This is...Icona Pop in 2013 they've been busy touring (opening for Miley Cyrus, Kate... Continue Reading →