It’s a dull time for weather this time of year in Denmark, which is thankfully the best season for concerts. With that, I was excited to begin the weekend at almost full K.B. Hallen and let Black Pumas take my mind off this week.

I have noticed lately that Black Pumas is a criminally unknown band here in Denmark. This American psychedelic soul band deserves much more attention than they are seemingly receiving. The band is formed by the singer/songwriter Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adian Quasada - and oh my what a duo they make. The music is a magical combination of clever lyrics, groovy beats, and the pure talent of the duo, and I was clearly excited to hear all this live.

Other than the music itself, I wasn’t sure how the band performed live. I went to the gig blindly, not really knowing what to expect. Maybe that is why I felt like I was practically slapped in the face with Eric Burton’s charisma. I knew that both of the artists were hugely talented and surely hardworking performers. But you know when someone just has that certain charisma that can’t be learned from anywhere? Eric Burton has exactly that - and to be honest it could have been used ass the only pulling power of any show. But Black Pumas are more than that.

If the strong vocals and playful riffs already tinkle your toes when you listen to the band’s music recorded, it would absolutely knock your boots off hearing it live. All the strongest notes are even stronger and the softest sounds somehow even softer. The whole night was mainly focusing on the music, skipping most chit-chat, and to be honest, I didn’t mind it this time. You could really just focus on the most important thing and let the music take you with it.

You can feel the influence of the church in the band’s music, and especially Eric’s performance. Longing reaches toward the ceiling while singing as strongly as he can, it is hard to imagine that most people wouldn’t feel at least something.

For me, it all felt almost transcending. I caught myself multiple times closing my eyes, focusing on the music while dancing around, almost forgetting that I was supposed to take notes for my review. But I guess that is a perfect explanation of how the gig was - it made you forget everything else besides that moment.

As expected, the whole venue ripped with the very first chords of Black Pumas’ most popular song, Colors. Hearing it live was an amazing experience, listening to the whole crowd singing it back to the band even without being encouraged to do so. Even though the whole gig was packed with amazing performances after one another, the connection between the band and the crowd during the last song was absolutely unmatchable.

Once the song ended, thunderous applause took over the venue one last time, and of course, I was one of the people clapping vigorously. The band deserves their flowers and so much more, and I just wish I could thank them for the night. Now go and listen to Black Pumas, please.

BLACK PUMAS- KB HALLEN, copenhagen - 08.11.2024

Photos: LAURA IOANA V

Words: Hanna Koivunen

Last night Vega hosted The Grand Union Tour - a gig with two quite different performances; Barns Courtney and The Struts. You could imagine that two sets would bring twice the number of people to the venue, but this was not the case. At least, the crowd’s smaller size was balanced out by how diverse it was. Also, I am never one to complain about having some extra room for dancing around.

So, let’s start with the first artist of the night, Barns Courtney. Barnaby George Courtney (yes, that is his real name) is an alternative rock artist from England. His music combines great vocal skill with a heavier beat and quite standard lyrics that are just interesting enough to make his music perfect for basically any Netflix-series soundtrack.

The gig started early, and right away he got the crowd extremely hyped. You could really see who was there to see Barns Courtney, and who wasn’t. Still, even the ones who weren’t getting overly hyped for the artist seemed to have a great time. This is not surprising, since he really is a great singer and has fantastic charisma. Barns kept on singing and performing while getting accidental electric shocks multiple times, and he just seemed to really enjoy himself on the stage.

I must admit, that in the beginning, I was also very into his kind of assholey vibe, but thankfully he crossed the line, so I could snap out of his spell. Not that he did anything outrageous, just the standard “drinking from a bottle of wine” buffoonery, which is such a cliché that it bores me. Anyways, he still is (otherwise) entertaining to watch and an amazing singer. So if you like his music, most likely you would love him live.

I must admit that the change between the bands was quite confusing. When Barns Courtney ended his performance, most people ran away from the room as if the whole night had ended. The change was so stiff that I even started doubting myself, whether I was supposed to stay and wait or not. This wasn’t helped by the fact that it took quite a long time. I understand that setting up for a completely different band takes a moment, but maybe this could be planned to be a bit smoother (and hopefully shorter) in the future.

When The Struts finally started, all of my confusion and tiredness went immediately away. I wouldn’t have been able to stay any longer for many artists, but the Struts really gave me more energy than any Redbull ever could. To my own surprise, I started dancing and jumping immediately from the first notes.

I saw the Struts last year, and I couldn’t stop gushing over how simply fun their gig was, and thankfully this year was exactly the same. The band is just as great as ever, their music is just so fricking fun and full of innuendo, and all the band members are incredibly charming.

Luke Spiller, the vocalist of the band, never stops dancing and his smiling spreads joy again through the crowd immediately. The last hour of the night felt like a minute or two, and wherever I looked around, people still looked like they were on cloud nine.

Sadly even the most fun needs to come to an end at some point, and so did last night. Both bands were fantastic, but the vibe during the last part did outshine the other. Thankfully saving the last bits until the end is often the best solution, and all of us left Vega with the biggest smiles on our faces. I am obviously absolutely exhausted today, but I have zero regrets and would stay up for The Struts any time I needed to.

Barns Courtney & The Struts - store vega, copenhagen - 15.10.2024

Photos: LAURA IOANA V

words: HANNA KOIVUNEN

I haven’t been around this many teens for the longest time, because well… why on earth would I? But this Sunday evening, the teens and I share something in common; being incredibly excited to see the indie queer legend, girl in red.

If you weren’t aware before, girl in red is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, and her actual name is Marie. She is especially famous for her queer- and mental health-themed songs, which always carry a lighter vibe even if the theme would get heavier.

As mentioned, girl in red fanbase seems to cover all ages, but the gig was mainly full of teens (and even preteens) with their parents. With this knowledge, you can imagine how amazingly high the energy was. The whole crowd was screaming their lungs out when they had even a whiff of the Norwegian indie darling.

This was especially apparent because the singer took a good moment to enter the stage. You could really notice that this wasn’t purposeful, because at some point the DJ’s track was even repeating itself. The young fans persisted, as teens tend to do, and every time DJ seemed to be done with the song, they got just as excited as the last time.

Thankfully, in the end, this did not last long and the crowd could finally rejoice when Marie entered the stage. One could have thought that her energy would have never been able to match up with the young fans’, but one would have been incredibly wrong. If girl in red’s songs are upbeat, her energy is straight-up chaotic. From the opening song, she was running around and jumping like no tomorrow and this really didn’t end at any point. Actually, even when the crowd got a little calmer, Marie kept on going even stronger.

This fantastic chaotic gay energy was incredibly entertaining - so much so that her not being the best singer was completely OK. Don’t get me wrong, she is not even close to being a bad or mediocre singer, but I must admit she is not the strongest one. Nevertheless, just as I said - her entertaining energy really balanced this out in a way that it didn’t really matter.

The setlist was a really nice mix of the older popular songs and tracks from the newest album. Actually, I was a bit surprised at how many older songs she had decided to perform, but clearly, nobody in the crowd was displeased about this. Also, Marie being incredibly good with transitions between the songs built great bridges for all the songs to go well together.

She has learned to embody her chaotic vibe to work as a charm or maybe she was born with it. To be able to take basically any situation and use it as an introduction for a song through humor is a really incredible skill that she should be proud of.

Sunday Night with girl in red included plenty of surprising moments such as a moshpit and an accidental mic throwing (everyone seemed to be fine in the end), but thankfully one thing was just as I predicted. The whole gig ended with the first song I ever heard from girl in red, “i want to be your girlfriend”, and dancing to a song written for my namesake, was just as amazing as I expected it to be.

girl in red - tap 1, copenhagen - 29.09.2024

Photos: LAURA IOANA V

words: HANNA KOIVUNEN

Under the grand roof of VEGA, Jordan Rakei’s concert unfolded like a slow-burning revelation. Rakei’s hour-and-a-half set took us through a tour of his six studio albums, with his latest release, The Loop, at the heart of the night. For an artist who effortlessly weaves through reggae, R&B, funk, soul, and electronic textures, the grandeur of Store Vega seemed like the perfect canvas for his expansive, thoughtful sound.

Opening for Jordan Rakei was DHRUV, accompanied by Josh on a range of instruments, creating a laid-back, easy-listening indie pop atmosphere. While the set felt relaxed and enjoyable, there was a sense that the sound had room to grow. The duo's recent formation—having met only two weeks prior—perhaps explained the minimalistic performance, and it left me wondering how a fuller band might have expanded the experience. Despite this, DHRUV’s performance showed promise, offering a smooth and chilled prelude to the evening, with a direction that, though still developing, is clearly heading somewhere interesting.

It was Rakei’s another time in Copenhagen, and though the audience was seated throughout the performance—more akin to the classical concerts often held in the venue—there was a charged stillness in the room. There was a shift, a quiet intimacy that settled over the space, magnifying the vulnerability in his music. It wasn’t your typical contemporary gig; there wasn’t a dancefloor to lose yourself in, but that didn’t seem to matter. Each note felt sharper, each lyric more direct. The occasional head bop from the audience, and a single brave dancer in the stalls, were the only signs of outward movement.

Opening with “Learning,” a poignant ballad that seemed to stretch across the hall, Rakei set the tone for a night that would be equal parts introspective and ambitious. Tracks like “Everything Everything” and “Wildfire” brought the funkier edge of his catalog into the spotlight, while “Add the Baseline” got an extra groove that begged for dancing. Yet, despite the upbeat numbers, the seated arrangement lent itself more to contemplation than celebration. In a way, it felt appropriate—Rakei’s music often asks you to lean in, to listen closely to the emotions he lays bare. “Eye to Eye2, which is my personal favorite, was played as well, even though I didn't see it written on the setlist - which is a great surprise that the setlist is improvised a bit and spontaneously changed from show to show.

For me, the night’s highlights came from Rakei’s collaborations on stage. Supporting vocalist and keyboardist Eliza Oakes brought an ethereal quality that blended perfectly with Rakei’s own voice, while Flo Moore’s bass provided a deep, grounding rhythm that held everything together. There’s something remarkable about seeing a performer so at ease with their band, moving between instruments with grace and celebrating the talent around him.

Rakei himself seemed to appreciate the atmosphere, thanking the audience for their respect and acknowledging the dynamic nature of playing to a near-silent hall. The space, with its vastness and elegance, elevated his sound to new heights, while the intimacy of the setting brought out the subtle, introspective elements of his songwriting. His encore felt personal, a quiet reflection to end a show that had spanned genres and emotions effortlessly.

Jordan Rakei is an arresting performer—polished, thoughtful, and deeply connected to his music… and to me this was one of the best concerts I have been to in my life - the intimacy of his sound, great musicality and talent, kind and warm approach to the audience. This was nothing short of extraordinary.

Jordan RAKEI - STORE VEGA, copenhagen - 17.09.2024

Photos: KASPER PASINSKI

words: Karolina Čurová

You know that something great is going to happen, when Amager Bio is sold out, and metalheads have taken over the small island. Even though I wasn’t the most excited to spend one of the last summer days inside, I was more than happy to come back from summer break with this fantastic Swiss avant-garde metal band.

Indeed, it can be slightly difficult to explain what type of music Zeal & Ardor creates. Some songs are raspier almost like garage rock, some good old metal, and some more like satanic gospel. This makes the band a perfect fit for anyone who is into a multitude of different rock genres. And hey, in every genre this band dabbles, they do well, so I have zero complaints about this diversity.

The last time we saw Zeal & Ardor was in Copenhell one year ago, and you can see that the word of them has traveled fast. The whole crowd was getting hyped up (and a bit tipsy), and the energy would have gotten anybody charged up. Now we simply need to hope that the band will meet that energy level for the whole night.

Thankfully, Zeal & Ardor absolutely delivered in this stance. Not only that the band is full of talented artists, but they are also incredibly wholesome and cute. In the beginning, the lead vocalist, Manuel Ganeux, was even cussing us off for making him smile too much, and he ended the night thanking the crowd countless times for making him feel special. I truly hope he knows and understands that feeling goes both ways.

Obviously, the main focus of today’s setlist was the new album GREIF, which I will be blasting for the next few days to an obnoxious level. These songs were naturally balanced with some older tracks, but to my surprise, the crowd seemed to be almost just as familiar with both types. This tells a lot about the album’s popularity, considering that it only came out this year. The whole gig was just back-to-back bangers, with almost no breaks at all in between.

Overall the whole show was great. The songs were performed beautifully and the band’s rough-looking dudes were softened with cute pastel lights when needed. Everything was seemingly very well thought out, besides maybe the band’s outfits. Who on earth made them wear capes when the floor was literally getting slippery from sweat? Anyways, props for not ripping them off at some point, as I would have,

Before I get to the very last note, I wanted to give a little shout-out to the support band, NYOS. Their instrumental noise music was absolutely fantastic. Just a little too slow for my mood at the moment, but I already know it will suit me perfectly for more relaxing evenings during the fall.

And here comes the not-at-all-surprising last note; Zeal & Ardor is a great band that is fantastic live, and I would recommend seeing them if you can. This was a great way to come back from a summer break, and Zeal & Ardor has put the bar high, so I hope fall gigs won’t let me down. Now I don’t feel bummed at all to spend a sunny day inside - quite the opposite!

ZEAL & ARDOR - AMAGER BIO, copenhagen - 28.08.2024

Photos: THOMAS VRAABY

words: HANNA KOIVUNEN

There is something about this band that puts them in a slightly different league than the rest. For the past 20 years, The National has provided us with a reflection of modernity in our lives. Perhaps it is precisely that reflection that has made them one of the essential bands of the indie rock genre… and their mark is significant. This is the review of The National at Royal Arena with Clang.

I usually write a few words about the support band, as my belief is that, no matter how big the main band is, it is important to also shed some light on the support out of respect. The special guests for this special concert – we will get back to this later – were a Danish rising band called eee gee.

The opening of the concert focused on a centerpiece on the stage that looked like some extraterrestrial rock, which reminded me of the clitoris. The lead singer came on stage in a very pompous dress made in a very astro and space-y style. It took me a while to notice that her musicians were wearing space uniforms, which helped me understand the concept of this concert and the musical elements used.

I hadn't seen eee gee before, but from the opening song that gave me goosebumps, I didn’t lose attention and really enjoyed the concert. I felt that the ballads had a stronger impact, amplified by great vocalists who gave them a monumental feeling. Occasionally reminded of the voice of Sia (the older version of her) and with music lingering between indie-rock, country, and future-vintage-astro, eee gee is something people should experience. And together with them, “dreaming about new life,” which I definitely did.

In the past, for unknown reasons, I resisted the music of The National, and up until now, I don’t know why. I believe it was in 2017, when I saw them performing at HAVEN KBH festival, where the Dessner brothers were co-organizers, that I started to like their music and let it get to me.

The concert yesterday started with the album cover-inspired image from Laugh Track. While the song of Talking Heads - “Slippery People,” we saw on that same back screen a live video of the band standing in front of the stage door, talking and mingling. I really liked that, seeing how it looks backstage a few moments before they get on stage.

I love the transformation of Matt Berninger on stage. He comes up in a suit, looking like a classy fella, introverted-looking, and after just three songs, Berninger gets into the mode of a beast singer, extroverted, adored by others, and constantly interacting with the audience. His unique dance moves just add to the singer's charm. That explosive and expressive singer also went into the audience during “Space Invader,” where the tech guys really needed to make the cable long enough so he could go at least 20 meters into the audience. I loved it! I could see that Berninger was in such a trance that it was difficult for him to stay on this Earth, which is why he was standing on amps, boxes, and similar things that were around.

A significant part of the interaction was completed by Aaron Dessner as well. And why was this a very special concert for them? Well, as some of you may know, Aaron’s wife is Danish. Berninger’s wife also came to this concert, and I could sense this family-oriented feeling in front of the band. Many members of the band’s families were mentioned. We got to know that Berninger's wife wrote some lyrics for their songs or that the song “I Need My Girl” was written about many women in the band's families.

The song “I Need My Girl” was the first calmer moment of the concert and the connecting bridge between emotions and the venue. The song came after “Arianna.” As a musician, it reminded me that a very simple guitar riff can create a powerful song that opens up the emotional senses of the audience and the band. The same goes for my second favorite song, “Light Years.” The simple piano melody that repeats itself and then varies a bit creates a moment of introspection and melancholy. It was beautiful, though yes, the cliché phone flashlights happened. Even though I don’t usually like it, this time, I did not mind and enjoyed it. It looked beautiful, it was photogenic, and lights usually work for people.

The band also threw back to older songs. They went down memory lane and mentioned their concert at Loppen in 2004, and asked how many people were there. Then they started playing “The Geese of Beverly Hills.” Older songs also included songs that they hadn't played much or ever.

There were seven of them on stage, and I really liked that there were two trumpets that made these very nice, often subtle soundscapes in the background of the songs, but of course, had several moments where you could hear them powerfully. I also loved the moments where musicians switched instruments during the song. Guitar went to piano, bassist took guitar, synth person went somewhere else. It shows the trust and coordination of the band after many years of being together and being great musicians.

The set’s duration was around 2.5 hours, and among the songs that I mentioned above, you could hear “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” “Day I Die,” “Murder Me Rachel,” “Mr. November,” and ending with the song “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” that was performed acoustically with the audience singing.

The National, but not nationalistic. The last song before the encores was “Fake Empire,” where Berninger said they wrote it when things in the country were going downhill and now, it is a bit better, but you never know…. Fascist America (note of the writer: paraphrased). Sometimes, I am not so sure how to approach music and politics, but this was another reminder that we should be reflecting mirrors of what is happening in society.

The National is a band that can take you through chaos, melancholy, and mundane turns of life, all wrapped in music that leaves you touched and transported, whether out of this world or inside of yourself. The lyrics are vulnerable, poetic, and complex, yet fairly easy to understand. Seeing this band was inspiring because Berninger’s time during COVID was tough due to depression and writer’s block, which resonates with me. Now, the creative explosion was something we witnessed again. They know how to make your emotional strings resonate.

THE NATIONAL - ROYAL ARENA, copenhagen - 06.08.2024

Photos: FRANCESCA GARATTONI

words: Karolina Čurová

When looking back at all my visits to Roskilde Festival since 1996, this exact Thursday in July 2024 contained all what I associate with being at Roskilde: Heavy rain and thousands of people creating mud pits at one moment, sunshine and summer temperatures the next, state of the art music experiences with both new and well known acts, great (and bad) food, tired feet – all together with that very special feeling of letting loose, going with the flow and surrender to a certain kind of beautiful chaos that, at least in my experience, can’t be found anywhere else.

Roskilde has always been like that – and I think that the festival’s slogan “The Orange Feeling” refers to this exact state of mind and body. Let me start out with a trip back to the start of July, 1996. I was 16 years old and had only been into music for a couple of years, but I hadn’t yet experienced my first proper rock concert – which I did that summer in front of the iconic Orange Stage, when Psyched up Janis kicked off the festival with a beat and a bass and a guitar which cut through the air towards my ears and through the ground towards my heart with such power, that I can still get the chills some times remembering that feeling of being overwhelmed and completely focused in the experience.

It's fair to say, that Roskilde Festival left an impression on me, somehow changing the young person I was. So… With this backdrop, let us move fast forward to Thursday July 4 th , 2024.

For me, looking at this year’s festival line up was, in fact, a bit disappointing. Many of the artists is performing in genres, which is a bit far from my most preferred. Or at least.. That was how I felt at my first look at the festival schedule. I think that I forgot, that going to Roskilde is, in fact, not just a question about necessarily being familiar with the names or even the genres.

Roskilde is really all about atmosphere and that special feeling of letting go on conventional, convenient and reducing matters of taste. I have attended Roskilde so many times without being that familiar with the artists in both music and other performances – returning with a much larger perspective on art, music and ways of thinking. And this particular Thursday in July was exactly like that. I can mention a bunch of concerts from my day at Roskilde, that stood out as excellent shows.

Tokyo based metal artists Love Bites, dessert bluesy Khruangbin and the beautiful tones and lyrics of Kara Jackson is among these. But for me, the biggest experiences was standing close to Orange Stage at gigs with artists that I know fairly little, observing people for who these exact artists might have been what they were mostly excited about.

Many people might not understand my own experience as a 16 year old way back in 1996, standing in front of that exact stage. And maybe I don’t fully understand other people’s excitement about some of the artists, myself. That’s just how it works.

But I have to fully acknowledge the obvious joy, excitement and “Orange Feeling”, that I saw in the audience standing in the front rows waiting for their (maybe first) experience of being overwhelmed by sound and vision. Just like I did.

roskilde 2024 (Thursday) - Roskilde, copenhagen - 26.06.2024

Photos & words: Thomas vraaby

Who didn't ever have an after festival blues? Copenhell 2024 is over and there is this feeling of something ending, well… we have decided to cure it with more metal. And what's a better remedy than meeting with a Metal God himself? Rob Halford and Judas Priest visited Copenhagen's Royal Arena just a few days after the festival and this sounded like a good cure for that post festival depression.

The whole show started just a few minutes after 9pm when the huge flag with the entire band hiding behind. When the first notes of ‘Panic Attack’ were played, the crowd immediately started to cheer and raise the horns in the air. The crowd consisting of the older generation of the fans - Judas Priest has been spreading the metal for over 50 years - was quite vivid with its initial explosion of ecstasy when the band started to play one of their evergreens - ‘Breaking the Law’.

Even though it was the 4th song on the setlist, Rob Halford managed to change his suit 3 times by then. Starting the night in the silver, light reflecting coat, evolving into a leather jacket just to quickly change into a long, spiked leather coat - I do think some pop stars need to improve to reach this level.

This was also the moment when the huge Judas Priest cross was lowered down. Huge band logo, until that moment, was just hanging above the stage, illuminating the band members from time to time. Now the huge logo became a main attraction and the sea of hands raising the horns evolved into a sea of phones raised up trying to capture this element of the stage.

The atmosphere at this moment was at its peak, and the band pushed through the setlist with no unnecessary breaks. Guitar peaks were flying around. Some fans were lucky to catch one, some fans were asking security to pick it from the pit between stage and crowd. One can say that the band was doing their best to make the fans happy.

When the temperature started to chill down, Rob, this time wearing a very shiny golden coat, provided a great performance during ‘Turbo Lover’ and even the crowd on the seats started to rise up and bang their heads.

Main attraction of the night was saved to the end. Obviously whoever knows Judas Priest and is familiar with their music knows that ‘Painkiller’ is the thing. Obviously Judas Priest saved the best for last. And the performance during this song was just awesome, Mr Halford proved during this one why he is called the Metal God. All the high notes were sung almost as good as you can remember from the record. Of course fans joined their idol screaming their lungs out. This was clearly the highlight of the night.

The band moved out of the stage, only to get back to play 3 song encore, with the ‘Hell Bent for Leather’ and ‘Living After Midnight’ with the obligatory Harley Davidson on stage.

No surprises there for those who know Judas Priest and their shows, but it would be a disappointment if this element would be missing. After almost 2 hours of a metal spectacle the show was wrapped up and it was time to move back to reality.

And as the last words about the show - He (still) is the painkiller, this is the painkiller.

judas priest - Royal Arena, copenhagen - 26.06.2024

Photos: JP Molloy

words: kasper pasinski

The atmosphere was electric as throngs of metal enthusiasts flooded Parken Stadium in Copenhagen for what was billed as one of the biggest metal events of the year. The event had an unusual format, which included a two-day concert with an unique setlist and two major opening acts per night. As someone who holds ‘’Master of Puppets’’ and ‘’Kill ‘Em All’’ in high esteem, but also finds a lot of their mid-90s to newer outputs less inspiring, I approached the event with cautious optimism. Even with the promise of their critically acclaimed latest release, ‘’72 Seasons’’ it surely would be difficult for them to perform two unique setlists, without having to go a while between fan favorites.

The show erupted with the blistering "Whiplash", an iconic opener that sent a jolt of excitement through the crowd. Their high-octane energy was impressive, even though the sound, unfortunately, came across as muddy and compressed, making it challenging to distinguish each instrument. Despite this, the fervor of the crowd was undeniable, setting a promising tone for the night.

As the first chords of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" reverberated through the stadium, followed by the thunderous "Ride the Lightning", everyone was hooked. The nostalgia was powerful, and the band channeled their signature 80s thrash metal era with such intensity, that my cautious optimism now seemed almost silly, because come on, this is Metallica!

Even the sound quality seemed to improve, whether due to the sound tech making adjustments or my own acclimation to the acoustics.

"King Nothing" from the 1996 album Load, came as another surprise. Hetfield's commanding vocals blasted through the enormous stadium with persuasive power. The soulful and bluesy delivery added a new dimension to the track, transforming what many consider a low point in their discography into a compelling live experience.

"Lux Æterna" and "Too Far Gone?" felt lackluster and quickly faded into the background. But honestly, it might be because the show was about to take a turn for the worse.

Hetfield and Lars Ulrich left the stage, and what was supposed to be a heartfelt homage to a local artist, resulted in a tonedef, cringe-worthy performance that had me rolling my eyes with the other critics. It was a moment of unintentional comedy, as Hammett and Trujillo attempted a cover of the Danish national treasure, Gasolin’s "Rabalderstræde". Yes you read that right, ‘’Rabalderstræde’’ in Danish. I suddenly felt like I was trapped at a bad karaoke night, with a drunken accountant named Bob, taking the stage.

Yet, in a surprising twist, I overheard two women in the bathroom line express their ecstatic appreciation for the gesture. It was a humbling reminder that not every moment needs to be critically dissected; sometimes, the joy is in the attempt.

The latter part of the concert felt like a rollercoaster of highs and lows. A heartfelt monologue from Hetfield about suicide prevention was a poignant and important moment, but the subsequent inclusion of ‘’The Call of Ktulu’’ and “Inamorata”, weighing in at a staggering 20 minutes total, was met with noticeable disinterest from the crowd. It wasn't until the closing tracks like "One" and the grand finale "Enter Sandman" that Metallica truly reclaimed the audience's fervor, delivering a powerful and unforgettable end to the night.

In summary, the concert was a mixed bag of highs and lows. The setlist left much to be desired and the crowd's reactions were divided. Metallica's attempt at humor and novelty didn't land well with everyone, but the energy was high and they undeniably succeeded in moments of pure, unadulterated thrash. While the show didn't quite live up to it’s astronomical hype, it had flashes of brilliance that reminded everyone why Metallica remains a titan of the metal world.

metallica - parken stadium, copenhagen - 16.06.2024

Photos: JP Molloy

words: Nina massara

From Atlanta, Georgia, to Copenhagen on her tour, 26-year-old singer and musician Faye Webster graced us with her soft and smooth music.

For the support act, Webster brought her friend Bennét, who took the stage with just his guitar. I always say that when a singer performs solo with an instrument, it is the ultimate test of the music's strength, as there is nothing to cover or hide. Bennét proved himself.

The sound of his music was warm with great intonation. Paradoxically, while he claimed his songs were sad, they evoked a warm and fuzzy feeling. He ended his set with people flashing lights, creating beautiful scenes.

When Faye Webster started her set, it was in a very dark setting, and the only visible elements were two blue dots. At first, I thought she was wearing a huge costume, but soon it became clear that it was a statue of a torso with blue eyes resembling the singer herself, evoking an Ancient Greek style.

The opening song "But Not Kiss" was a powerful start that promised a great show. The second song had a definite country vibe, which set the tone for the concert, blending country and easy-listening indie genres. As a guitarist myself, I appreciated that Faye didn't just play chords but also showcased her skills with riffs and solos. Her musicality was evident.

She not only switched guitars but also played the piano-synth. Another highlight was the band's instrumental space throughout the concert. These sections allowed listeners to contemplate the music and added to its dynamic quality.

I loved the drummer's solo; it's been a long time since I've experienced one. Another standout moment was the second synth player, who also played saxophone and violin!

There was only one minor critique I noted towards the latter part of the concert: the use of the lap steel guitar. While it fit the music, it became a bit monotonous for me at times. However, this did not detract from the overall great concert.

Ever since Faye Webster’s concert was announced, I knew I wanted to go. It was inspiring, relaxing, and musically of a high standard.

Faye webster - store vega, copenhagen - 23.05.2024

Photos: Nikolai bransholm

words: Karolina Čurová

A previously quite unknown band to me, LANDMVRKS, pulled an electric night in Pumpehuset.

LANDMVRKS is a metalcore band from France, Marseille. The band is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, but as I mentioned, they are a relatively new acquaintance for me. Therefore I really had no idea (besides the guesses I could do from their music alone) how the band is on stage.

Shortly put, they are amazing. The energy of the band itself is enough to run a small city’s lights for a week or two. Every member of LANDMVRKS was running around and jumping like Duracell bunnies on …let’s say Redbull. This was matched with the same level from the crowd, so you can be sure that the night was incredibly fun. Everyone was sweaty, jumping, screaming, and obviously singing the whole show so you just couldn’t stop smiling.

Not only that the LANDMVRKS has some of the greatest vibes I have seen in a bit, but also the band can back this up by being great artists. Florent Salfati’s singing is beautiful and growling is clear, which is accompanied by other band members’ talents. As one could imagine, the songs were mainly “harder” metalcore, but the band had made a small twist by adding a softer acoustic part to one song. This moment was stunningly highlighted by the rest of the songs going back to the usual metalcore.

Florent is a charismatic performer, even though he doesn't talk a lot during the gig - only some jokes here and there. Still, he has the crowd exactly where he wants it, even dividing a full sea of metalheads quietly, with a simple hand gesture like Moses wearing a cap.

The only even slightly negative thing I have to say is that the whole gig lasted a little less than 1 hour, and this even included an encore. The night did go super fast due to how great it was, so less than an hour felt even shorter. Then again, when you consider that there were three other bands before LANDMVRKS, maybe one hour(ish) is enough?

On that note, this is the second time I have experienced Pumpehuset metalcore (or similar genre) night, and I must say, these events are always incredible. From the main band to all the fantastic supports, you can always be sure to have a bloody fantastic time in these. I hope the venue keeps on having more of these nights, so many more get to experience them as well.

Landmvrks was a fantastic band to hear and see live, but I do hope that the next time the fun will last a bit longer. Merci beaucoup.

landmvrks - pumpehuset, copenhagen - 07.05.2024

Photos: laura ioana v

words: hanna koivunen

O my. Yes. They did...... “Bring the Thunder!”.

Again.

This is not my first rodeo with the D. I first saw them back in 2007 at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney Australia. A smaller venue that could barely contain the epicness of Jables and the Rage Kage.

It was 6 years after in 2013 in the Sydney Opera house that I finally saw them in a venue that matched the grandeur of the moment. It was this day that Jack Black really impressed me with the power of his voice and not just his stage and comic chops.

So, third times the charm, right?

As the lights dimmed at the Royal Arena, the air was thick with anticipation. Fans from all corners of Denmark had gathered to witness the comedic rock, powerhouse as they brought their “Spicey Meatball Tour” to the masses.

As always from the moment Jack Black and Kyle Gass stormed the stage, it was clear that the audience was in for more than just a concert; they were about to experience a full-blown rock opera. The duo, known for their irreverent humour and robust musical chops, did not disappoint.

The setlist is a little “paint by numbers” at this stage and the hardcore fans will know the routine inside out but that’s all part of the charm. Its an old school almost vaudevillian performance.

The setlist was a perfect blend of Tenacious D classics and fresh tracks from their latest material such as Video Games and the Mario teamed Peaches went hand in hand with classics like “Wonderboy, ““Tribute” and “Double Team” that had the crowd singing along with every word. Recent covers of Chris Issacs “Wicked Game” also proved to be big crowd pleasers.

As the final notes of “Fuck her Gently” rang out, and the ‘D’ the crowd erupted in applause a Tenacious D had delivered an unforgettable night of rock and comedy, proving once again why they are the self-proclaimed “greatest band on earth.”

The verdict? “2 kings” reign supreme.

Tenacious D - ROYAL ARENA, copenhagen - 02.05.2024

Photos: j p mOLLOY

words: FRANCESCA GARATTONI

Up and coming Copenhagen post-punkers called 'Users' lit Loppen up on Saturday evening with an energetic performance and we will be paying close attention to this Danish 4-piece.

I found out about these lads by accident on instagram, from a video they shot for the song "For you" and I instantly clicked with it from the first chords.

I'm a sucker for post punk and bands like Idles and Fontaines DC and they reminded me of both of their early tunes, still a very young and raw energy, so I was sure I wanted to see them live. It definitely did not disappoint.

It was night filled with raw energy, moshing, jumping from both the audience and the band (especially their guitarist Esbjørn, that I'm surprised is in one piece after this) and great tunes that oozed anti capitalist messages shouted by lead singer Sean who has a very cool and commanding stage presence.

If you missed it don't worry, they're scheduled to play First Days at Roskilde Festival this year, Frigjort fest in Christiania, Spot Festival and we're sure we will see them on even bigger stages in the future.

We're hold great excitement for 'Users' and hope to stay close and see their journey in the future.

USERS - LOPPEN, copenhagen - 27.04.2024

Photos & WORDS: LAURA IOANA V

In 2024, it's been three decades since the debut album "Swell" by Psyched Up Janis hit the shelves. Often likened to Nirvana's iconic "Nevermind," released three years prior, it stands as a significant milestone in Danish music history.

The band disbanded at the decade's end but has reunited multiple times since,

This spring presents a chance to relive the band's magic, marking thirty years since their iconic debut album of 1994. Joining core members Sune Wagner and Jakob Jørgensen is Jesper "Yebo" Reginal, a longstanding member since 1996. Reginal contributed to both the studio album "Beats Me" and the live release "The Quiet Album."

Psyched Up Janis took the stage at Store Vega in Copenhagen, delivering a mesmerizing performance that electrified the audience. The venue buzzed with anticipation as fans eagerly awaited the iconic Danish band's return, and they were not disappointed.

From the moment Psyched Up Janis kicked off their set, the energy in the room was palpable. The band effortlessly blended elements of alternative rock, punk, and grunge, creating a dynamic sound that captivated the crowd.

Lead vocalist and guitarist, Nikolaj Juel, commanded the stage with his raw vocals and infectious stage presence, while guitarist and backing vocalist, Martin Sunddal, delivered blistering riffs that reverberated throughout the venue.

The band treated fans with classic hits. Tracks like "I Died in 1995" and "Where the Lights Come In" resonated with the audience, eliciting sing-alongs and enthusiastic cheers. One of the many standout moments of the night was when Psyched Up Janis performed their hit single, "Shudder." The song's anthemic chorus had fans chanting along, creating a powerful sense of unity and camaraderie.

Throughout the performance, the band maintained a tight and energetic stage presence, feeding off the energy of the crowd and delivering a performance that left a lasting impression. The seamless transitions between songs and the band's undeniable chemistry on stage showcased their years of experience and dedication to their craft.

In conclusion, Psyched Up Janis delivered a phenomenal performance at Store Vega, solidifying their status as one of Denmark's most beloved and influential bands. With their electrifying energy and infectious music, they left the audience wanting more and proved why they are a force to be reckoned with in the Danish music scene.

psyched up janis - store vega, copenhagen - 26.04.2024

Photos: thomas vraaby

words: Karolina Čurová

The singer who is trending on TikTok, or at least one of his songs, attracts a weird mix of crowds. There's lots of screaming and the sound quality isn't great. These are a few of the things I would sum up from the concert.

The rain was pouring as the long queue was waiting to get into the concert. The audience was predominantly female. We got soaked. Unfortunately, most of us missed the support band that supposedly played covers.

Artemas's latest album, "Pretty," starts strong but then loses momentum. It's not the most unique record, but in several places, it is well done. If you like pop-rock with a fashion-forward guy looking hipster-ish, with a regular structure of music, or if you feel stuck in the 2010s visually and sonically, then Artemas is for you.

There were two songs that I don't know the names of that sounded good, and surprisingly, another song that I actually liked the arrangement of was a cover of Prince’s "Kiss" that later evolved into his song "Just Want U To Feel Something."

I was surrounded by couples making out and screaming people. It was definitely louder than the music itself. Also what mix of demographics. I could not hear what he was saying between songs and what is worse, I could not hear what he was singing. This was due to the bad sound but also him having a lot of filter on his microphone, sounding like singing through a megaphone.

I can see that Artemas is good-looking and has charm. I also believe that he is an OK singer. It is just a pity that he did not stand out so much due to the bad sound. His songs peaked in the charts in many countries, so they definitely resonate with many people. Unfortunately, they did not translate to me.

ARTEMAS - PUMPEHUSET, copenhagen - 23.04.2024

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: Karolina Čurová

I have missed Nils Frahm several times when he was in Copenhagen. I heard a little bit of his concert at Roskilde Festival 2015. I didn't manage to get in but sat outside of the stage and tried to catch whatever tone I was able to hear, as I really appreciate his musical artistry. This time, Frahm came to Copenhagen offering three-day concerts with the name of Music Til Danmark. Clang attended the first sold-out night at Vega on 19th April.

As support, Josefine Opsahl took the stage with her solo cello show. Josefine Opsahl is an artist, composer, and cellist who has been appearing more and more over the past few years. The most noticeable for me was Roskilde Festival 2023. However, she has also received several accolades and prizes. At her concert, Opsahl took us on a cinematic journey of a one-woman show, with just her and her cello. I loved the use of the looper and perhaps a few samples in the background. It was a 45-minute journey of calmness and storm, with energy and devotion.

Nils Frahm took the stage just a few minutes after Opsahl finished, which was nice. I like when there is a smooth transition, especially with music like these two composers have. When you get into the state of mind and ambiance of it, you don't want to wait 30 minutes and get out of that zone. The concert started with Frahm playing this unusual instrument that I did not have knowledge of - but turned out to be the glass harmonica.

Looking at the stage, Frahm did his magic with over 10 synthesisers and pianos present. It felt like many ingredients to combine and use to create a delicious meal. And Frahm is a very good cook, using aphrodisiacs and playing ‘strings’ that resonated within and made us feel emotional and out-of-this-world.

There was not much said, but it was not needed. The one time Frahm talked to the audience was to incorporate us into the next song, where he asked us to make animal sounds. After the first try, it sounded like a crazy animal farm, so he said we should switch to the insects from the ‘dinosaur era’ and that was better. What happened was that he used the tape looper, added reverb, and pitched it down. They incorporated it into the song and it was actually magical.

Frahm’s music could be characterised by great textures, entangled melodies, and immersive soundscapes. It is a blend of classical, ambient, electronic, and experimental music that invites introspection, expanse, and 'unconvents' the conventional. Humble with the sensitive approach that makes you feel emotional, soulful, and warm around your heart... To let go, which is what I did.

Nils Frahm - store vega, copenhagen - 19.04.2024

Photos: thomas vraaby

words: Karolina Čurová

“Welcome to your gay awakening,” Fletcher laughs in the most charming manner, knowing that she has been exactly that for many people in the crowd tonight.

Indeed, this Jersey-born pop star is an absolute icon in the WLW circles. For many years now, she has been providing pop hits, representation, and some fantastic tea, taking over whole subcategories of TikTok by releasing a song about how hot her ex’s new girlfriend is (insane behavior? Absolutely).

The fans have been waiting for this gig for what felt like forever, it being postponed twice for health reasons, so you can only imagine how excited everyone was to finally experience the night.

This is why I was so surprised that there was no queue outside at all - but I found out the reason for this immediately when I got in. The crowd was so excited for the gig, that they had filled the space up 30 minutes before even the support band started!

Since the crowd was this excited, it was impossible not to get hyped up as well. When the lights finally dimmed down, people started screaming, and I feel like some fans didn’t stop until the gig was basically done.

Fletcher participated in the premiere season of the American X Factor, and even then she was a great singer, only improving ever since. Her strong vocals already got my skin on goosebumps through Spotify, so when she started belting on stage, I could feel my heart wanting to leave my body and run to her. Even her songs that I am not actually a big fan of, I truly enjoyed when she was performing them live.

The setlist was a nice mix of songs from many of her albums, which I appreciated as an older fan. The albums go very nicely together because even though their style alters slightly, most of Fletcher’s songs focus on the same topics. Love, heartbreak, and being horny as hell, often even combining all three. All of them are very easy to just sing along to, dance to, have fun to, and of course, sometimes scream your heartbreak to.

Fletcher’s fans clearly absolutely adore her, and it’s very easy to see why. Not only that she sings stunningly, but she is also charming, funny, and witty. If the crowd was already honey in her hands before, with every naughty joke she threw at us I could feel melting for her even more.

After this long wait, I was really hoping for a fantastic night, and thankfully nobody seemed to be disappointed. After the encore, some fans even needed some convincing that she is seriously not coming back anymore, and I don’t blame them. I could have easily kept on dancing for an extra hour or so!

fletcher - store vega, copenhagen - 18.04.2024

Photos: kasper pasinski

words: hanna koivunen

The British singer-songwriter made her mark on the Amager Bio stage in Copenhagen on April 17th, 2024, delivering a performance that left the audience electrified. The venue was pulsating with energy and anticipation as fans eagerly awaited Becky Hill's headline show in Copenhagen.

Becky Hill, who participated in The Voice 2021 in the UK, managed to get through the stereotypes of contestants of such shows and made her way to become a music powerhouse. As the lights dimmed, Becky Hill emerged onto the stage, greeted by thunderous applause from the crowd.

Kicking off with her opening track "Crazy What Love Can Do", accompanied by two backing vocalists, she immediately captivated the audience.

The audience responded with fervour, singing along to every word of her hits like "Gecko (Overdrive)" and "Last Time", setting the tone for an unforgettable night.

Adding to the spectacle, Becky introduced a string section and brass section on stage, showcasing a unique musical arrangement that elevated the performance. From crowd favorites like "Piece Of Me" and "Back And Forth" to newer releases like "Afterglow" and "Disconnect", every song resonated with the audience, creating a euphoric atmosphere.

'Disconnect' which is my personal favourite, also because the track is made with Chase & Status. So we had a taste of UK’s DNB and jungle.

Between songs, Becky engaged with the crowd, showcasing her down-to-earth personality and infectious energy. As she introduced hits like "Lose Control" and "Never Be Alone", she shared anecdotes and insights, further endearing herself to the audience.

The momentum continued to build throughout the night, with covers of "Heaven", "You Got The Love", and "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" keeping the energy levels high. As Becky announced her final songs, "Wish You Well" and "Remember", the crowd reached a fever pitch, singing and dancing with unbridled enthusiasm.

Becky Hill's performance at Amager Bio was a testament to her talent and charisma, delivering a flawless blend of drum and bass and EDM-pop with vocals that soared. The audience transformed the venue into a pulsating nightclub, united by their love for her music. The overwhelming reaction guarantees that she'll be back again soon.

becky hill - amager bio, copenhagen - 17.04.2024

Photos: kasper pasinski

words: Karolina Čurová

It’s hard to believe that Mother Mother’s gig at VEGA was not sold out. The venue certainly looked full, and the queue went all the way around the building - which also already tells about the age of the crowd.

Indeed, it’s impressive that a band that has been playing for 19 years, has a fan base that is on average the same age. This is obviously due to two of their songs trending on TikTok some years ago, which helped this fantastic band to reach new audiences.

Mother Mother is a Canadian indie rock band, formed by siblings Ryan and Molly Guldemond (and a friend who is no longer part of the band). The music is very vocal forward, and you can certainly recognize a Mother Mother song from how it sounds immediately.

I must admit, I have been looking forward to this gig incredibly much for a very long time, which obviously means that my expectations were insanely high. Even before the gig, I was declaring that I was expecting to cry, jump, and scream all night long. And thankfully I did.

The thing with gigs where the crowd is very young is that the energy is stupidly fun. From the very second Mother Mother made their angelic entrance to the stage, people could not stop screaming and clapping - and this was only the beginning. If the energy was incredible from the very beginning, the second song (Arms Tonite) lifted it to absolutely ridiculous levels, only to be followed up with Hayloft II, which made sure that we would never come down from this high.

The setlist was a fantastic mix through all of the band’s discography. Obviously, we got to hear both Haylofts, Grief Chapter, Verbatim, and Oh Ana. What was more surprising was the two mashups, one of them combining even six songs together, ending in one of my absolute favourite songs from the band.

Also, the band was switching between acoustic and having the full band multiple times, which created nice variation of different tones and moods of the music. All this was topped off with an acoustic cover of Video Games, which was like a beautiful treat (and also a very unexpected one).

Admittedly, Ryan was in a chatty mood through the gig, but not to a bothering level. Also, he was mainly just praising the crowd, encouraging us to believe in ourselves, and talking about how he loves to perform with her sister - can’t be too mad about any of that right?

I guess the only thing I could have wished for was a little extra energy from the band on stage. But I must admit - this wish might also be created through the contrast from the incredibly energetic crowd full of youths.

Now I just really hope I get to see Mother Mother again at some point in my life, and if you still have not stumbled into this great indie band - I highly recommend checking them out.

mother mother - store vega, copenhagen - 01.04.2024

Photos: laura ioana v

words: hanna koivunen

It seems like almost everyone has left Copenhagen for Easter, and anyone who is left is at Pumpehuset tonight for Polaris (or at least everyone who is into metal core).

Indeed, I am incredibly happy that we are having some days off because going to a gig that starts at 11 pm on Thursday would otherwise feel practically impossible. Nevertheless, there I was after way too many coffees and energy drinks, in the absolutely packed venue. I was not surprised that Polaris could pull a soldout gig in Pumpehuset easily, but somehow the venue seemed even more packed than usual… Maybe it was all the big hairs metalheads tend to have.

Polaris is an Australian metalcore band from Sydney. The band was formed in 2012 and they have gained increasingly popularity throughout the years. Not only that they have a big international following and loving fans all around the world, but the band has also been critically acknowledged multiple times. Even their very first debut album “The Mortal Coil” was nominated right away for an ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock.

Technically speaking, the band is clearly on the top level. But how about their stage presence and performance? Does it really surprise you if I say that a popular and famous metalcore band is incredibly entertaining on stage? It should not.

Every member of the band really seemed to have the time of their life which is always the best to experience. I really couldn’t even see the stage all the time due to being surrounded by 2-meter-tall men, and the band still wrapped me around their fingertips perfectly. Imagine being in the front row in a show like this!

Polaris started a tiny bit early, and from that moment on the energy was incredible all the time. Any time the band went quiet for longer than 5 seconds, the crowd started to cheer and shout for them, and thankfully the band never made us wait long. The love and admiration from the fans were evident, but obviously in a very (adorably) metal way.

For outsiders, the gig might have seemed less “loving” or “wholesome”. There were moshpits after another, crowd surfing, jumping, screaming, moshing, and the list goes on. But believe me, even though this seems very aggressive, the vibe and energy inside of it all is simply joyous. This is both due to the band and the crowd attending - and this is how metal gigs should be, and I am very happy that I was not disappointed at all.

Instead of having just one support band, Polaris had three metalcore bands on the stage before them. More than just one gig, the night was like a small metalcore festival - introducing one great band after another. So if you are looking into new metalcore bands to check out - I highly recommend Paledusk, Thornhill, and Silent Planet. And if you already knew the bands, but haven’t seen them live - I would advise doing so!

Everything was great, the night was really fun, but I do feel the tiniest bit of wishing for something more. Yes, sure technically everything was fantastic and the vibe was extraordinary but I guess I wish I was hoping for a little surprising wow moment, which was completely missing. I think the biggest highlight was our photographer telling a story of a friendly metalhead giant who helped her in the busy crowd - and sure that is cute and all, but I do wish that the shiniest highlight would be from the actual band.

Still, the night was fantastic and totally worth drinking all that caffeine before, and now I am ready to cover my neck in Voltaren so headbanging won’t cause me a headache later on.

Polaris - pumpehuset, copenhagen - 28.03.2024

Photos: laura ioana v

words: hanna koivunen

Underworld visited Copenhagen's Forum this Saturday. Duo heading from the UK gained

popularity in the 90s and many people connect their classic hits with another thing that strongly influenced the culture of the 90s - movie ‘Trainspotting’.

I was curious to see if they still have enough fuel to drive through a few hours set, as well as to see if their Fandom got younger.

The venue was quite packed when the band hit the stage. Precisely as planned at 20:00. And throughout the whole evening - all was taking place according to the plan. Like in a perfectly tuned machine.

Talking about the band, both guys just took their spots on stage and started a beautiful techno rampage. Loud bass with the nice explosion of lights filled in the venue. The party started with the gentle bit of ‘Low Burn’. The crowd started to wave rhythmically to the beat. It was quite discreet in the start, but the party took off quickly with most of the audience dancing and enjoying themselves.

And when talking about the audience - as I expected it was mostly an adult crowd, but these ‘kids’ still know how to enjoy themselves. Fans were following their music idols through this few hour-long journey through colors and sound.

Performance was, as expected from an electronic band, bit static and I mean it without negative connotation – there is no guys running around with guitars, but we got a dance of lights and lasers as a substitute. Entire first set, which lasted for around 1 hour, was played with both guys hiding behind the deck. You could see their faces on the screen but even Karl Hyde, who is the main vocalist, didn’t show his full performance during this first hour.

Rick Smith, as a main music creator, has camped there for the whole show. Walking across the crowd I noticed it was not a big issue for anyone. Music was good. Sound was great (taking into consideration experience with this venue). Visuals were spectacular. You could still see both musicians on the screens from time to time. I allowed myself to drift away and enjoy the music with the rest of the crowd.

As planned, the 21:00 sharp first set was finished and the Underworld duo left the stage, leaving their fans half an hour to grab a bottle of water (or beer), and rest a bit.

Second set started with a bang, more lights and finally we got the full visual on Karl Hyde while he was running across the stage. Two lights operated by the crew in the front of the stage were capturing him anytime when the vocals were provided. The second set was drastically longer.

I have a personal feeling that it was more synth-ambient than the first one, which was by the choice of the tracks more club-like. I definitely have enjoyed it a lot. Still the sound was great as well as the visuals. A person could feel, while looking at the stage, that it is like a movie with a soundtrack being played to that. And this state lasted for whole 90 minutes.

And Underworld still got it.

And Underworld fans still can party.

underworld - forum, copenhagen - 23.03.2024

Photos & words: Kasper pasinski

Hard rock hallelujah am I right?

I am finally fulfilling my Finnish destiny of seeing Lordi on stage. After years of Danes asking me “Is Lordi your favorite band?”, I think it’s about time I find out if they could be.

Lordi is a Eurovision-winning, Guinness world record-breaking (it’s true - check it out) hard rock band from Finland, specifically from Rovaniemi where Santa Claus lives. If you have never heard any songs from Lordi (besides Hard Rock Hallelujah because c’mon) you might think that the band dressed as monsters from the underworld would play very hard metal music.

This is not the case at all. Lordi’s music is much more in the hard rock genre than anything else. And even in that, it’s certainly on the funnier side of hard rock. Additionally to their monster music, the band is also well known for their showmanship - just like many other similar types of hard rock bands.

Due to the venue being Pumpehuset, I didn’t expect to see any pyro, but thankfully there are many other ways a band like Lordi can put up an exciting show. And immediately when I arrived at the venue - I could notice that I was not the only one who was expecting a great performance.

Pumpehuset was absolutely packed with people and the excitement was palpable. Even before Lordi began their gig, the venue was incredibly hot inside and fans were getting impatient waiting for the monster band to enter. But to be fair - seeing their detailed scary set, anyone would get excited to see the show performed on it.

When they finally entered, the excitement absolutely exploded. Mr. Lordi is a very charismatic performer who got us in his (disgusting-looking) hands the whole time. He and the rest of his band members move surprisingly well considering their outfits - and they clearly love to perform. This is clearly what they are best in - surely the music itself is also good, but it’s certainly not anything groundbreaking. But the way the band plays around with all of their props and gimmicks makes you not even notice that.

The band did have quite many short breaks, but I didn’t mind most of them since they were entertaining solos. Some of the other crowd members did seem to get a little irked by this - shouting for mr Lordi to come back on stage. Other than that, everyone seemed to be in a great mood the whole time.

The whole gig was like a well-constructed story, that started with the narrator entering the stage to welcome the band, ending when they finally left. Through this time, we journeyed through twists and turns - experiencing all kinds of mysteries of the underworld like a dead Barbie and an… aggressive fisherman. The whole night was simply fun but in an unserious way, which you should keep in mind if you are thinking about seeing the legendary band on stage.

Is Lordi the very best hard rock band in the world? No. Neither did they make their way into the list of my favourite bands. But do they put on an absolute killer show? Yeah. And most importantly, I did have an absolute fucking blast screaming shamelessly Hard Rock Hallelujah.

lordi - pumpehuset, copenhagen - 16.03.2024

Photos: laura ioana v

words: hanna koivunen

I like to be challenged sonically. I like when the music is not straightforward, but should be processed and taken apart, layer by layer. For those, who have not managed to see Radiohead live (like me), this seemed to be an exclusive chance of seeing Thom York and Johny Greenwood live and about, doing their thing, doing what they are great at. The concert felt like a journey of the sound and hot air, of 3 people fainting, and of getting into a very trance-like state… and CLANG couldnt miss it.

But as per usual, let me say a few words about the support, which is James Holden. British producer, electronic musician and DJ. From being a DJ to moving extensively playing live music is also what we could witness at this gig. Duo that was on the stage was Holden on electronics and synths and he was accompanied by percussionist Camilo Tirado. I loved the combo.

This was not stereotypical 30 mins of just DJ or musician ‘pressing buttons’, but the percussion definitely emphasised the elements of live performance. 30 mins of instrumental electronic music that I could easily imagine at the rave and also just encouraged me to continue with my productions. A lot of arpeggios and movements.

The Smile started approx 10 minutes after 21. What is based as a trio was now a quartet - Thom York, Johny Greenwood and Tom Skinner were accompanied by Robert Stillman - saxophone and other wind instruments.With the huge screen - the wall - of not eyes but in this case dots and lines running around and another screen divided into four, where we could observe each musician - this gave a chance to the rest of us sitting or standing further away to see the actual faces of the musicians.

The set was almost literally equal to their two releases - Walls of Eyes and A Light for Attracting Attention. This concert was a transcendental journey through so many genres and feelings, that if someone claims that we are NOT in the post-genre era, this person must not be an erudite. This concert could observe art rock, post-rock influenced by Sigur Ros, samba and other latin-inspired music, jazz to noise and probably 5 other genres.

Somewhere, after the quarter of the gig, the song ‘Skirting on the Surface’ is being played, and I finally see York dance moves that we could witness similar to Radiohead’s ‘Ingenue’. To me, this is one of the secondary aspects that I admire and find attractive about Yorke.

We also got a glimpse at ‘Instant Psalm’ the newest song of the band that had a great brass intro. The brass element was actually quite awesome in many songs, it skilled up spaces in the songs and added the value of freedom and chaos (maybe for some), but positive chaos is not a bad thing to encounter, in my opinion.

the smile - k.b. hallen, copenhagen - 13.03.2024

Photos: Thomas Vraaby

words: Karolina Čurová

Regardless of whether you recognize Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s name and her hit song Murder on the Dance Floor from the movie Saltburn or good old MTV, there is a high possibility you wanted to be in Vega to experience the hit in real life.

A legend, an icon, and a blast from the past are just some of the names that have been used to call Sophie Ellis-Bextor (yes- I do feel compelled to use her whole name) and all of them are very well deserved. Sure, she might not have a whole repertoire of world-recognized disco hits, but the ones she does keep on rising to the top time after time again.

I must admit, regardless of her status, I had slightly underestimated Sophie Ellis-Bextor. I was expecting fun times, preparing myself to disco and boogie the whole night long, but that’s about it. I wasn’t ready for such creativity in regards to her setlist.

The setlist was a fun combination of her own songs - old and new - and some well-known covers. Just like that, the setlist is solid but pretty basic - which clearly is not good enough when we are talking of this level of an entertainer.

Indeed, the whole concert was based on an idea she had gotten during quarantine. The name of the whole tour is Kitchen Disco, which already hints at in which room this idea was created. Apparently, during the lockdown, the singer had started a new project with her husband and kids. This was streaming live concerts from their kitchen during which their kids would shout the songs they wanted the cover of.

Sounds chaotic? Well, apparently it was. And how does this even transform into a concert and an actual live performance (no, the answer is not by bringing the kids on stage)? With a fun game of spin the wheel!

Yes, they had brought with them an actual wheel, that Sophie would spin to choose the next song. Obviously, these songs were added to the base of a ready set list but it still spiced up the concert. You could really feel the difference in energy when the wheel was brought up the first time and after that, it only kept on rising.

The gig was basically a fun disco party from school years - the only differences were that now the party people were of all ages, (legally) tipsy, and of course listening to a fantastic live performer instead of a school DJ.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor was very entertaining to watch and she certainly got everyone dancing. Sure - maybe her dance moves could have had something more than just her shimmying around, but this is now starting to be nitpicky. This added to the fun factor of the wheel and fantastic disco covers, the night was all in all really solid.

It has been 21 years and 3 weeks since she was last time on the stage of Vega, and her admiration for the venue was heartwarming to see. After tonight, I can easily promise, that if I am there the next time she shimmies on that stage, I will be expecting one of the most fun nights I have had in a long time. Never underestimate her.

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR - STORE VEGA, copenhagen - 10.03.2024

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: HANNA KOIVUNEN

I am surprised about how few people know about the Dead Poet Society. I had been living in the belief that this rock band from Boston had endless numbers of fans in Denmark, but maybe I just think they should.

Dead Poet Society is formed by two Jacks, Dylan and Will who play together angsty dance rock. Some call it alternative, to me it’s more of a “dance your depression away” type of tunes. And what is a more suitable band to listen to after a long-ass depressive Nordic winter?

I was super excited for the gig - which can be dangerous considering the expectations it raises for the concert. Thankfully, I can spill the beans immediately: I wasn’t disappointed by Dead Poet Society at all.

Even though Dead Poet Society seems to fly under the radar of most people I know, they had collected a quite nice crowd in Pumpehuset. The size of the crowd did not really matter anyways, because when the band entered the stage, the energy made it feel like we would have been double or even triple the amount.

From the first entrance until the band left the stage, they kept us all wrapped around their fingers. Then again, the singer did jump into the crowd already during the second song, so I guess it makes sense why we were all so amoured by them.

The presence was overall insanely good, and you can really feel that the band consists of four mates, who have fun together. Between songs, the band members were bantering, spittinh jokes and even got us cheering for all electric engineers (weird - I know). Basically we all just had a really good time - spiced up with some more emotional moments, which makes sense due to the subject matter of most of the songs.

Jack Underkofler (the singer Jack), has very strong vocals and is very enjoyable to listen to on a gig. Same goes for the rest of the band, basically they are all great and did a fantastic job, not too much to say about that. If you like them on Spotify (or what ever you use), you will absolutely love them on a gig.

In the end of the gig, we got to hear the band covering a song by Tame Impala, which they hadn’t done before. I must say, this was my least favorite part of the gig, but even this was good - or at least alright. You could hear that this was the first time they played it for an audience, but thankfully they have time to practice before playing it on live television.

So all in all. Dead Poet Society is a fantastic band to dance home alone to when you are feeling like life is kicking a bit too hard. If you are able to see them live, you should do so to get even better affect. And what comes to my seasonal depression? I could feel it letting go of me when the band started, and KO’d it out of my body with the final screams to “intoodeep”.

DEAD POET SOCIETY - PUMPEHUSET, copenhagen - 04.03.2024

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: HANNA KOIVUNEN

There are some concerts where, even though I make notes in my concert diary or in my mind, it is really difficult to put those thoughts on the document via my keyboard. One of these was the concert of Helado Negro that sold out Loppen in Copenhagen. Yet, I am here trying to put it in a cohesive text.

The support for Helado Negro was the band called Devon Williams that brought a sitting performance, of emotional music that had a raw approach to various topics such as cancer, which made some audience members cringe a bit. However, it was a very interesting entrée to see what many people came there (to Loppen) for.

Helado Negro came on the stage with two musicians to accompany him. One of the very first comments that was made was about the proximity of the audience to the band, which I understand and saw that previous venues were more ‘typical’ with people having a distance from the musicians. I believe that proximity brings vulnerability and openness. Proximity can be a great thing if the artist decides to use it to their advantage.

The music played was a nice blend of, at least, the three albums, like the latest one Phasor, Far in, and This Is How You Shine. If this is cosmic synth folk, then I want to be part of it. I found it nice that there were re-arrangements of the songs, from purely acoustic recordings to more electronic and synth-centred live performances. I also heard from one of my acquaintances that these rearrangements were a disappointment. The voice of Roberto himself when just speaking was very soothing and calming throughout the concert, a very attractive voice when speaking as well. Combining the message of the singer and his movement, it was so in line with the people that I have been standing around in three different places. I had so many cute people around me, swaying to cute songs with a subtone of sensual touch and intimacy. I believe the comment was made that it was cold for the band before, but now we all made it hot together (ADD many FIRE EMOJIS).

Phasor songs were more bass-heavy than the rest and I could feel it in my chest for the most part. In this way, I want to give kudos to the sound engineer, Jorge. I think the sound was excellent in all the places I have been standing. Continuing to give kudos, these also go to Christy - welcoming merch person, whom I briefly met, and Andy - the guitar/bass player whom I managed to exchange a few words with. It is always nice to meet the musicians and get a feeling of what they do and get inspired.

If you want to experience groovy, attractively rendered music with the nostalgia of the past and witty intimacy and romance, then Helado Negro is the music you should give a try. There is a certain softness to it that you can meditate on and on: “Streets flood with your love/Cars flowing down like mud/Sun barely under clouds/Heat so soft it sounds like”... P.S: also… Pais Nublado left me low-key emotionally crying, LOVED IT!!!!

helado negro - loppen, copenhagen - 02.03.2024

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: Karolina Čurová

We’re all here for one reason. At least I’m pretty sure we are. Aren’t we? You know the song. We all know it. “Save Tonight”, the one delightfully smooth hit that had us asking “do you have more?”. I first heard it on a low budget surf movie that was circulating in Australia and heavily infringed on copyright. It’s four-chord pop perfection that rivals anything Ed Sheeran might’ve put out in the 27 or so years since it dropped. It still holds up perfectly well today, and it’s 97% of the reason we’re all here at Slagthuset again tonight.

In stark contrast to the night before when Norwegian Kaizer’s Orchestra blasted a full house with romping insanity, we’re here to see Stockholm’s Eagle-Eye Cherry deliver a solid show of soulful pop-rock to a maybe half-full room of misty eyed devotees and their spouses or colleagues that they convinced to come along.

First things first: Yes, that’s his real name. On discovering his Native American heritage it makes a bit more sense. The remaining pieces fall into place when perusing his family tree, an ensemble containing all kinds of successful artists. His father Don, a pioneering free-jazz trumpeter, and his mother an insanely talented textile artist came together and spawned an impressive array of musical prowess.

Siblings Eagle Eye and Neneh Cherry the most successful among them, both topping domestic and international charts at different times. While Neneh went the R&B and Hip Hop route, younger bro Eagle Eye stuck with traditional, semi-acoustic rock with tinges of blues and soul. With the smash-hit success of Save Tonight as the lead single on his debut album Desireless in ’97, it’s still doing a lot of the heavy lifting today. It appears to have served him well with moderate success across three decades, and his work ethic is likely the reason for the continued prosperity.

The man and his band tour relentlessly and the show is a well structured, enjoyable rendition of, well, a fairly average remaining catalogue of songs.

Maybe I’m a bit cynical, but these songs just aren’t hitting for me. Despite a dynamic, heartfelt performance, hooks like “Falling in Love Again” and “Indecision”, just seem to fall a bit flat. Clearly, however, many folks in the audience were a little easier to please than this hipster snob. There were young-ish, starry eyed couples swaying to the slow jams, 70-somethings rocking along while they still can, sequinned mothers and daughters, sports-coated schmoozers on the white wines and even the odd bloke rolling solo, pumping hist fist and hooting during the guitar solos.

It seemed obvious to my eye that the super-talented band were the real stars of the show. Four very Scandinavian looking fellas whose apparent skill and enthusiasm for rock music really put some meat on the bones of these just okay songs with some impressive honky-tonk and wah-wah action. They all performed strongly enough to pass a good hour and a half going from strength to strength, with little banter between songs and a few generic moves from the guy up front.

And then, rather abruptly, it was done. Just like that. Thanks very much… But wait, the song! What about the song? The reason we came out! Surely they wouldn’t bail before handing that one over, right? After a decent showing, some may have felt satisfied enough to hit coat check and head home, but it was like they were holding it hostage.

Moment’s later though, barely enough for a sip of water, they predictably trotted back onstage and picked up right where they left off. Some slightly familiar song that many seemed to enjoy, but at this point we were all just waiting. And then sure enough, without much ceremony, those four beautiful chords began strumming and humming from the stage, through the crowd to the back of the room, and at a pace slightly ahead of the record.

A collective relief could be felt as the crowd moved and grooved, closing their eyes and signing along. We made it. And it was real nice. It perhaps lacked the softness of the original and had a slight “going through the motions” vibe. He’s been singing the same tune for almost 30 years so pretending to still love it must be tough, but they were pretty convincing. The crowd, ever patient and forgiving, drank it in. Without further adieu, our boy exited stage right as the band jammed the outro for another minute or two and knocked it on the head, catching a hearty applause in return.

If I learned anything tonight it was that sometimes you gotta push your analytics aside, enjoy what’s in front of you and don’t ask too many damn questions. I guess that’s the message in Save Tonight, too. If you’ve got something good right there, hang onto it, stretch that shit out for as long as you can. Our man Eagle Eye has been living well on the back of this one classic for ages! So when I ask “do you have more?”, I simply hear in response,”what makes you think you need more?”.

eagle eye cherry - slagthuset, malmo - 02.03.2024

Photos: joe miller

words: blair elton

Entering Malmö’s premier concert hall, Slagthuset, the crowd, diverse and orderly, seemed only subtly aware of the impending spectacle last Friday. I, however, remained oblivious. Choosing to approach the show with fresh eyes and savour the novelty of it all, I conducted only cursory research on the band's essentials. Attempting to pin down the crowd proved as challenging as categorizing Kaizer Orchestra’s sound.

Among the attendees were beer-bellied bikers, steampunk hipsters in suspenders, glittered-up gal pals, and middle-aged mothers. It appeared the Kaizers must have shared rotation on playlists alongside artists as disparate as Taylor Swift and Rammstein.

But this comeback tour, after a ten-year hiatus, signaled continuity in the band’s raucous sound and energy, unaltered despite shifts in the music landscape over the past decade.

They stormed the stage to uproarious applause from the packed room and lurched into their wistful ballad “Hjerteknuser” (Heartbreaker) to swaying and smiles from the audience. Charismatic frontman Janove Ottesen wasted no time working up a sweat, moving about the stage like a man possessed, demanding equal fervour from the audience. Following was the funeral procession “Begravelspolka,” pounding the stage as if attempting to break through to the underground. This was real music to raise the dead.

For almost two hours, the self-proclaimed “No-Hit-Wonders” powered through an impressive list of classics and deep cuts, leaving the enthralled crowd barely a moment to catch its collective breath. While resembling an uncontainable industrial-sized riot, one could discern the serious work invested in making it sustainable, given the rigorous tour schedule across Europe deep into autumn 2024.

Having completed a slew of shows in their home country last year before embarking on a European tour in 2024, the Norwegians have hit their stride. Tightening their act into a brazen, post-apocalyptic cabaret of total chaos, they blend the loose, haphazard spirit of a New Orleans marching band with the feisty energy of a Scandinavian metal outfit, all stuffed into a cannon with dashes of punk and paganism, exploding back out onto the stage.

The visibly older band of brothers maintained impressive stamina throughout, switching instruments and taking turns jumping around and bashing their signature bronze 44-gallon drums with crowbars and baseball bats, smoke billowing out like a scene from some depraved Stanley Kubrick imaginarium.

With the world seemingly falling apart at the seams, war at the door, and economic collapse looming, the band's return to the stage seems perfectly timed to deliver us a much-needed release of positive, primal energy. As they played the night's final anthem “Kontrol På Kontinentet,” our fearless comrades led the (translated here) chant:

“Control on the continent, He's ruling with an iron fist, But his kingdom is crumbling, his grip slipping away

"The people are rising, they won't be held down!”

As they proceed south and eastward across European territories, by the time they wrap up in Milan, Italy, in April, they’ll have gathered a cacophony of fans old and new to march alongside them. However it shakes out, be it aliens, Armageddon, rebellion, or riots, Kaizer Orchestra is well-qualified to provide the soundtrack to the revolution!

Kaizers orchestra - slagthuset, malmo - 01.03.2024

Photos: joe miller

words: blair elton

It is the end of February, and we need to get through the last part of Danish darkness and rain… Last night, we attended Lille Vega where indie-rock was the queen of the night.

The support band of the night, which was mentioned several times throughout the evening, was WINTER, an indie-rock band led by Brazilian singer Samira Winter. Thanks to that, the band is known for bilingual songs. It was a bit difficult to hear the voice and lyrics, but maybe that was the intention. I overheard the people behind me saying, “there is not much happening on the stage - just red lights and no movement.” That depends on what the listener is expecting from the music - performance, or highlighting the music? I think the atmosphere was very nice and chill.

The opposite was happening during Beach Fossils. What sounds very chilled and gentle in the recording takes on a new version live. A 4-member band from Brooklyn has been to Copenhagen before, yet after their research, it seemed that most of the audience was attending the concert for the first time. Dustin, the lead singer of the band, seemed very shy, which was in contrast to the rhythm guitarist Tommy, who was very talkative and kept the attention and interaction with the audience.

Having 2 guitars, bass, and drums leads to the belief that the band needs to be very precise and exact about creating the riffs or chords that will fill up the space that is usually filled with the synth. In this case, Beach Fossils added a few pre-recorded samples, occasionally piano, and used very nice sounding reverb on the mic for the vocals.

I spoke briefly to Tommy and Anton about the process of composing, especially on the last record, and Tommy said that by this time, they have ‘one brain’ and that the creation of the songs is full of arguments in order to get the best out of everyone. What sounds on record as chilled music became almost aggressive and expressive on the stage, which Tommy agreed was because of the “we give what we get” energy from the audience.

The nice ending of the concert was with 3 encores and Dustin’s words to stop surrounding yourself with people that have negative energy. Surround yourself with people that inspire you, and you inspire them. Which resonated with me a lot… And I hope as you are reading this, it will resonate with you as well."

beach fossils - store vega, Copenhagen - 28.02.2024

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: Karolina Čurová

Monday night jazz pop anyone?

Who would be better to serve this than a 24-year-old GRAMMY winner - Laufey? This multi talented Chinese-Icelandic artist has charmed more and more listeners in the past couple of years, but her achievements reach further than that. Only at the age of 15, Laufey was performing as a cello soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, she certainly deserved her spot as one of the most celebrated current artists.

Laufey’s voice is incredibly soft, and her music stunningly combines jazz and pop music. The songs will take you to a completely different time, the golden era of jazz, but the lyrics are more contemporary, both heartbreaking and hopeful all at once.

I have been very excited and interested to hear how Laufey sounds in real life and whether she would able to make the 'always warm' VEGA even warmer through her romantic but heartfelt songs.

It’s safe to say I wasn’t disappointed at all. Laufey’s soft singing gets much more depth and power when she sings live, so much so, that I was even surprised. Most songs were soft and soothing, but she also added some more rougher notes here and there. Especially this rendition of “Lovesick” resembled more of a rock-pop song, rather than jazz-pop.

Not only is Laufey a fantastic singer, but she also plays beautifully. Whether her instrument is guitar, cello, or piano, she masters it, which looks incredibly easy and effortless. She was skipping and hopping through the stage from one instrument to another as if all of them would be simple to play. This only added to how charming and sincere Laufey seems to be, which makes her performance even more enjoyable.

Apparently, Laufey is also not the only musical talent in the family! Her twin sister joined the stage twice, playing violin and dancing around. Their sisterly sweetness and love could be felt through the air, which was very fitting with the whole evening.

If you are looking for a more energetic gig, Laufey might not be for you, but sometimes, a softer sound and warmer vibe are perfect for an evening - and Laufey is basically perfect for this. She charmed everyone in the crowd, and I am sure that most people would be completely Bewitched by her just as easily.

According to Laufey, her goal is to bring jazz and classical music to her generation. This is obviously a big goal to have, but looking at the young crowd that filled up the whole VEGA, I have zero doubts about her reaching it.

Laufey - store vega, Copenhagen - 26.02.2024

Photos: Thomas Vraaby

words: Hanna koivunen

It's metal night and Amager Bio and I've gotta say, the evening unfolded very different with each band on stage. The headliner and our focus was Tesseract, British progressive metal band from Milton Keynes, that are apparently also credited as pioneers of the djent movement in the prog genre, which to be fair, I have no idea what means because I have no technical music background and I'm mainly a photographer but after watching a youtube tutorial of a dude playing some different levels of palm muted weirdly distorted guitar riffs, it seemed legit.

The night had varied levels of chaos, first we started with The Callous Daoboys that were chaotic but in a playful way, then we continued with an organized chaos with Unprocessed and finished off with calculated sequences of different paces with Tesseract. All 3 bands quite different experiences but it felt like it worked well together and somehow it paved the way to the headliner. It felt like a progressive journey, and after all it's prog metal night at Amager Bio anyway right?

I think if we look up the definition of chaos a picture of the first band, The Callous Daoboys will probably pop up. There were intros of 00s bangers, pig squeels, lead was meowing at some point and there was an electric violin player on stage stomping on every beat. I liked it, I think it was cool for the younger generation where we all probably have some form of adhd or short attention spans.

The second band on stage, Unprocessed, was definitely more calculated, and it flowed nicely in between more melodic parts and more aggressive metal-core sequences. I don't know why but some of the guitar riffs reminded me of some game where you're the main character and you're supposed to slay a dragon.

By the time Tesseract was ready to take the stage, everyone was warmed up and excited, including some of my photographer colleagues in the pit that are into the band, hehe. From the moment the lights dimmed and the first notes reverberated through the venue, the atmosphere shifted into a realm of intricate rhythms and ethereal melodies.

The audience seemed hooked, even though they were pretty static, but the whole room echoed in a "forever" chant when they played "War of being" followed but Daniel's high pitched vocals and very contrasting screams. Seriously, lead singer Daniel Tompkins has a wider vocal range than a chameleon on a rainbow and keeps surprising you throughout every song when he effortlessly transitions between silky soaring cleans and beastly guttural growls.

The crowd definitely warmed up after a while and we could see come crowd surfers coming towards the pit even though there were signs that it wasn't allowed. But who can blame them the music was a wave of ups and downs (haha) so I guess it's fitting.

I think overall it was a great performance and If you ever get the chance to catch these guys live and are into the prog genre, do yourself a favor and jump on it. You'll probably enjoy it a lot like all the folks at Amager Bio seemed to tonight.

tesseract - amager bio, Copenhagen - 16.02.2024

Photos & words: laura ioana v

Depeche Mode, the band that made its mark on the history of music, especially the one coming from the UK, came to Copenhagen as part of their tour Memento Mori. The sold-out Royal Arena was a celebration of life, knowing memento mori - remembering one must die, so why not celebrate the remaining days in style and dance?

Once I entered the arena, I felt like there was a disproportion between the stage and how many people were in... and that is still sitting in the privileged press area. The stage, in this case, was on the right side from me, as opposed to when I attended other concerts and the stage was in the centre. I was hoping for the same. It was a very interesting feeling to enter the hall and see people everywhere; I felt overwhelmed. The feeling got a bit more intense when the opening song started, the song “My Cosmos is Mine”. I am always critical towards big arenas and the acoustics in them. However, this time, I have to say, the sound was done very well.

Even the fact that there were only 4 people on the stage, which felt empty in a moment, made the thought of the disproportion linger in my mind. It was this ambivalence between the expectations of a big stage, a big band, and a huge hall, to the actual reality, of these 4 pals being great enough to make enough sound and fill up the Royal Arena with people, but also sonically. I did not lack anyone else on the stage, and that is a big kudos for the band. That 4 people make a sound big enough that you don't lack anything. Prominent M shape and the visuals were a mix of contemporary and throwback videos and images.

I appreciate Dave Gahan’s energy and still the momentum of dancing and turning that seems a significant move of his. Considering their age and how many concerts they have played in their life, I also understand that Gahan took a break from some songs when Martin Gore stepped up and sang songs like “Strange Love”. Musically, another great aspect to the songs were the new renditions and remixes of their old hits. “In your room”, “pain that I am used to” gave a very refreshing take.

I personally love the music from 80s UK. The range of post-punk, new wave, and synth-pop (but a good one) always made me feel like I wanted to be my age but in those times. What I appreciate with DEPECHE MODE is the definite pushing of gender norms and androgynous look, exploration of one’s identity. Moreover, the lyrics that I am sure many queers of that time appreciated, the lust, desire, and self-expression inside-out.

I love that throughout the concert the sexual undertone and overtone were present and made, at least me, feel those feelings of desire. I just LOVED the use of synth and a variety of ways of the use… and the movements and dances of Gahan and Gore just added to that a lot. I think it is great that these lads are still presenting these topics and pushing those gender norms of men in their age.

The setlist was a nice combo of songs from their discography albums like Memento Mori, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Music for the Masses, Violator, Playing the Angel, just to mention a few. It was also a dedicated crowd that knew and sang all of the songs, and I felt like I am an outsider with already my knowledge of songs and lyrics.

The grand finale for me was the ending, when the band decided to leave the best of the best. Singing the song of how I got to know Depeche Mode “Enjoy The Silence” actually got me teary as it was a very soulful performance full of emotions and also power singing with 17 000 people; and also I was just truly vulnerable. Continuing celebratory “I Just Can’t Get Enough” that took us a bit away from dark synth waves.

This song shows how different the spectrum of one band can be. Ending with the great seduction of “Never Let Me Down Again” and reaching the auditory crest with “Personal Jesus” that gave me goosebumps. I think the ending could not be juicier and more eargasmic.

Memento Mori was also a definite tribute to Andrew Fletcher who was prevalent throughout the concert, but also as mentioned before, general celebration of life and the production of great music that Depeche Mode delivered to us.

Depeche mode - royal arena, Copenhagen - 10.02.2024

Photos: Kasper pasinski

words: Karolina Čurová

Most people might know First Hate for their 2017 album debut, A Prayer for The Unemployed – a sugary and dreamy explosion of synth pop kept in light moods.

But my first encounter with this two piece group was at Vegas Udvalgte a couple of years before their 2017 release, where they played in the corner of a small room with only a synthesizer and a microphone – and where the moods were far from light and sugary.

With their introverted and dark waved post punk synth, I took them into my heart instantly. On their debut EP, The Mind of a Gemini, you can find this unique, yet inspired sound.

And with the group’s 2022 release Cotton Candy, First Hate hits the notes from their earlier days with a twist of club melancholy and are IMO back on the right track.

With this really eclectic catalogue I was curious to experience First Hate at Store Vega, far from the small rooms above where I saw them last time – curious to witness what they had become. And I must say that I was carried away.

Having Joakim Wei Bernild behind the knobs, the show started out with heavy beats and synth soundscapes for several minutes, which immediately turned the atmosphere and gave a clear message: Tonight, Vega is not a concert venue, it’s a club! And the audience was carried to new dimensions. And when Anton Falck’s characteristic vocals started to wave around us from somewhere backstage, the dance was on.

I can’t say that I will ever change my impression of the A Prayer for the Unemployed album, but when what hit us was a handful of songs from that album to start out with, I must say that they worked really well in this specific setting and was given different life, also with the help from Anton Falck’s cool dance moves. When he shouted “Store Vega” just before a drop, we went wild – and First Hate had us as one organism.

That feeling continued through the entire show, where First Hate took us on a journey from their sugar pop, over dark wave, house and at points elements of pure techno. What a party!

Through the show we had company from a number of visitors on stage performing with First Hate, including two giant toy rabbits.

Then, Lina Rafn entered the stage, I was a bit surprised, since she is mostly known for the 90’s project Infernal (besides being a judge in X-Factor), which definitely has a more mainstream appeal than First Hate, With the words “Vega! I ser så fucking dejlige ud lige nu! Kan jeg få jer til at hoppe lidt mere?” in the end of the show, First Hate played their last song – and left us with endless endorphins buzzing in the room.

What a night!

FIRST HATE - STORE VEGA, Copenhagen - 02.02.2024

Photos & WORDS: Thomas Vraaby

Gothenburg, Sweden's very own freakshow Avatar brought their metal circus to Amager Bio Copenhagen (After a late change of Venue) on Saturday night.

Avatar is touring in support of their most recent release, 2023’s Dance Devil Dance. This was the album that brought Avatar to my attention, and I have to admit, much of their work has been on rotation in my house since.

Led by the charismatic frontman Johannes Eckerström, Avatar delivered a performance that oozed excitement, skill & pantomime/Carney grunginess.

The band opened the show in grand fashion with title track to "Dance Devil Dance '' and it was banger after banger from there on out with “The Eagle Has Landed” and "Valley of Disease ''. In fact, much of the set was made up of tracks from the new album which makes sense considering its popularity.

The lighting and stage production was top notch for a tour of this size. The haze accentuated the lighting and for the most part did not drown out the performers. The lighting really added to the almost freakshow burlesque nature of the show.

At one stage Lead singer Eckerström took to the crowd in the balcony for an impromptu animal balloon show and trombone solo on the song “Puppet show”

After the main set list the capacity crowd at Amager screamed the house down for more and Avatar of course Obliged after teasing the crowd. They returned to the stage and offered a three-song encore including new fan fav “The Dirt I’m Buried In” and “Smells Like a Freakshow” from 2012’s Black Waltz and then closed the night with the title track to 2014’s Hail the Apocalypse.

Avatar has set the 2024 gig bar very high. Let's hope the rest of the year lives up to this.

AVATAR - AMAGER BIO, Copenhagen - 27.01.2024

Photos & WORDS: jp molloy

The Fear Factory tour hit Pumphuset in Copenhagen with a real sense of Urgency this week, most likely due to the new vocals of …… but more on that later.

For the warmup, First up we had Ukrainian band, Ignea. With their blend of Metal, Melodic and grandiose symphonic styles, they kicked things off in style with singer Helle Bohdanova fantastic range of vocals a real highlight.

We then had the Butcher Babies hit the stage and deliver a 'batshit' crazy and fun set. Despite missing one of their singers (Carla Harvey out due to eye surgery) they still managed to deliver a fun high energy set with crowd interaction next level.

With Fear Factory we had an interesting Dynamic. Dino Cazarez is the only Original member of the band, although a key creative one at that but a lot of the recent internet rumblings had been about Mio Silvestro taking over vocal duties from Burton C. Bell.

If anything, adding Silvestro to the mix has added a new lease of life to the band. With material in the set comprising everything from 1992s debut “Soul of the machine” to the latest material, it was a fantastic set, brilliantly set against a harsh industrial lightshow of bright ice white strobes.

Oh, and dare I forget the driving Riffs of Dino, of course the highlight for me.

With this being the last gig of the year for me we ended on a high.

2024 is already looking tasty!

FEAR FACTORY - PUMPEHUSET, Copenhagen - 09.12.2023

Photos & WORDS: jp molloy

Greta van Fleet is an American rock band that has gathered a lot of attention in the last decade. Namely, even legends from the one and only Led Zeppelin have noticed this young band’s talent - and that certainly says something.

Greta van Fleet consists of three brothers: Josh, Jake, and Sam Kiszka, and also Danny Wagner - who is clearly not one of the Kiszka brothers. The band is heavily inspired by the previously mentioned Led Zeppelin, and this can be seen in the crowd.

Forum is a big venue and the band managed to fill it up with a very diverse crowd including both dad rock listeners and younger fans. There is something very sweet about seeing such different people being fans of the same band and being just as excited to share this experience. For the very last 15 minutes every one of these fans seemed to struggle to control their excitement anymore and just wanted the show to begin.

Thankfully the band started perfectly on time and believe the entrance was worth it. From the rising anticipation to the dramatic drop of a curtain relieving the band behind it waving to fans - you could really feel that we would get to see a great show in the following couple of hours.

And so we get to the actual gig. Very simply and shortly: Greta van Fleet is insanely good live. All the band members are impressively talented and Josh’s singing would send shivers through anyone’s spine. All of them ooze a certain type of charisma and fabulousness that is incredible to watch.

Their joy of being on stage, pure talent, stunning outfits, and of course the crowd having a great time manufactured a magical night. The setlist included songs from many of their albums focusing on their biggest hits such as Black Some Rising, Heat Above, Highway Tune, and so forth. All of the songs were accompanied by all kinds of effects from fire to rays, glitter explosions, and anything else you could imagine.

This gets me to one of my personal favorite moments of the gig (and this whole fucking year): Greta van Fleet performing Light My Love. I knew that it was going to be beautiful and powerful due to the meaning of this song to Josh Kiszka (Google it, my friend) and how it’s commonly performed but I was still not prepared. I really wish I could be taken back to this moment and experience the power, the emotion, and the beauty once more.

As a venue, Forum is alright. It’s big so it can fit a lot of people and has a possibility for some great effects as previously mentioned. Though due to the size of the venue, you can notice when people start to leave. And yes, unfortunately, that did happen during Greta van Fleet’s gig. Especially in the last 30 minutes, people were vanishing faster than in Area 51.

The reason seemed to be very clear - people started to get annoyed about all the solos. I am assuming this because I first overheard people complaining about them and also people were only leaving during them. Quite a Sherlock, aren’t I? At least I had something to entertain me during the fourth solo.

I do enjoy listening to the band showing off their talent and skill, but even I got a bit tired of them. I would tell you how many solos there were, but I truly lost count around the fourth one. Not to forget, that most of them were at least 10 minutes long, and no - there wasn’t an outfit change every time. No wonder the gig lasted for 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Shortly - the band sounded even better live than on Spotify, even though the sound system was not constantly optimal. Nevertheless, if you are not a fan of solos, Greta van Fleet might make you feel restless waiting for Josh’s singing. Still, I would certainly push through the restlessness again if it meant I would get to experience this fabulous band live again.

GRETA VAN FLEET - FORUM, Copenhagen - 26.11.2023

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: hanna koivunen

I stood impatiently waiting in line, as I heard the first double drums smash their way through the thick brick walls to Pumpehuset.

The line ran all the way out to the main street, as everyone started pushing gently towards the sound. Jokes were passed along, that they had to start early because they were old men by now.

Luckily for me and everyone else, we only missed mere minutes of the opening act. The Arizonan groove metal band, Incite, absolutely killed it.

They had the atmosphere just right, when the lead singer screamed at the top of his lungs “put your horns up… get ready… for Max and Igor!!”

It was a beautiful sight, hundreds of devil horns being thrown in the air, as everyone was head banging their way, to experience true icons of thrash metal.

The Brazilian duo Max and Igor Cavalera, have seen ups and downs throughout their careers.

After a whirlwind of success with Sepultura in the 90s, the band broke up and started independent projects.

But fans were quick to buy tickets when the two brothers announced a tour.

The show was sold out, because who doesn’t love a legendary family, coming back together?

The crowd started chanting for Igor, as the brothers came out on stage. The venue was packed to the brim, and even a couple of little kids were decked out in denim vests with metal band patches.

I felt like I had walked into a multi generational celebration, and the show did in no way disappoint.

Well known Sepultura hits like ‘’Antichrist’’, ‘’Troops of Doom’’ and ‘’Bestial Devastation’’ were amongst a few highlights of the evening, with Max’s vocals hitting every note on point.

The depth and intensity of his growls had the potential to turn even a non-metalhead towards the dark side. Igor was also in top form, hitting his way through the drums with lightning speed.

Most impressively, they didn’t seem to lose momentum at any point.

Another highlight came about an hour in, as the dramatic classical choir piece “O Fortuna” started playing from a completely darkened stage.

No one knew what was about to happen, but the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.

Two screens portrayed the image of a beautiful elderly woman covered in tattoos, as the text read “In loving memory of Vania Cavalera”.

The homage to their late mother could have turned into an awkward cliche, but it felt natural in the family theme of the tour.

Although Brazilian thrash metal might be an acquired taste, there’s no denying that these guys still got it. And whether you would skip their music while cooking at home, experiencing metal with this level of technical skill, is an experience I would highly recommend to anyone.

Cavalera conspiracy - pumpehuset, Copenhagen - 20.11.2023

Photos: JP MOLLOY

words: NINA METHLING

Mockery or realistic ambition, the name of the band that might evoke one or the other. Dream Wife came to Copenhagen as part of their tour and there is no better place than Loppen where this concert could take place…. Even though, I am pretty damn sure that Dream Wife would make a banger loud concert anywhere… loud not only sonically speaking.

There is one thing that I always appreciate and that is flat hierarchy, if done genuinely and correctly. Seeing that what we usually call a ‘support band’ was in this case called ‘Special Guest’, made my heart warm. So the special guest tonight was the Danish band UBLU. UBLU (meaning included in Danish) has been appearing on several occasions throughout Denmark, but not only. This band was also seen live in Vienna earlier this year.

Queer Club Rock band that is on the right path to being known by listeners and making change while they pass by. The spirits UBLU brought was great, together with the choreographies and outfits. Occasionally, I felt that something in the sound mix was off as sometimes the cymbal was overpowering. Singers were switching the lead and it might have sounded to one as each singer sang a different genre. Genre fluidity might work for some and might not work for others, but if they want to convey the message of fluidity, it makes sense. The performance with the meaning that was successful.

The powerhouse of Dream Wife with energy. Sharp drums and guitar riffs that were crisp. This was not a concert only about music. We left the inhibitions of just standing and listening, but more proactively participating in more than a concert and that was a revolt.

What started as a mockery of benign a band is now the quality sound of a rock band that is also a band of activists themselves.

What is great about Loppen is that the audience can be very close to the stage and there is no distance. It emphasizes the less of power relations between the musician and the audience.

Since bands started to make their way to the major festivals, topics such as sexual objectifications, body image, gender roles, and generally feminism took place forefront in their lyrics and music.

Obvious was the confidence and some sort of dominance in the singer that took our attention, but at the same time gave us space to decide.

I personally really loved the energy, kicks, and spins off the bass player Bella, who showed me at least proof of their dedication to the live performance. I want to see movement, emotions,.. Also, the guitar and bass moving around, certainly it made the audience move as well. People were jumping, dancing, and making out.

Dream Wife released an album called Social Lubrication which was produced by their very own guitarist Alex Go… on this note, I want to praise the guitarist. Being only, one guitar on the stage, I love how Alex makes the sound of the guitar so full that you don’t even think about missing another guitar on the stage.

The album is very well done and it was great to hear the songs live. 7 songs of the set were front the new album and then filled up with some songs from the self-titled album plus the cover of All The Things She Said I could compare to the bands that I can hear in Dream Wife, but I won’t as comparison is not always a productive thing to do.

The highlight, at least for me, was the song Leech which seemed to be one of the strongest manifestos for the message and purpose of Dream Wife. I love that some bands can make poetry out of the song and song out of poetry.

If you ask me, Dream Wife definitely ticked all the boxes of my dream wife, at least sonically. So let’s have some freaking empathy and look around what is happening around us.

dreamwife - Loppen, Copenhagen - 14.11.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana v

words: Karolina Čurová

Having first witnessed the “uneasy listening” (Sonically and lyrically) of SKYND at Copenhell this year I was keen to have another go around. Are they an industrial-style band? Metal? Alt rock? God knows, but there is considerable depth to their music and trying to pigeon hole it will leave you scratching your head.

Not a mainstream act and most definitely an acquired taste.

There is a definite darkness here, in the musical form juxtaposed with poppier moments but lyrically? This is a band that embraces the darker parts of humanity, macabre serial killer focus predominantly built around death, suicide and murder of the variety that pops up all too often on streaming services. Serial killers like Richard Ramieriez or the Columbine killers are topics of songs for example.

Typically true life murder and serial killer “entertainment” is not for me. I like my horror and violence old school (Aliens and killer sharks thank you) but SKYND has some great head bangers and earworms, all wrapped up in a very theatrical package.

Skynd herself has an incredibly variable voice, sometimes soft and gentle, sometimes like an old-time 20s cinema actress, the next screeching like a banshee. But damn she has a powerful set of lungs when called for with incredible power and balance in her voice.

With “Father” on base and various other synth duties and a drummer (Whose name I have no idea of) laying down the beat, it is a very well polished set with the costumes, lights and sound design all coming together in a weird dark package.

With all the hits like “Robert Hansen”, “Columbine” as well as newer song “Bianca Devins” in the setlist the crowd of SKYND diehards at VEGA were in serial killer heaven.

Personally I would like to see the band branch out lyrically. There is a risk that the similar topics will become a bit “one note” but for now I am enjoying the ride and look forward to whatever they put out next.

SKYND - LILLE VEGA, Copenhagen - 11.11.2023

Photos & words: jp molloy

It was not that long ago that Halestorm visited Danish shores. Their phenomenal set at this years Copenhell was a highlight for me and the first time seeing the band so I very much looked forward to seeing them in a more intimate setting at VEGA

Opening acts Mothica & The black Veil Brides did a solid job in warming up the crowd but it was clear most people were here for Izzy and the crew. And VEGA was bouncing with all walks of life represented from, old school rockers, young, old and everyone in between. Halestorm truly has a wide fanbase.

As strange as this was for myself who frequents a wide variety of hard rock and metal shows where there is crowd participation on the crazier side, it made for an incredibly enjoyable experience to just watch and absorb this chilled out crowd, just rocking out and singing along to every word.

Main event time and they came out with a BANG, opening with “I miss the Misery” and it was then banger after banger all night with a selection spanning old and new with the like of “Love bites, “Bombshell” and “Back from the Dead”

With an intense light show and lead singer Lizzy Hale's mighty lungs in impressive form, the energy was electric from the first note.With Drummer Arejay Hale, Guitarist Joe Hottinger and Josh Smith on Base every song was tight, and with the obligatory solos, First time song performances and scaled back more intimate guitar and vocal sections, Halestorm masterfully navigated the crowd through the nights journey.

Good job Halestorm. Can't wait till next time.

HALESTORM - STORE VEGA, Copenhagen - 10.11.2023

Photos & words: jp molloy

When it comes to the genre of country music, it is not so known to me as of who are the interpreters of the moment. Not in the DK scene, not worldwide. I do believe that as a music writer and reviewer, one needs to attend the concerts of various genres in order to get better and has broader knowledge. Country is not the music of my first choice, it has never been. I felt like an outsider, coming to Ideal Bar in my ‘normal’ clothes, when I entered and saw people in their attire, imagine clothes of people when I tell you words: country-rock. Getting into the gig of Kassia Valazza was definitely a surprise.

Support for this US singer and songwriter, was local rising star in the genres of folk and country - Penny Lundborg. Penny performed as a duo with another guitarist that switched between electric guitar and transforming the guitar into the sound of banjo.

The music did not hurt, and was a nice introduction into an easy-listening country without the usual stereotypes.

Country and folk without the usual stereotypes continued with Kassi Valazza. Arizona-born, Portland based singer caught the audience of Ideal Bar by being approachable, simple, yet musically interesting.

What I found warm on a human level was that the front rows of Ideal Bar were asked to sit down, so the rest could see and that scored a lot of good points. It made the atmosphere alsmot like at home in the living room.

I almost felt like I was teleported to the 60s-70s hippy times, where you could see the folk band playing on the stage, while people were mesmerized, sitting down around, co-creating the community of the moment. I loved it. I could not live in those times, but it is always ncie to have a glimpse of how it could feel.

Moments of the concert were like Reminiscences of mixing Nick Drake, Alela Diane and I would dare to say, early Joni Mitchel mix of melodies, emotions and lyrics. The use of modern keyboard and soundscapes gave her live performance a nice twist, made it deifitnitely more ibteresting for listeners like me.

The small bites of psychedelic folk-rock with the mix of country ingredients, the set that had 14 songs was not boring.

Songs like Johny Dear, Chino or Watching Planes Go By gave us a nice showcase of so-far released music. We were even graced by a few tracks that will come to the ears of the world.

Besides things that I mentioned above, I really appreciated the contact with the audience, very familiar and informal reciprocity of words and tones. The conversation about topics of aliens and even nothing were part of the lyrics of her songs - and I can respect the bravery of poetic, out-of-this-world topics that some people might not understand or even dare to go towards.

The conversation about music and art making people uncomfortable was prevalent throughout the concert…. And I think it should be, in most cases. One cannot just be without opinion and challenging status quo, not in this age and time.

kassi Valazza - ideal bar, Copenhagen - 06.11.2023

Photos: thomas vraaby

WORDS: Karolina Čurová

There is a dilemma I face when I hear the sound of bands like ‘A Grave With No Name’ that borders the line where you cannot truly judge if this is OK singing or just the latest trend on TikTok for emotional nu-hipsters of Gen Z.

It makes me feel ambivalent that we got to the era or music where yes, it is easy to make songs with a gadgets on budget, but a lot of it that gets a space might not hold the value of that space.

It is interestin as the recordings of the songs are much nicer than live performance. Even the live performance samples were pretty good, but the singing was throwing me off quite often. 2-member-band as performing in Lille Vege was somewhat fitting with genre and mood of Youth Lagoon.

Youth Lagoon gave us a little more than one hour long set, which was about 3-member performing band of synth/piano, bass guitar and drums switching with guitar.

Songs were predominantly from the latest album Heaven is a Junkyard, that Trevor revealed is about many things. We could hear the songs from different albums sound differently. I can say that that attest to a journey of this musician. As I remembered the music from other albums. Especially the Wondrous Bughouse, where my favourite song of this musician is ‘Mute’. These songs sound more colorful and psychedelic, they sound more complex and playful.

What the new albums sound is very easy-listening music, with less complex music ornaments, but positive and calming.

I almost wish this concert was the sitting one. On the balcony where I stood most of the concert were people actually sitting down and enjoying the concert like that.

I really like concerts like this one - not crowded, smaller, cozy, … It is one of those concert you dont regret, it is the better average.

Maybe the fact that this was the first concert of European tour and them admitting that they are jetlagged, cause that energy of this concert was more sit-back and relax. If you like dreamy-pop sound of music to relax, the latest album of Youth lagoon is for sure it.

Youth lagoon - lille vega, Copenhagen - 31.10.2023

Photos: Kasper Pasinski

WORDS: Karolina Čurová

Elder Emos rejoice - Enter Shikari is here! Enter Shikari is a British rock band formed in 1999 and they are true emo legends. In fact, the most common response to me going to the gig has been “Oh yeah, I used to listen to them when I was 15.” Well, some of us have made a full circle back to listening to what we did during our emo phase, and some of us never even stopped.

Even though the band has been active for multiple decades - Store Vega was not even close to being full. This was quite surprising to me because I thought more people would have wanted to live their teenage years again through some live music. Well to those who thought about buying the ticket, but didn’t end up doing so, I can tell that you made a horrible mistake. This shit was just as good as one could imagine. Or actually, even better.

Even before the gig started, the fans were shouting Enter Shikari’s songs, excited to get to see the band live. The energy was extraordinary before they even came out on the stage, and once they did… It truly felt like a small explosion went off.

Throughout the gig, Enter Shikari took us through their whole discography and this is certainly a journey I won’t forget for some time. Starting with “(pls) set me on fire”, it really did feel like the band lit something in all of us - and this fire was not going to die in the next 1.5 hours. Through every album and a seven-minute-long quick fire round consisting of four songs ending with great crowd-pleasers like “Live Outside”, the setlist was just insanely good.

Everything from the band’s charisma, Rou Reynolds’ funny dance moves, and a collection of absolute bangers ensured that the night was one to remember. And when I say funny dance moves, I mean it as the biggest compliment. It was adorable to see the lead singer hopping around like a bunny and wiggling his hands in the air in the most joyous ways. I hope more people would dance like this.

The bunny hop dancing aside, the gig had a lot to see. Literally. During every song, we got to watch a video clip in the background while the lights were going insane with lasers and shit - a true ADHD daydream and I absolutely looooved it!

As I mentioned, the band is very charismatic and they connect well with the crowd. Also, they are a pleasure to watch interacting with each other - either all the band members are actually really great friends or they are really fucking good at fooling people. Regardless of the case, it was a pleasure to watch them teasing each other and seriously speaking - I will copy all of the dance moves I saw.

In the beginning, Enter Shikari informed us that this will be the shittiest gig they have ever had, and I have only one thing to say about that. If that is the shittiest gig you pull, it’s no wonder why you are still so adored by all the elder emos (and ex-emos alike).

ENTER SHiKARI - store vega, Copenhagen - 30.10.2023

Photos: Anna Borgkvist

WORDS: hanna Koivunen

I have to admit, I hadn’t heard of King Krule prior to attending the show Monday night in Vega.

Now, I clearly must be living under a giant rock, as I realized the show had been sold out only two weeks after its announcement.

The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, with a fan base ranging from bright-eyed teenagers to retired punks. And oh boy, did I not know what I had signed up for.. in the best way possible.

By the first strum of the guitar on Perfecto Miserable, King Krule got into a seemingly combat-like mode and the crowd went wild.

Every note was meticulously well thought out, and his laid back lazy vocals, felt like an instrument in its own right. Maybe because it was difficult to understand most words that was mumbled. I didn’t mind though, it had a laissez-fair attitude about it, that went well with the uptempo ‘fuck it all’ of the music.

Three songs in at Dum Surfer, I almost felt taken back to the underground hardcore punk shows of my youth. The band rolling around on stage, the strobe lights hitting us out of sync.

It was an impressive spectacle, and it sounded fucking amazing.

It wasn’t all just attitude though, halfway through the show, the set changed to its jazzier counterpart.

At the perfect time, King Krule had the audience in his palms, when he asked us to stretch our arms as far as they could go. Waving in beat with the music, everyone was mesmerized.

And although this might sound counterintuitive, every note was so meticulously planned, it resulted in a grandiose, almost psychedelic, coherency.

King Krule has definitely earned his own right as a brit music icon. But it served the show well when he paid homage to Mike Skinner (Of The Streets), with a graceful rendition of Empty Cans.

I felt a tad somber, when the laid back, but incredibly sincere voice mumbled “time to say goodbye”.

I had completely forgotten about time and space, with a guy I didn’t even know, two hours prior. And in my humble opinion, those are the most talented performers around.

king krule - store vega, Copenhagen - 23.10.2023

Photos: THOMAS VRAABY

WORDS: NINA METHLING

LOUD, that was definitely one of the outcomes of me attending the concert of SWANS and Norman Westberg in Vega. It was so loud that not even my earplugs felt sufficient, and I could feel the music resonating in my chest.

Norman Westberg is a former on-and-off member of SWANS. His supporting performance lasted a little less than an hour and was a journey from noise to ambient guitar. If you are interested in guitars, the sound, experimenting with the guitar's sound, and bending its sound, then this performance was all about it. It was a matter of one person, a guitar, and a few pedals, showcasing the artistry of using the instrument to its full capacity.

After a slight delay from the usual starting time of the concert at Vega, we had six musicians on the stage. An interesting thing to note was that the frontman, Michael Gira, asked not to shut down the lights in the audience, just to dim them, which I really liked. It made me feel the genuine interest of the musicians in seeing the reactions of the audience and creating closeness.

On many occasions, the music gave me the impression of chaos - not because the musicians didn't know what to play, but as an artistic expression. It conveyed the current situation of chaos in the world. The drums also reminded me of gunshots, which might have been a bit triggering. I have to mention the bass, and there were not only one but two bassists. They played some great riffs with mastery.

Amongst the noise and post-punk sensibility, there were hints of new age music as well, which brought a sense of hope and lightness. What was demanding of the listener was to handle the loudness and the very particular way of Gira's singing.

I noticed a lot of movement in the audience, including myself, from the Vega hall to the bar lounge as it became very intense at times. When it comes to motion, many people also left the concert at approximately the middle of it. I think this experience speaks much more than the words I can write; it was a very ambivalent experience.

There is a long history of SWANS, which attests to their fan base and experimental sound that appeals to a specific and niche audience. With 16 albums, there's a lot to choose from. The road SWANS took us on was mainly about their latest album, "The Beggar," but they also threw back to albums like "Leaning Meaning" or "Is this Really A Mind?"

Perhaps some listeners expected the concert to be more like the recorded songs?

The concert might have sounded like one constant song, putting some people into a trance, while leaving others ambivalent about it.

swans - store vega, Copenhagen - 17.10.2023

Photos: THOMAS VRAABY

WORDS: Karolina Čurová

The term “Supergroup” has a somewhat mixed history. For every “Cream” you have a “Ringo Starr and his all Starr band or gods forbid “Hollywood Vampires”

Fortunately “The Winery dogs” lean more on the good side of the scales of supergroup justice.

Formed in 2012 the 3 band members are Richie Kotzen (guitars, keyboards, piano, lead vocals) known as a former member of bands Poison and Mr. Big. Billy Sheehan (bass,backing vocals) known for playing with Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Talas, and Mr. Big and Mike Portnoy (drums, backing vocals) is known for being the original drummer of Dream Theater. So some pretty solid credentials then.

I must admit that I only recently became aware of the band and my exposure to date was limited to a smattering of songs across their first two albums and a deeper dive on their 2023 release III, which came out on February 3rd and while I certainly enjoyed the albums you really must see them in the flesh to really appreciate the skills and songwriting talent on display. That old chestnut “they are better live” is no cliche here.

With a blend of Blues, funk, progressive elements and a strong slap of early 90s Alice in Chains or Soundgarden grunge vibes they really are hard to pin down in terms of style. All three band members assaulted the crowd with blistering fingerwork on bass and guitar and complex, energetic drumming but never at the cost of a good old solid rocker. Richie Kotzen backing that up with his Chris Cornell tinged vocals gave the whole thing a level of gravatas worthy of the genre offerings. And god damn, did some of the solo instrument sections just kick some serious arse.

With familiar offerings across their catalog it was the more recent songs like Xanadu that stuck with me. And judging from the crowd lapping it up and The Winery Dogs next gig wont come fast enough for many in attendance

The Winery Dogs - Pumpehuset, Copenhagen - 16.10.2023

Photos and words: JP Molloy

The first time I saw Bonobo was in August 2014 at Vega, sold out, it was such a strong musical experience that I remember precisely where I was standing. He came back to Copenhagen again, and again, VEGA was sold-out.

As opened by local DJ - Tea, who warmed up with a great groovy set, I was positively surprised that from her set we went smoothly without the break to Bonobo, who just casually switched. Starting with one of the most popular hits Bambo Koyo Ganda, the set was an indefinite journey with definite genres. Genres that swayed from melodic EDM to house and groovy, to techno, hints of trip-hop and world music, and back to the house. Even a remix of Gypsy Woman by Crystal Waters - yes, the one we sang “La Da Dee La Da Da”, which personally did not work for me, but worked for the rest…

All these genres might sound like a LOT, but oh well, there is certain artistry and craft in DJing, especially when it is done well. It was definitely a more positive-sounding set compared to other DJs and music producers we know from the UK scene… which to be honest, I do feel we need.

I switched between being in the middle of the crowd to being in the back and I have to say the back worked for me well, I still had great energy around, but more space to dance. Looking around, I saw people making out and getting it on, dancing almost in an ecstatic way, and even meditating on the music, which felt universal and good.

The lighting was simple but effective, yet not putting the DJ on the spot, which reminded me of the club scene of dancing and being in the moment, rather than focusing on the DJ, being present with the people, or focusing on the music. He did not even say one word on the microphone, yes seemed very grateful.

I preferred his concert in 2014. Maybe it’s because I’m a musician and the last time I saw him he had the whole band present and a guest singer, but that concert was a concert with a totally different atmosphere and not so much a DJ set. A DJ set that was an auditory treat.

bonobo- store vega, Copenhagen - 12.10.2023

Photos: Kasper Pasinski

words: Karolina Čurová

Grandson was originally supposed to perform in Lille Vega, but due to his popularity, this American-Canadian singer’s gig got moved to Store Vega. He might have not ended up completely selling out the tickets but the venue had a lot of people - and all the leftover room was filled with energy anyway.

Grandson combines rock and rap with some intense beats, creating a perfect combination to jump around and get properly sweaty. A big part of his music is about US politics and mental health issues, so you can imagine that quite a lot of it is angry and sad. The gig certainly leaned more on the angry side rather than the sad, and the night felt almost therapeutic through jumping and shouting out a lot of rage.

For the first 42 minutes (yes - I checked the time) Grandson, AKA Jordan Edward Benjamin, was not having almost any breaks at all. He went from one song to the next one almost so seamlessly that they seemed like one long-ass song. The only break he had was when he told us a short list of “rules” (basically to have fun and be safe in the pit). I almost forgot that I was supposed to review this gig. I got into it so much, I didn’t really have any breaks to catch my breath.

This changed drastically after those already mentioned 42 minutes. It almost felt like he now wanted to have a long speech before every bloody song. I often like it when bands chat a bit, especially if it fits their vibe, but this was just too much. But hey - at least I had finally time to write some notes down (which is not something you look for in a rock gig right?)

Nevertheless, Grandson is a very charismatic artist and he certainly got the crowd completely wrapped around his fingers. The vibe was already fantastic before he started (also thanks to the support, DeathbyRomy, getting everyone warmed up), and the energy just kept on getting higher during his gig.

Sure - Grandson could shorten his speeches a bit or just drop some of them completely, but even during those moments, he didn’t seem to lose his touch. I have been listening to Grandson since 2017, so pretty much since he started, and this was the first time I saw him live. I am very happy to say that I was not disappointed at all - even though I hope that next time we will have a little less speeches and even more chaotic but sweet energy.

Grandson - store vega, Copenhagen - 10.10.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana V

wORDS: haNNA kOIVUNEN

I If this had a title it would probably be "Photographer 's Laura's first review that's also very biased cause she loves this band but it was really great anyway". Ps: I'm not a writer, so go easy.

The night started slow though, despite my expectations of a lot more people like me, excited to see the post punk band from Dublin, The Murder Capital. It did get better and a lot more people filled the room after the support band "University" finished their set.

To be fair, I quite liked the lads even though I didn't understand why there was a guy playing counter strike on stage and only interrupted his game to hold up poorly written A4s of the song names. Who needs a setlist when you can have a mate that wants to be in your band but probably doesn't play any instruments? Who fucking knows who he was but I was damn curious.

Anyways, as I was waiting in the photo pit and The Murder Capital took to the stage, a super fan front row excitedly says "Now that's a beautiful man" and he starts yelling while leadsinger James charismatically slow walks to his mic stand and they start playing "The Stars". The crowd warmed up slowly but by the time the 4th song hit, one of their famous ones, Don't cling to life, the crowd was energetic and there was even a small moshpit, even though it's not necessarily a band that makes me think of moshing.

The gig was such a good mix of these darker more melancholic songs and more angry energetic ones, it felt like it was impossible to get bored. Great stage movement from all band members especially James that has a very charming dance that I call the drunk poet moves.

The very static simple light setups in one light temp (which I gotta say not ideal for photos) usually all red or all blue also worked so well with their performance that was raw and very intense and expressive. It really didn't need more.

The peak of the gig started during the song Feeling Fades, when James told everyone to come closer and said something along the lines that the great thing about a moshpit is that if you do it once then second time comes easier, like the first day at school. Everyone got into it, people were swinging, a mosh started in the middle so it was even more perfect when "More is less" started, which is definitely their most moshy song.

People were already hooked but then James went down in the audience and climbed over everyone while singing and yelling "MORE" full of raw power, and that was pretty much the epic moment of the night in my eyes.

I'm 'fangirling' about this band, I know, but it was time to end it and I thought it was a perfect ending when lead said "ok we're gonna fuck off now but we love you and we always wanted it to be like this", which are some of the first lyrics from Ethel, one of my favourite songs from the new album "Gigi's recovery". Literally got goosebumps when singer collapsed on the floor on his knees while singing the chorus in quite a display of emotional turmoil.

Do I even need to draw a conclusion or does it pretty much show that I fucking loveeed it? And it's not only me, at the end I asked a young man front row if I can take a picture of the setlist he took for the magazine and he said "it better be a good article cause this was amazing".

The Murder Capital - amager bio, Copenhagen - 06.10.2023

Photos and words: Laura Ioana

I I must admit that I was quite surprised about how empty Loppen was. Even though it was a Sunday evening, I assumed that Algiers would have pulled more people to the venue. But apparently, I was wrong.

Algiers is a post-punk band from Atlanta, formed in 2012. Their music combines many forms and exceeds the limits of genres. The music is experimental and uses everything from hip-hop to rock and soul as inspiration. The band consists of four talented members, all of them playing an impressive number of instruments on stage. Therefore I think Algiers should have much more recognition from the public than they do now.

Even though the band is very talented and entertaining to watch, their bass player (who also plays the piano/keyboard) Ryan Mahan absolutely steals the show. His energy and moves are contagious and he managed to get the small crowd to wake up.

Indeed, if it wasn’t for Ryan, the night would have had a very different energy. The crowd was even timid in the beginning, with most people standing back, leaving a huge space in front of the stage. All this changed when Ryan jumped in the crowd and literally told everyone to move up - and of course, we did exactly that. From then forward, the energy kept on increasing more and more until the very end.

Ryan’s moves came in handy otherwise as well. There were some weird moments during the gig, especially between the songs. It was almost like the gig was more of a rehearsal and we were all just hanging out and waiting for the band to start practicing the next song. Thankfully, these moments weren’t long and when the next song started and Ryan started dancing around, everything was quickly forgotten.

Unfortunately, the end was a bit of a lackluster. The band had put on a good show and lifted everyone’s spirits, but now it was their time to go. Oh well, the lights were not put on so we did what any crowd would do - started demanding an encore. We kept on cheering and clapping for quite a long time until we realized that they were not coming back, and only when people started to give up, the lights were put back on and the music changed to the “gig is over” tunes. Some disappointed looks were shared by the crowd and all of it felt a bit anticlimactic.

All in all, the night was a bit here and there. The energy was great, but it took some time for it to get there and then it sadly dropped down again at the very end. Algiers as a band are fucking great, but their gig left me hoping for a little bit more.

ALGIERS - LOPPEN, Copenhagen - 25.09.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

I must admit that I was a bit scared before TALK’s gig in RUST. The artist has only been releasing music since 2021 so he is not yet as well-known as he deserves to be and the venue is not the best at marketing their gigs.

Thankfully my fears fled away immediately when I entered their basement. I was there in good time before even the support artist started, and the venue was already pretty packed and obviously, it kept on filling out more and more.

TALK’s music is strong and emotional and still combines some raspy rock vibes. Therefore I was expecting a very sentimental evening, full of belting songs accompanied by talented band members. Of course, I got all this but I couldn’t have even known to expect for everything else we got.

TALK has an incredible connection to the crowd - seemingly noticing absolutely everybody in the audience. This combined with how fucking funny and charming this dude is led to one of the best gigs I have experienced this year. He freestyled a song with us (looking for “Melt Together” to pop up on my Spotify) and kept on asking cute things about Denmark and the culture here. The whole night felt like a comedy show finished with absolutely outstanding music.

So what about that music then? TALK is just as good live as he is on any platform you use to listen to music. His strong tones are just as powerful and his raspiness is still as delightfully clear as they would be through your headphones. This combined with the performance I explained before, you can be sure that his music is worthy of hearing in real life.

Stronger notes during How Long sent such intense goosebumps through my body that I could feel them in absolutely every nook of my body. Singing his hit song Run Away to Mars with everyone at RUST felt almost overwhelmingly beautiful and A Little Bit Happy made me cry, smile, and sing - all at once.

The support artist of the night, Reveal Party, is a Copenhagen-based queer artist. I thought that they are famous in Copenhagen, but I fit the target audience in quite many ways, so it could be just that. Anyways, their part of the gig was also very surprising and absolutely hilarious in the driest way possible.

Reveal Party makes sad indie songs which they perform beautifully. They have very dry humor, which clearly amused everyone in the crowd, so much so that in the end all of us found ourselves singing their social media handles with them (marketing geniuses should take notes here). All this combined with some surprises, such as them jumping off stage and starting to wander around while singing got everyone in the best of mood already.

Although I am still a little confused about where did they all go when they left the room, I am just happy that they got back and never stopped singing.

In total these two fantastic artists created a fantastic experience - serving us with much more humor than I was expecting. I truly hope that TALK will keep on getting more recognition all around the world. Not only because he is an incredibly talented singer, but he’s also so fucking funny and charming and just seems very down to earth. I sincerely believe that there should be more performers and musicians like he is.

talk - rust, Copenhagen - 12.09.2023

Photos: Thomas Vraaby

words: Hanna Koivunen

It seems like Lime Cordiale managed to gather the whole Australian community of Copenhagen to Lille Vega this Sunday - or at least the younger part of it.

Lime Cordiale is an Australian indie pop rock band, formed by the Leimbach brothers (Oli and Louis), James Jennings, Felix Bornholt, and Nicolas Polovineo. The five together form a band behind some absolutely superb holiday tunes. Their debut album is literally called Permanent Vacation, which tells basically everything you need to know about the style of their music.

The band played all the crowd favorites like Temper Tamper and Robbery, but these weren’t the only tunes that got the crowd vibing. Everyone was dancing and singing through the whole gig, which is always fun to see. What is even better is a band that genuinely loves performing. The dudes even got some cute moves that they had clearly practiced many times before. Everyone from the crowd to the band was just having the best of time.

The crowd was absolutely adorable and everyone simply seemed to be in the best of mood. Then again, you would actually need to try to be in a bad mood or to feel anything other than fantastic when the music is this good.

The band is full of talent, but I especially need to highlight the number of different wind instruments we got to experience during the gig. From trombone to clarinet, trumpet, and even a kazoo - this band really knows their breathwork.

Their support band TORS was completely unknown to me - but clearly not to other people. They had many admiring fans singing all their songs loudly and dancing around all the time. And actually, I am not surprised that they have so many devoted fans. This English indie band was absolutely charming, and they really had the ultimate beachy boy band energy - very complimentary to Lime Cordiale.

All TORS’ members are talented, they put on a great show and I certainly got warm right away. Their lyrics might have not been the deepest, but I don’t think they really needed to be. It was a perfect start for chill (but sweaty) vibes.

Back to the holiday mood, when I tell you that the vibes were fucking chill - I really mean it. Due to the always-pressing heat in Lille Vega, you could really imagine being somewhere tropical if you just closed your eyes. I have never dreaded upcoming Mondays this much, and I feel like I should be somewhere beachy with a coconut drink in my hand.

Lime Cordiale did put together a fantastic show and I highly recommend it. The only thing that you should consider is that there is a serious side effect of their gig and that is a severe need for a holiday.

Lime Cordiale - LILLE VEGA, Copenhagen - 11.09.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

We are enjoying some surprising sun on this beautiful Monday evening, and what is a better way to celebrate it than going to a sweaty and dark gig venue? Well, if the gig in question is The Struts, it actually might be the best way to celebrate anything.

I have a bit of history with the band because I was listening to them a lot when I moved to Copenhagen fivish years ago. Their music is ultimate good mood music to me, which is why I was surprised to find out that not so many people know this fantastic Brit band. Even though they don’t seem to be the most famous band in Copenhagen, they still have managed to attract a cute and diverse crowd to Lille Vega.

Since I am already familiar with the band, I obviously had high expectations. I was looking forward to experiencing this highly energetic band live, and seeing if their show will be as fun and cheeky as I imagine.

I can immediately say that the band absolutely met all my expectations and was even much more fun than I thought. I have not sweated like this ever since I have been back in Copenhagen this month and I can still feel the ache in my cheeks from all the smiling. I finally feel like my serotonin levels have been lifted to be suitable for Pride Week, and I am so glad to have been able to experience such a joyful gig.

The band is incredibly talented in every way possible - everything from the band playing to Luke’s singing and not to forget the performing. The crowd was not the only one dancing, but so was the whole band and it almost felt like we were all just partying together. All this joy was balanced by beautiful and more emotional moments, like all of us singing together an acoustic version of Mary Go Round.

The Struts were very appreciative of their fans, and everyone working with them, which is always very nice. Basically, the whole evening was just full of love. And fun, but I think I have covered that now a million times.

Now I get to the support band. Usually, I love listening to support artists, because I find it a great way to find new artists and bands to listen to. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case this time. When the support artist, Oliver Springer, started, I thought that this was a bit bizarre choice for The Struts. Unlike this fun British rock band, Oliver Springer’s songs were much darker lyrically and in every other way as well. Usually, this is certainly not a problem for me, it was just a bit weird choice.

Sadly, this was only the beginning of the support gig. The more I listened to the artist, the less I was enjoying myself. The lyrics were okay, but for trying to be political or almost shocking, they certainly were not even close enough to either, and the singing was simply not good. Sadly this time I didn’t find a new great artist to listen to - quite the opposite.

Thankfully The Struts fixed all this and made me feel happy again. Seriously. I can’t say this enough times. If you EVER get the possibility to see The Struts live, take it. Unless you hate having fun, then you can excuse yourself while I will certainly start blasting the band’s full discography for the millionth time today.

THE STRUTS - LILLE VEGA, Copenhagen - 14.08.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

It’s an August Thursday right before 9 pm, and Spillestedet Stengade is dead quiet. The crowd resembled more church folk than a bunch of rockers waiting for the support band ‘68 to begin.

To be fair, it had been much louder right before - but the closer we got to the band entering the stage, the quieter people got. This made the sudden change in energy even more noticeable. It was so sudden that it almost felt like a joyous (and consensual) slap on the face.

To be completely honest here, I didn’t know either of the bands that well before the gig. I knew one or two songs from The Fall of Troy, which is an American rock band from Washington. I would say that they can qualify as “an emo band”, meaning if you are an angsty emo, most likely you would like their music. And even though I don’t think I am either of those things, I enjoyed their music as well.

The band was great, the singing was good, and the screaming was fantastic. The Fall of Troy seemed to have a lot of fun on stage, and their interactions with the crowd were very entertaining. I mean, it’s not every day you get to see a random dude from the crowd getting up on stage and singing a song with the band, but nothing seemed to be impossible during this gig.

Regardless of their charismatic stage presence and overall fantastic show - The Fall of Troy did leave me wanting a bit more. They were great, but did I find them extra special? Not really. But the gig was great for a Thursday night emo rock concert.

The Fall of Troy was not the only funny band on stage that night. Their support band, ‘68, was really fun. I mean that the duo was fun to watch and that the dudes were super funny. Or at least their stupid jokes fit perfectly my dumb sense of humor.

‘68’s music is a bit hard to describe. It’s undoubtedly rock, maybe noise? According to Wikipedia, the band plays noise rock and punk rock so I guess we will go with that. Regardless of what type of rock it was, it was fucking fantastic. It felt new and fresh and something I haven’t heard for quite some time - and who doesn’t love discovering new music?

There were some technical issues during the gig, but due to the style of music, it actually kind of played into the performance. This is not a criticism at all, I actually found it quite fun that it all played so well together. Overall both bands were fantastic, but ‘68 did make a bigger impact on me.

Spillestedet Steengade was a cute and cozy venue, but earplugs are an absolute must here. The music is super loud (Captain fucking Obvious over here) and in such small venues, it can feel extra intense. So if you want to somewhat keep your hearing - take earplugs with you or get some from the bar (they give them out for free, which is nice).

FALL OF TROY - SPILLESTEDET STENGADE, Copenhagen - 10.08.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

Sticky Fingers managed to get much more than just our fingers sticky during their gig in Vega. If you thought I meant anything dirty with this - you need to get your mind off the gutter, we just got really fucking sweaty. Okay, I don’t know if that is any better way of putting it so better just give up and get to the actual review.

Sticky Fingers is an Australian indie rock band, influenced heavily by reggae, so you can imagine that their music is perfect for a sunny summer Sunday. I thought that I was going to a super chill gig, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Before any of the gigs started, Vega was surprisingly cool compared to its usual AC-less furnace-level temperature. It’s almost as if they would have known to put some extra ventilation beforehand as a preparation for one of the sweatiest gigs I have been in so far this year.

Sticky Fingers had gathered an absolutely insane crowd - much more energetic than I would have anticipated from this very chill band. They were screaming, clapping, shouting, and doing absolutely everything else to show their appreciation to the band from the moment they entered the stage. And you can be sure that the night just kept on getting better and better.

The band played a stunning set of beautiful ballads, faster rock, and of course reggae fusion. The atmosphere was overall very warm, friendly, and just happy, which you could see from the band as well as the crowd. It all felt almost like a big party, with Sticky Fingers as our host, who would keep on surprising us throughout the whole night. They clearly know how to entertain a crowd and make the night special for the location. This combined with absolutely fantastic lights, made me feel as if I would be somewhere else - completely without any worries or stress.

As I mentioned, before anyone entered the stage, Vega was surprisingly cool. Nevertheless, this changed pretty much immediately when the support band came out. Tonight’s support was a Danish delight, The Jürgen Clubs. Yes, I might have just described them like they would be candy but that is how sweet they were!

I was not familiar with the band beforehand, but clearly, others were. The crowd was incredibly loud and excited just from seeing this young Danish band enter the stage, and now I am not surprised. They were so fucking fun! Funny lyrics and just pure joy - what else could you need? The Jürgen Clubs didn’t just warm us up for Sticky Fingers, they made us go through a whole fucking workout!

Rarely I can say that I was sweating constantly just from sitting down - but these two bands and their fans made it happen. Now I know that even if I am expecting a chill reggae gig, I might get proved completely wrong in the couple first of seconds!

Sticky Fingers - store vega, Copenhagen - 25.06.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

On the very end of this hot and humid day in Copenhagen, Clang attended a sold-out show of Puscifer, a concert full of mystery, parody, and high-quality music performance. The concert is part of an EXISTENTIAL RECKONING TOUR, hmm, well the title of the tour seems very deep and philosophical, which I was not prepared for as I have not had previous experience of listening to Puscifer… is it just me that the name of the band connotates Lucifer?? Anyway, Maynard James Keenan - the singer of bands TOOL and A Perfect Circle came to Copenhagen with, as he calls it “Puscifer - his creative subconscious project”, and Clang was there to eat it.

Sold out Vega gave me the feeling that I should be excited about this gig, honestly said, I did not know the work of the band beforehand and I think that can be a tricky position - as the experience can go both ways. I took this unknown as one great opportunity to sonically explore and indulge into the flow of whatever happens.

The support for Puscifer was a band called Night Club - an electronic duo from Los Angeles, that has brought some strong electronic synths and beats for people awaiting for Puscifer. If you have not seen or heard Night Club live - you owe it to yourself as this was a great choice of support. Setting the vibe of dancing, seduction, and darker energy.

During the night of strictly NO PHONE POLICY, which was actually nice and I give kudos to the musicians for that, felt like the moment where if you haven’t been, you missed out on something really exceptional. Out of courtesy to the craft of music, I could see most of people actually did not take any pictures or videos, until the last songs of the sets of both bands, when people could take some pictures or videos. I think in this heavily digitalized and social-media-run era, it was hella good to take a break and resist the risk of being thrown out. Perhaps, more musicians can set this kind of policy…

Puscifer started with visuals of Dick Merkin - the agent in black with bright red lipstick - searching for intelligent life. Sort of retro, parody-like visuals took place at the beginning, in the middle (intermission), and at the end of the show. These visuals were screened on three big LCD screens on the stage. You can imagine that the stage had 3 big screens, drums in the middle, above the drums there was a scaffolding to stand on and on the sides several light poles - in front (and middle) of it all - huge space without any gadgets, as opposed to conventional concerts, where you have tons of cables, monitors, microphones, etc…

After the first song - Maynard - dressed like the Dick spy-intelligence officer kinda covered up that they are not spies but just a metal band, which struck me as I thought - are you talking about TOOL or ??

The visuals and costumes, even the stage setting made me think of Men in Black, Matrix and Back to Future having a child, and then the baby would be Puscifer concert.

One of the many great things about the band is the advantage of having two main singers whose voices complement each other smoothly in the harmonies they sing. The bonus is that it seemed like the singers are having fun with each other. Here, I want to highlight besides Maynard, the female singer Carina Round.

I can always appreciate the variety of ‘power relations’ - in music - fame relations of the bands. If we talk about flat hierarchies /(which is something we should strive for), Puscifer is definitely proof of it. There is no one band member that is always the highlight, it is the whole band that makes the performance and the sound. At some points, the singers were in the darkness, we couldnt even see them, which was so opposite to the usual singer being in the spotlight. It was even more visible when you could see this in the locations of the band members and how it has been changing throughout the show. As a musician myself, this band was great at letting everyone shine and let musicians complement each other, to some sense that it sounded to me like a conversation, which not always is the case in live shows.

Having said that, I must though highlight the drums. I got goosebumps and felt like my attention was drawn to them a lot during the show, a show with a great quality of music. It was in many ways unconventional drum playing from what one can expect in the conventional bands - skipping the beats, playing the main accents on the drums that you would usually play it on… The drums also played a huuuuge role in setting the mood of sensual seduction almost feeling sexual energy there, which I loved. Imagine heavy but sharp drums with some really electrified synths and connecting onto the support band - darker atmosphere and unconventional song structures.

This was definitely a concert with a concept that could be seen and heard. From spy attire, visuals of cloning, and alien-looking / Fantomas people on the stage to the songs. It was refreshing to see the band that puts more thought into the concert and visuals.

I felt that the aliens on the stage were a bit redundant, but that is just a very minor thing.

Audience responses were a loud singing of the lyrics, especially when The Remedy song was played, to a guy playing air drums or two male-looking people hugging out of the ecstasy of the concert, to people in the sitting area giving a standing ovation.

Deservedly so, this was an experience that I didn’t expect and I have not experienced in a really long time. I was surprised myself how much feeling and stimuli and inspiration I got from this… and I have been to many concerts.

Going through my written notes and memory recollections, I would say there are still 2-3 pages of content I could write about. This electro-rock conceptual presence is something to remember and experience. The arrangements of also some songs that are recorded in different ways were surprising, the songs I am talking about are e.g. Indigo Children, Humbling River, and Vagina Mine.

Ending the concert with the letter “of the Mayor” saying that we should all do one act of kindness per day; leave this place better than we found it…, does not sound so much lucifer-y and dark to me and speaks the truth about what state the society is in right now.

If Maynard says that this is his creative subconscious, then, I want to be part of it.

puscifer - store vega, Copenhagen - 20.06.2023

Photos: FRANCESCA GARATTONI

words: Karolina Čurová

The very first time, I heard the music of SPOON was when I was in my early teens, watching one particular TV show that took place in California, in a very rich county where one underdog comes - weirdly, I have been re-watching this show past few weeks. Apart from giving me the dream of hopefully once moving there, this TV show introduced me to many indie bands whose songs were used there before ‘they became cool’. One of them was SPOON.

But hey, before we get to their gig, let’s talk a bit about the support band MALL GIRL that set the mood.

I was curious what kind of genre will they play as I already experienced various mish-mash of genres for the headliner and support. I can definitely say that MALL GIRL was a great choice for many reasons. Some might have seen Mall Gilr at Roskilde Festival at Rising Stage in 2019, but now they came back as a warm-up and they warmed up pretty well.

The reasons such as - energy, guitar riffs, drums, and guitar conversion between each other, and the singer complimented all of it.

It is very interesting to change locations during the concert. One reason is due to the sound of the music, the other the perspective of the band versus the audience.

Spoon started when I was right next to the stage and I have to say that I could mostly hear the amplifier from the stage - in music words - monitors that musicians have to hear themselves. What I found great was that the singer Britt Daniel noticed several people in the front row with me that made DIY shirts - one of them was a buy celebrating his 11th bday - standing in the front.

After the third song, I had relocated and that was a great decision. This decision was because I could hear the instruments in a better quality actually.

The band positively overwhelmed us by the thick, full, sound of guitars - well, most of the songs, they had three guitars playing.

The concert that lasted over one hour and a half definitely proved that SPOON was many times referred to as one of the best and the most enduring indie rock bands.

The tour they are having now is called their last release: ‘Lucifer on the Sofa’, which I think is a very daring name.

However, the concert was a mix of songs from 6 different albums, most of the songs were from ‘Gimme Fiction’. Other than that, the songs that they played were from Gimme Fiction, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, They want my soul, and Kill The Moonlight.

I also loved the demographics of the concert - from teens to people in their 20s - 30s, to the supporters in their 40s and 50s. This shows that the title of the best indie rock band has its place.

SPOON has definitely its place in the indie rock scene, it is due to its great guitar sound, lyrics that people can relate to, and the charisma of the band members.

spoon - pumpehuset, Copenhagen - 16.06.2023

Photos: FRANCESCA GARATTONI

words: Karolina Čurová

Even if the name Ron Gallo wouldn’t ring any bells, I am pretty sure many people have heard his song “Young Lady, you’re scaring me”. And I am certainly sure that more people enjoyed it so much that they would have loved to come to Rust to listen to it live. That is if they would have even known about the gig.

Truly, Rust had managed to gather barely 50 people to come and listen to this American singer perform. This is certainly a shame because Ron Gallo’s gig was fun, intimate, and chill but still full of dance - so basically perfect vibe for a Tuesday gig.

Before the concert started, the venue felt more like a cozy jazz bar. There was no electricity in the air of people anticipating a gig. More like friends chilling and enjoying their delicious cocktails, without knowing who is going to even start playing. Only when Ron Gallo entered the stage, people moved (admittedly slowly) to the dance floor.

As one could guess, the crowd took a bit of time to loosen up and start dancing. Slowly but steadily people started to move more and more while listening to Ron Gallo’s old hits and newer tracks.

This kind of slowness did fit very well because in the beginning he barely said a word. The more songs he played, the more we started to move and the more he would interact with us. Towards the end, the crowd was dancing and jumping, and Ron Gallo was making stupid (but funny) jokes.

Ron Gallo’s and the band’s performance was quite chill for the most part, with some more high-tempo moments. This fits perfectly his music since it alters also between these two ends.

Also, given the fact that one of the four people on stage had broken ribs, it makes sense that nobody was going super crazy up there. Besides, as I said before, the vibe was simply perfect for a great Tuesday gig.

Ron Gallo did not have a support band, even though he was supposed to. Another American indie band, Moon Panda was supposed to take over the stage before Ron Gallo, but this never ended up happening. It was a pity because I was excited to hear what this band sounds like.

I gave them a listen afterward, and now I am even more bummed about missing them. Hopefully, I get to hear this chill indie band some other time then.

I hope that in the future, the venue will do much better work with marketing for their gigs. I loved Ron Gallo’s intimate gig, but I would have loved to see more people on the dancefloor - not to forget that the artist also deserves that.

RON GALLO - RUST, Copenhagen - 22.05.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

No ny vittu mennää!

I mean c’mon, how would I ever say no to going to a Finnish rock gig, even if it was a Sunday after an exhausting weekend? And a little spoiler: I didn’t and I am very happy about it.

Teksti-TV 666 (pronounced like ‘cous cous cous’) took over Loppen on a Sunday right after being in Malmö the night before, and they served an intense gig to finish our weekends.

The venue was so empty that we got to even take our own jackets to the wardrobe, but in this small venue, the lack of people is not always a bad thing. Quite the opposite, even though there weren’t that many people, the gig was still incredibly fun. The crowd was having a great time from the beginning and kept on warming up more and more through the night. This went quite perfectly hand in hand with how the band was performing.

In fact, in the beginning, Teksti-TV 666 was clearly focusing on playing, without saying anything else. To be fair, I wasn’t that surprised - finns are famously not fans of talking too much. Nevertheless, the more they played and we danced, the more the band was also communicating with the crowd. In the end, they were telling shitty dry (very Finnish) jokes and got quite many laughs.

The band had no support, but I didn’t miss one this time. The gig started with one of the many guitarists playing behind the crowd getting all of us hyped. Slowly but steadily the music got more intense, and with it, the crowd got more hyped. In the end, I was so excited that I was on the tips of my toes, ready to start jumping around. And then it fucking finally did.

Teksti-TV 666’s music is kind of like dad rock but punk, and it’s just really fucking fun. It’s more about having a great night rather than meaningful lyrics. This is my way to say that you really don’t have to understand what they are singing about to enjoy the gig. Especially if you like focusing on the actual instruments because this is clearly something Teksti -TV 666 shines on.

They obviously focus on the guitars, but also drums are highlighted and we even got to experience some cool saxophone solos played by Hilla Kohtamäki. At some points, the music even got a bit ‘weird’, and I could see some people in the crowd feeling a bit off about it. This is obviously a taste question, and I must say that I did enjoy even the weirder parts.

Since the band members shout some Finnish here and there (and all of the songs are in Finnish), I am sure that as a Finn, you get a bit more out of the experience. Still, I certainly wasn’t the only one having fucking fun, even though I might have been one of the only ones able to understand everything.

When Teksti-TV ended their gig, they got well-deserved applause and whistles from everywhere in the venue. They even got me kind of missing Finland… Or at least small gigs like this.

All in all, the gig was short and sweet - and if dad punk with a cool twist is a cup of your tea, Teksti-TV 666 might be just what you need.

teksti tv 666 - loppen, Copenhagen - 07.05.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

Not every band could get me to drag my ass all the way to Vest Amager on Tuesday - but Måneskin clearly could. Was it worth it though? Let’s see.

I certainly was not the only one who came all the way to Royal Arena - the queue outside was there to tell that. Because the queue outside was so long, it was a bit surprising that the gig was not sold out even on the day.

Not only because the band is great and has a lot of fans but also because the bassist, Victoria de Angelis, is half Danish. And if you know anything about Danes, you most likely know that they love anything even slightly close to Danish and Denmark.

This Eurovision-winning band didn’t have a support band which was… a choice that was made. I personally like listening to support bands bc it’s also a fun way to find some hidden gems and I was kind of hoping that Måneskin would have a cool support. Anyways for some reason, they decided not to have one.

Even without the support band warming up the crowd the people were clearly ready for Måneskin. When the lights went down and we could see the band’s silhouette on a red curtain the energy almost boiled through the roof. Then the curtain finally dropped, bringing great drama for the gig as one could hope for someone as entertaining as Måneskin.

The band played a stunning combination of English and Italian songs - changing between fast rock songs and stunning ballads, creating a simply stunning and memorable set. I was having a simply amazing time, and everyone else seemed to as well.

The band has amazing fans, who clearly adore the band. In the very end, the fans started even to worship the guitarist Thomas Raggi, when a bunch of them got asked to party on the stage with the band.

This is why I was very surprised not to be able to hear the fans sing during most songs! Of course, I came to hear Damiano David sing, but even when he asked the fans to sing - I was barely able to hear them. This could have been either that the instruments were just so loud or maybe the crowd was feeling shy. I could see people around me sing all the time, but I could only hear them during Beggin’.

The fans possibly feeling shy is obviously not a bad thing at all. Simply surprising because Måneskin is anything but that. They are raunchy and sexy, and their music is thirsty as fuck. And their performance fits this perfectly.

Damiano has an incredible hold of the whole stadium and it’s ridiculously entertaining to watch him and the rest of the band perform. Not only that all of them are charming as fuck, but we also got to see every trick in the book. The stage had literal flames, and the only person who didn’t jump into the crowd was Ethan Torchio, and I mean he is the drummer. That would have been a hell of a trick to do.

Truly; gigs like this make me not understand people who are ”not into rock”. The incredible talent of these artists is absolutely insane and any of them could burp more charisma than most of us can even dream of having.

So was it worth it to drag my ass all the way to another part of the city on a Tuesday? Fuck yes, it was. For these sexy motherfuckers I would do it over.. over… and over again.

Måneskin - ROYAL ARENA, Copenhagen - 02.05.2023

Photos: Joe Miller

words: Hanna Koivunen

Step into the weird and wonderful world of Bostons' fearsome and fearless, Ice Nine Kills, and get ready to be frightened and thrown off your feet and to hold hands with Freddie Kruger and the cast from Halloween!

Pumpehuset played host to what would turn out to be a well orchestrated horror show but one we were happy to be the shaken victim of and a show that wreaked of terror and destruction.

Ice Nine Kills bring an array of costume changes and murder tools to the stage and the theatrical aspect of the show would be better spent in some gothic graveyard, deep in some dark and misty forest in the middle of Transylmania but Pumpehuset fits the bill when it comes to dark and sinister looking venues, so the scene was set for a chilling evening, which we shockingly observed.

From the offset, the vocals and music seemed to be tweaked to perfection to amplify the feel and expression of the music and 'Funeral Derangement' belted out to greet the crowd and set the tone for the evening ahead.

The charismatic, Spencer Charnas, entered the fray dressed like Patrick Bateman in American Psycho and it's easy to get caught up in the fright and malicious intent of the music and theatricals, which we duly obliged.

They follow with 'Wurst Vacation' and we are thrown from side to side with the 'on rush' of the crowd and a swagger of hysteria from the idolising audience, which we are now battling against to save our lives and keep going until the end of the concert.

We were never at risk of missing a song and with an ever growing sense of something special brewing in the venue, we took cover from the side wing of the pit to fasten our eyes on the performance and enjoy the raging sounds of the Boston stranglers that were about to feast on their prey like predators!

We were treated to pounding treats in the form of 'Stabbing In The Dark' and 'Shower Scene' and the crowd seemed to be caught up in the romance of brutality that was delivered to us both in the music and show and it was a welcome sight to be in the grasp of INK, with no chance of being released from their clutch of distress.

Overall, it was hard not to be engaged with the band and all the theatricals from start to finish. Sound in the venue can differentiate from one gig to another but having a fantastic sound team, really enhanced the dynamic of the performance and the general feel of the concert.

A special mention to industrial rock band and support for the night, Skynd, that happily contended on tearing up the crowd with a crazed sway of confusion, grim thoughts and murderous tones to get the crowd in full swing and their disturbing references to death scenes and murders from the past, gave us a chilling intro to what would turn out to be a harrowing but enthralling evening.

Let's hope to see more gore and greatness from these sick mother f*****s again someday soon!

ICE NINE KILLS - PUMPEHUSET, Copenhagen - 01.05.2023

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Mathias Meulengracht

Is there a better way to spend a Friday evening than going to a metal gig? Especially when that gig includes three different bands, all putting on a fantastic show.

Starting off with the main star of the night, the one who we all came to see - Imminence. This Swedish metalcore band absolutely killed it from the very beginning as one could expect. They served us absolutely everything one could wish for, and the crowd absolutely devoured it.

Obviously, the night included jumping, screaming, headbanging, and moshpits, but that’s not all. Since the vocalist Eddie Berg is also a violinist, we got to experience some short violin solos, whereas commonly these would be performed with guitar or drums. The violin-accompanied acoustic version of ‘This is Goodbye’ was so heart-wrenchingly beautiful that it felt like a bittersweet gift, which I will never get to experience for the first time ever again.

All the members of the band are incredibly talented, which leads to an even more incredible experience. I mean, what else can I even say? Imminence was fucking good, and if you like harder rock, I highly recommend checking them out.

Basically, the only con was that they started a bit late and the waiting got a bit annoying. Still, it wasn’t too bad, I think we were just really fucking excited for them to finally come.

Now that the main star is handled, we can move to the two supports, Fixation and Blood Command. Fixation had the job of kicking the whole night into action - and they did this very well! Their music is more “pop metal” or “radio metal” than Imminence, but I enjoyed it a lot. It was a great way to start the night, and people were clearly feeling it. The crowd started clapping to the beat even without them needing to say anything, which tells a lot about how they were received.

This brings us to the other support, Blood Command. The Norwegian punk band was doing absolutely everything and their energy was insane. This Adidas-wearing ensemble was crowd surfing, kicking, and jumping while playing and singing. I feel like the Nikki Brumen’s (the lead singer) spit she threw at the crowd has more energy than I can even dream of ever having.

Talking of Nikki, the only bad thing was that she was very difficult to hear. This certainly had nothing to do with her, but more with the tech. This was quite a bummer since the tunes I could hear sounded fucking great. Other than that, Blood Command was fantastic.

To answer the very first question - no, there is no better way to spend a Friday. Even though my neck, back, and legs might hurt like a motherfucker tomorrow, experiencing one great band after another is fucking fantastic way to spend a night. Thank god I remembered to pack my earplugs with me, so at least my ears were saved this time.

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

Imminence - pumpehuset, Copenhagen - 28.04.2023

Rarely do I wonder if the floor is going to break during a gig more than once, but hey now that has happened! The fantastic Faroese punk band, Joe and the Shitboys were truly testing Loppen’s limits - and it was fucking amazing.

The vegan bisexual Faroese punk band got everyone jumping and screaming from the get-go. To be honest, this is exactly what I was hoping for so I am very happy that I didn’t get disappointed. The so-called shitpunk is super fun to dance to, and you could spot all kinds of moves from the people. Even though Loppen is a relatively small venue, there was still room for people to also take it more chill, if they needed a break.

Joe and the Shitboys’ music is intense and the songs are short. This makes the whole gig extremely high-tempo and fast, and the night truly flew by. The band connects with the crowd in amazing ways, which is also more possible at the venue. They could take people from the crowd to the stage easily and send them off again when they pleased. Whether it was due to having fabulous nipples or just screaming loud enough - any of these reasons could be enough to share the stage with Joe and the Shitboys for a minute.

Of course, since Joe and the Shitboys are political (it is punk in the end) there were some guests who came on the stage to give a word. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to keep up due to my bad hearing and even worse Danish - but as I understood it was something smart and important. A nice very short break before continuing with headbanging.

When I say that people were having a blast, I think I am still underestimating the experience. The crowd was up to do absolutely anything - including singing “Hey Baby” by Bruce Channel as loud as they can. Actually, the crowd didn’t seem to want to stop singing this old song and kept on going back to it afterward, which was adorable.

The support band, Sauna Senere, traveled all the way from Aarhus to Copenhagen to perform in Loppen and I am happy they made the trip! As a Finn, I obviously appreciate the name, but thankfully this was not the only thing I liked about them. Their music is extremely fun, and it mixes so many things it’s kind of hard to explain. You just need to experience this combination of punk, pop, some retro vibes, beats… Simply everything.

I wish it was a summer night and I was dancing alone in nature to Sauna Senere’s tunes. That is how their music comes off to me, and I absolutely love it. The band is very cute and gives off carefree and fun energy. Exactly what I needed this Thursday, tusind tak!

Anyway, the whole night was fun, electric, and overall fantastic - let’s see how my neck handles this much headbanging.

Photos: Laura Ioana

words: Hanna Koivunen

JOE & THE SHITBOYS - LOPPEN, Copenhagen - 27.04.2023

Yo La Tengo or ‘I’ve Got it’ (translated from Spanish) played a gig in one of Copenhagen’s great venues of Bremen Theater as part of their ‘This Stupid World Tour’, on 21st April 2023, and we from Clasng were part of it.

The trio from Hoboken, New Jersey has been active since 1984, and it showed, as Bremen Theater was sold out. Indie Experimental band left their trace in this field of alternative music with the trace of trying out and making indie rock interesting.

The concert was divided into two sets, as no supposed band happened, started with the opener ‘Sinatra Drive Breakdown’ which is a record part of the latest album THIS STUPID WORD which is the name of the tour they are part of.

First of all, I have to say kudos that this concert was a sitting concert, for those who know Bremen Teater. I was curious how this will play out with the music, we know or expect, but it fits very well. Why? Because the first set, except for the opening abovementioned song was full of energy, upbeat drums, and very experimental guitar and the use of pedals, where one might think, is he improvising or is it intentional? It sounded like a noise-like song of the guitar that went on top of the same beat of the drums and base.

The rest of the first set was carried by very nice, relaxing, almost dreamy-like songs, especially when they played ‘I’ll Be Around’.

This first set declared that simple patterns on the instruments as opposed to overcomplicated instrument riffs showed that there is beauty in simplicity.

I also adored that all three members got to switch around not only the instruments but also the singing of the songs.

How I felt, was that there was this positive melancholy present in this first set.

But, after a short break, we started the second set.

The opening song of the second set ‘This Stupid World’ resemble the opener of the first set - in the sense of intense drums and energy and very experimental guitar. Using a lot of pedals, plus using the amplifiers to create a noisy genre-like sound made my ear drums suffer a bit.

…And this song, actually set the tone for the second set as a whole, as there were many songs that were great and greatly performed, but I have to say that in the second set, the sound was a little bit too intense.

Most of the time, I had to cover my ears, as I forgot my earplugs, but to be objective, I had my bandmate sitting at the back of the venue and to her, the sound of the second set was just perfect, which brings us back to the venue itself. Bremen Theater is great in my opinion, but perhaps not for this kind of music, where you have to really adjust your ear to different levels of sound.

The second set was definitely more up-tempo while using more guitar pedals and synths that were present.

My conclusion about the concert is that it was great. Yo La Tengo is one of the bands that indirectly shaped my musical journey. The trio with a very simple set up created such a wholesome sound, while switching the singing position and instruments, with a very suitable sitting venue. Interaction with the audience was great and that was to be experienced when they asked what song to palsy in their encore.

At some point during the second set, I looked around, and even though this was a sitting concert, I could see people nodding their heads, almost like in a trance-like stare, but that is great as this band deserves to have people enjoying the sound and lyrics and experimenting that happens under full control fo the musicians. Just perhaps the sound division of the venue was a little bit off when it comes to people closer and further away.

But This was a great Yo La Tengo that you should listen to, in order to get into the dreamy and positively melancholic state of mind. It is a ‘stupid world’ we live in, but why not make it more bearable?

Photos: Francesca garattoni

words: Karolína M. Čurová

YO LA TENGO - BREMEN TEATER, Copenhagen - 21.04.2023

Royal arena and entrance to the hall full of people and big screens gave an impression that this was going to be a show worth attending. (Clang was) Attending the second farewell concert in Copenhagen of Roger Waters: This is not a Drill Farewell Tour.

I heard before something little about Water’s shows but did not know what to expect, apart from hits of Pink Floyd. Before the show started, text saying ‘If you are one of those ‘I love Pink Floyd but can’t stand Roger’s politics’ people, you might do as well fuck off to the bar right now. Thank you.” This opening line already gave a glimpse of what will be the main topic of the concert.

The show was a bit scattered visually and musically. From the great visuals of the retrospective of Pink Floyd concerts and ‘personal’ videos to societal issues of screwed-up politics, police brutality, oligarchy, anti-war, anti-nuclear weapons, and overall power relations. Musically, switching between Roger Water’s songs and the songs of Pink Floyd, where the focus was mainly on Pink Floyd’s greatest hits.

The great opener of the show was remastered ‘Comfortably Numb’ where the band was still facing the screens in a diagonally divided stage which gave a later 360 experience and the vocalists really showed their qualities, there were goosebumps present for sure.

Visuals for this opener were in great quality comic-like graphics or people walking down the dark street, some tied to their phones, perhaps being numb over the current societal issues or maybe the decay of society. When later the camera went up to see the oligarchs, almost like in the Parthenon up in the sky.

The atmosphere was lingering between nostalgia, personal experience throughout the years of Pink Floyd, and heavy rock riffs with rage. Rightfully so, there is so much crap happening in society right now. Just one might have been confused in the first part of the show, as some of the big texts or more like protest chants if these chants Waters is pro or against, given his problematic history.

The concert, visually dazzling but also very triggering, meaning real-life videos of brutality were sometimes difficult to swallow.

However, this was exchanged with quite a personal, retrospective almost poetic part looking through the journey of Waters and Pink Floyd. This being Farewell Tour, makes sense that we glimpse over the 60s, 70s, and 80s in not only the musical sense but also a personal journey of Waters. ‘Wish You Were Here’ - on the screens, there is a story written as if By Roger Waters on a typewriter, remembering his bandmate and friend Syd Barret. From deciding to make a band to being in the car driving through Hollywood.

The sound of the band was most of the time great, but for a few moments, I felt like the microphones were muted, but not intentionally. However, one cannot doubt the great talents and qualities of the band members, in which one of them was Jonathan Wilson that took over to give Water’s break and sang the song ‘Money’. One must say that Waters still manages to sing within the great capacity that he has been singing for quite some years. However, the performance of ‘Money’ blew my mind and it was one of the peaks of the gig. The energy of the performance and song itself was transmitted strongly towards the audience, which gave back.

Roger at the beginning of the concert started by making us imagine that we are at the bar, where he even had a bottle of Mezcal on his piano and a few shot glasses, saying that people in the bar are different and people should have conversations and when a disagreement comes, we should listen and talk instead of sending a person to the jail.

This makes sense, as there was a variety of people attending the concert, so maybe, he wanted to have people feel included. The concert ended up at ‘the bar’, where they actually had shots of that mezcal. I liked him circling the story back to the beginning.

From sheep and pig floating around in the hall to a mish-mash of the issues and retrospective of Pink Floy - made me experience a lot of impulses that in this space of the review I cannot express and comment on. DON'T GET ME WRONG, WE HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT the societal issues and try to cause change, but maybe it could have been done in a more cohesive way.

It was a show worth visiting if you are a music lover or a Pink Floyd fan. Pink Floyd is a legendary band that has a definite spot in the history and present of music. It was just maybe too many of these topics and impressions that might have been confusing.

Photos: Kate Izor

words: Karolína M. Čurová

ROGER WATERS - ROYAL ARENA, Copenhagen - 18.04.2023

It has been 10 stunning (okay, some less great) years since the Danish indie band, First Hate, was formed by two friends. And for this beautiful reason, we get to experience an anniversary gig at Pumpehuset. 

The crowd was clearly very excited for the band to be back home, and every time the lights dimmed even a bit everyone got excited to welcome them on stage. After a little bit of waiting, the moment was finally there, and it was certainly worth the wait. 

Before the band entered the stage, a person with a huge white flag performed to the music. Did I completely understand the purpose of this, besides that the flag obviously had the 'First Hate' logo? Absolutely not, but I completely ate it up and was enjoying the show. The flag-waving part was only a tiny bit too long for my taste, but I was also very pumped for the actual gig to begin.

When it comes to the actual part of the friend duo being on stage and performing, it was just like you could assume. Simply fantastic. The beats are amazing, and Anton’s singing is incredible so obviously the live combination of everything is outstanding. The duo did minimal talking and simply played hit after hit served with Anton’s cute dance moves.

Everyone was trying to keep up with his dance moves, and at least I was completely sweaty in the end. The whole experience was incredibly serotonin-lifting which helped to deal with the crowd.

As this already hints, the crowd was certainly not the best. Of course, most people were great, but there were surprisingly many assholes. People were absolutely hammered, but even this shouldn’t be an excuse for behaving like a prick.

From a girl falling over people and elbowing my face three times, to two young idiots being disgusting towards our photographer to another drunk idiot jumping on my leg in the wardrobe and not apologizing after I squealed from pain (and I was wearing fucking Doc Martens), I was really quite fed up with everyone in the end. 

Don’t get me wrong - there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting tipsy and frisky during concerts, I certainly do that all the time. This still doesn’t give you a go with being a fucking prick in my opinion.

Back to more positive aspects - the supporting artist, The Bird, was great! I didn’t know at all what to expect and to be honest I kept on being surprised time after time again. Starting off with a DJ set, then combining singing, and then transforming into … everything?

The music was kind of like some hyper-excited party music that would be played on the radio, and his vibe fits this perfectly. Even if I was high on speed and drinking Red Bull, I think I would still be slower than The Bird. At least I woke up completely, and overall he was a great support.

So basically, minus the crappy people in the crowd, this gig was absolutely fantastic. First Hate has just released a new song “Run Down Love”, and now I can’t wait to get some more from them.

Photos: Laura ioana

words: Hanna KOIVUNEN

FIRST HATE - PUMPEHUSET, Copenhagen - 14.04.2023

I am really happy that Shame didn’t live up to their name last night. 

On the contrary, the night was fucking great, once it finally started. Everything was running a bit late, which would have been a bit annoying if I was alone. Thankfully after approximately 20 minutes, the night eventually kicked off.

Vega was surprisingly empty for a Saturday night, but maybe the English post-punk band Shame is not just that famous here. That is a bit of a pity, not only because their music is great, but also because the band’s performance is absolutely fantastic.

The band had an insane amount of energy throughout the whole night, from the beginning until the very end. After maybe 5 minutes, Charlie (the lead singer) jumped into the crowd for the first time, and this didn’t stay like the last time. He wasn’t the only one jumping on stage, because the bassist, Josh Finerty, was running around and jumping on stage as if he would be trying to break some sort of record for playing bass while jumping 5 million times. 

The band wasn’t left alone with this energy, because of course everyone in the crowd was also jumping around, dancing, and moshing. The energy combined with half of Vega being closed due to the small crowd created a kind of intimate show.

Almost like we wouldn’t be in Store Vega anymore, but in a rocker pub, listening to a band that hasn’t made their big break yet. This is not a bad thing, completely opposite. It means that the whole evening was intense and just very f**king fun.

Shame isn’t the only band with a fun name performing last night. They were supported by a rap duo “They Hate Change”. Yes, you read correctly, this English rock band was supported by a rap duo from Tampa, Florida. To be honest, I was quite surprised by this choice, but I got over it very fast.

And thankfully I did, so I had time to appreciate the duo. They were great, and I wasn’t the only one thinking this. The rest of the crowd was also wooing and dancing around just like me. The energy of the duo was great, and they seemed to also have a lot of fun performing in Copenhagen. 

Basically, last night felt like two separate gigs due to how different the music was from support to shame. Both of them were great, and especially shame was of course fantastic, but it was a bit of a funny combination of artists.

Regardless of the bands being late and this weird combination, the night was absolutely f**king fantastic. After Charlie had crowd surfed the very last time for the night and told us that it was time for the last song, I was honestly a bit bummed. Not because the band did anything wrong or stopped too early, I just could have kept on going for much, much longer.

Photos: JOE MILLER

words: Hanna KOIVUNEN

SHAME - STORE VEGA, Copenhagen - 01.04.2023

“I write songs about 3 things: drugs, people peeing on me… so I write songs about two things!” 

Sebastian Murphy, the lead singer of Viagra Boys, might have exaggerated a little bit with this statement, but I think it rounds up pretty well the vibe of their gig. Not that the gig included either of these activities, but it was just full of dumb jokes, great music, dancing, moshing, and all-over tomfoolery. And is there a better way to spend a Wednesday evening? I don’t think so.

Immediately when this Swedish post-punk band entered the stage they brought the energy with them. Everyone in the crowd was super hyped, and the whole night was just simply said so fucking fun. Sure, my whole body might be a complete wreck today, but it was absolutely worth it. 

Viagra Boys’ way of performing is very entertaining, filled with stupid jokes, and also very … interesting moves. I don’t think I will ever forget the image of Sebastian, a heavily tattooed grown-ass man dancing around like a bird. I certainly hope not, because that combined with their rock songs was just a fantastic combination. 

To be honest, I was not surprised at all that I had this much fun at a Viagra Boys’ concert. I have only heard great things about their gigs, so I am happy that I wasn’t disappointed at all. 

It’s only fitting that their support, Boko Yout, was also fucking fantastic. Also from Sweden, their vibe fits very nicely with Viagra Boys, even though their music is a little different from each other. Everything from their fits to the connection with the crowd was simply top notch and fantastic. The crowd seemed to be almost mesmerized by Boko Yout, and everyone was clearly up for doing anything we were told to do. 

The artist had style, humor, and everything else you could basically wish to have. I haven’t seen the crow light up their phones’ lights before for support, but hey, I have now. Boko Yout and their performance were absolutely fabulous, and if you haven’t heard of this band before, I highly recommend checking them out. 

Sure, if you are not a fan of stupid jokes or songs about babies smocking crack, maybe you should buy tickets to Viagra Boys’ gig. Thankfully I have a bad sense of humor, so I was thoroughly entertained. Both bands got me laughing, dancing, and sweating for the whole Wednesday night, and I really hope we get to do it all over again soon. 

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: Hanna KOIVUNEN

VIAGRA BOYS- STORE VEGA, Copenhagen - 29.03.2023

It's been quite a long time since I was asked to write some words about a concert I've attended but it's an easy task when you go to a gig full of entertainment, guile and excitement from the moment Snoop strutted on stage holding aloft his trademark blunt and puffing away to the sound of The Next Episode and a particular favourite of mine.

I had already tucked into a cool 6 pack before the gig and joined by a group of people that had planned this gig from its' originally planned date a couple of years back, we went there knowing this was going to be a fun night, albeit, one we would have to try hard to remember.

The smoke trails were in full force leading up to the venue and we were surrounded by clouds of smoke inside which we were told security were having a job trying to contain. I think the best approach was to let the folks get on with their fun and do it in a respectful way, or at least, that's how it looked from the crowd around me, some distance back from the stage but in great view of the entertainment on the big screens either side of the stage and the raptuous cheers from the crowd either side of me.

Not to let the occasion spill over without creating an amazing spectacle for the audience, Snoop trailed through his opening songs with an array of scantily clad ladies pole dancing and twerking either side of him and we were thankful the big screens were in operation!

Some guys next to me had clearly consumed too much alcohol and were constantly breaking into loud shouting and some kind of elbow pushing dance that was starting to annoy a few around us... for the majority, the entertainment out rode this and the music kept us in 'high spirits' from start to finish.

I can't begin to tell you how many of the classic hits Snoop threw our way as the constant 'hands in the air' waves and trips to the bar kept us in good stead but with tracks such as 'Gin & Juice' and 'The Shiznit' gave me reason to put on some slippers the next day and relax my toe tapping and aching feet, a sign that I had shaken off some of my older years in life and stepped back to a time in life only Snoop can take us to, like hanging out with mates at a local park, sippin' on drinks and ordering too much food at the local pizza store.

By the time 'Drop It Like It's hot' came on, the stage was pumping and Snoop was still swinging his way through the stage like a chilled pied piper, floating on a cloud of rhythm, with the crowd following him down a hazy trail... I for one, was one of them and perhaps the excitement of the evening was taking its toll on my mental health and stamina!

A special mention Versitile, which I managed to catch in moments but given the fact it was St Patricks day in Ireland, it seemed very fitting for the occasion to have this up and coming irish rap act on stage and parading the Irish flag through the early parts of their set. They definitely got me and the crowd on our feet and kept us there until next suuport act, D12, showed us an example of how rap music has formed such an integral part of our lives for generations.

The music that just keeps giving, I think we can all agree that D12 has given us some music over the years, especially when it comes to those Eminem collaborations and the music at this event was the perfect partner to get us smoke ready and crazed and hazed, just like the good old dayz!

In summary... Snoop still delivers when it comes to entertainment and down right cool attitude.

Let's hope we can find our way venue the next time he lands on these shores... at least, by the time my munchies have worn off!

Photos: Joe Miller

words: nene ramzid (edited)

snoop dogg - royal arena, Copenhagen - 17.03.2023

I don’t think I have ever seen Vega this empty before. I am not sure, whether it was because of the weather, the fact that it was Monday, or maybe people are not aware of Dry Cleaning well enough to get the tickets.

I think it is their loss. Dry Cleaning is a fantastic English post-punk band that has some very interesting songs, with even more interesting lyrics. They are weird in all the best possible ways, which was actually fun to experience with a small number of people. Since half of Vega was closed, the whole gig felt more intimate and cozy.

The crowd who had done the smart decision to come to Vega was clearly excited to see Dry Cleaning live. People were getting louder and louder with their excited screams and cheers for the band between the songs.

During every song, everyone was respectfully jamming around while enjoying the music. The crowd’s energy fitted well with the band’s vibe. Sure, nobody else seemed to be as much in their own little world as the singer, Florence Shaw, was. Then again, I wasn’t too surprised that she seemed to be living in a little different universe than the rest of us.

The bassist, Lewis Maynard, on the other hand, was full of energy. He almost stole the show with his moves that were more fitted to a heavy metal gig. I didn’t mind them at all, it was very entertaining to watch him moshing on stage while others were much more chill and low-key. I could see other people in the crowd also taking more videos of him than anyone else, so I am sure that I am not the only one, who was focusing on him.

I had never heard of the support band, Dead Finks, before. I am very happy that I did now because I really liked them. This Berlin-based punk band really has some tunes! Their performance was great, but not without issues.

When the band started, even half of Vega was still quite empty and people were pretty quiet. They also had some technical issues, but thankfully these were fixed. The members of the band are also very funny, so laughing at their funny but dumb jokes made everyone loosen up a little bit. In the end, everyone seemed to be having fun, and ready to listen to Dry Cleaning. 

All in all, Dry Cleaning and Dead Finks were both great, and this was a great way to start my week. It is a bit pity that Vega was so empty, but as I said, they really missed out on a nice Monday gig.

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: hanna koivunen

dry cleaning - store vega, copenhagen - 13.03.2023

Last night felt like a real jump back in time. The Don Broco & Sleeping With Sirens duo gig filled VEGA with emos, scene kids, and obviously all other types of alt-rockers.

I have not seen so many people with chequered vans and all other emo wardrobe-stable pieces in years, which made seeing them even more nostalgic.

The two bands, Don Broco and Sleeping With Sirens created a fantastic show, and my body will be paying off for the screaming and jumping I did for couple more days. Don Broco started the gig, and they certainly got the shit going on from the very first moment! The crowd was screaming “Yippee ki yay motherfucker“ with the band from the first song and the whole energy was absolutely explosive.

Don Broco’s songs are on most of my gym setlists due to their high energy, and I am thrilled that the band's performance suited this vibe. The singer, Rob Damiani, was a delight to watch because of his fun dance moves, and thinking of them still makes me smile.

Still, this high energy doesn’t mean that Don Broco’s part wouldn’t have had some very sweet moments. In fact, Rob’s brother was in the crowd which lead to one of the cutest sibling moments I have seen. Michael (the brother) got to crowd surf, while his brother was on stage telling how we need to be careful so their mother won’t get angry.

After Don Broco’s performance and a small break, Sleeping With Sirens entered the stage. Their performance was incredibly intense in all the best ways from this very moment, and the crowd was absolutely living for every moment. I am not surprised that my neck hurts due to all the head banging but I am still not regretting anything. The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic, and everyone was jumping, screaming, and moshing (safely obviously).

The whole band is full of fantastic performers, which made the show extremely entertaining. Everybody was clearly having a blast, but I think this random kid might have had the best time of everyone there. The guitarist, Nick Martin, made even sure that the kid got his plectra, which was a very sweet moment. Talking of more emotional moments, Kellin Quinn singing, while Nick was playing acoustically was absolutely stunning moment to experience.

Kellin can certainly fucking sing, and I might have cried my eyes out during their acoustic cover of Iris. His singing was simply so beautiful. Since both of the main bands were so fantastic, the support band had a big job to do.

Thankfully, Ocean Grove didn’t disappoint at all. They kicked off the concert right away with so much high energy, that I felt like I had just jugged down a Redbull. Some of their music gives off Linkin Park vibes, whereas others could have been used on a 00s movie’s soundtrack.

I mean both of these comments as the highest compliments, and I clearly wasn’t the only one feeling their music. The whole crowd was jumping from the literal second they started and basically only stopped after all three bands were done. During one night, I saw three different bands and I would see all of them again.

Absolutely fantastic show and their love for being on stage could be seen and felt from the very beginning until the very end.

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: hanna koivunen

don broco/sleeping with sirens - store vega, copenhagen - 25.02.2023

If you are surprised about Lizzo’s Special gig being absolutely fantastic, raise your hand! No hands up?

That’s what I fucking thought. Lizzo is known for being an absolutely incredible performer, and I still wasn’t emotionally prepared enough for the experience. I can honestly, say that Lizzo didn’t only meet all possible expectations, but she annihilated them.

The energy in Royal Arena was tangible even before the mysterious smoke filled the stage, telling the crowd that the time will finally be here in just a mere moment. And the moment when Lizzo finally entered the stage in her fabulous bejeweled outfit, the pent-up energy exploded.

The crowd’s excitement, love, and adoration were very clear to everyone, and even Lizzo got visibly emotional because people just couldn’t stop cheering her name.The theme for the Special tour is love for oneself and others, which was a nice touch.

Not that it was unclear at any point, but Lizzo telling this out loud and reminding us all throughout the concert to love ourselves and others was still very wholesome. Overall, Lizzo’s connection to the crowd is absolutely insane, especially considering that this was a humongous arena concert.

Obviously, all of the performances were fucking breathtaking. or maybe it was just my experience since I was basically belting to most of the songs during the concert. Lizzo on the contrary was dancing, singing, and playing a fucking flute with such ease that you could almost forget that it’s not an incredible physical achievement.

he set was an amazing combination of feel-good songs that you can shake your ass to and more emotional songs you can sing your heart out to (and most likely lose your voice the next day). I am still getting goosebumps when I am thinking about Lizzo’s performance of “cuz I love you”, and I really hope I never forget how fucking good that was.

The support artist, Bree Runway, was a completely new one for me, but I am happy to have finally heard about her. This was her second arena tour ever, and I was honestly very surprised to hear this; she seemed so natural on that huge stage! Even her wardrobe malfunctions only inspired her to freestyle a bit about the situation.

Bree Runway is a talented performer and incredibly funny, which makes her performance very entertaining. I loved every moment from the cover of Paparazzi to cracking jokes and fixing makeup with lipgloss that was securely hidden in her corset.

Everyone who has heard about Lizzo knows that she is a performer with a capital P, but I really don’t think this is even enough. The concert was both explosive and also very intimate, and creating this type of experience tells a lot about Lizzo’s talent as a performer.

I really think that shaking your ass to Lizzo’s songs creates some sort of magic because the feeling I had after this gig was absolutely incredible.

Now I truly feel very special and obviously 100% that bitch.

Photo: 4 year old girl from Sweden

words: hanna koivunen

Lizzo - Royal Arena, copenhagen - 18.02.2023

There is nothing to be Sorry about with a gig like this!Okay, I will try to stop making fucking dumb puns before I even get fully started because this fantastic English indie rock band deserves more than that.

I absolutely loved how Sorry entered the stage, and I clearly was not the only one. It was simultaneously cool, weird, and funny. In other words, it was even more than I could have imagined it to be, and it perfectly set the mood for the rest of the performance.

From the very beginning until the end, everyone was just vibing around. I caught myself many times by just closing my eyes and enjoying the music and swinging calmly from side to side. Sorry’s music is perfect for this kind of vibing, but it also fits some more extravagant dance moves.

This means, that you can enjoy Sorry’s gig easily, regardless of how much energy you have or how you like to vibe.Loppen was so full of people, that I was stuck staring at one pillar for a quite long time.

Then again, when I can enjoy listening to great music, even watching just a pillar works perfectly. The crowd was a very interesting combination of people.

The age range was everything from people in their 20s to easily over 50s and 60s. It was quite funny to see, how everyone in the crowd, regardless of their age and style was kind of vibing and enjoying the concert in a similar way. Most people were just waving around to the music, just like I was as well.

At some point, a woman behind me shouted “STOP IT” to one of the funny funky parts at the beginning of a song, but I must say I disagreed with her completely.

These parts were great and fun! Sure, sometimes I didn’t quite get if it was in between two songs, beginning, or maybe ending a song, but does that really matter? I really don’t think so.The support band, Poptones, was clearly not sorry for anything (ok now I stop). I wasn’t familiar with this danish band before, but I must say that I am very happy that I am now!

Their music manages to be very chill, but moody and even angry in some moments. People were nodding their heads immediately in an accepting way. At some points, this changed to almost moshing, when the songs took a little heavier side.

Overall, a great support that in some moments even had some Placebo vibes, certainly can’t complain about that.

All in all, Loppen worked again as a great venue for really good bands. The venue gives a very specific atmosphere to the gigs, and it fits perfectly with both Sorry and Poptones.

I did get told by some random man that I shouldn’t use a phone on the gig when I was just taking notes. To be honest, I think he was just trying to be funny after having a couple of beers, but also please just leave me to enjoy the gig, thanks.

Photos: Laura ioana v

words: hanna koivunen

SORRY - LOPPEN, copenhagen - 16.02.2023

The Kooks is a legendary alt-rock band and their 15th-anniversary tour selling out was not even that surprising. That’s how known and loved their debut album Inside In / Inside Out still is, 15 years later.

This is why it’s quite disappointing to say that their gig in Vega was … fine. Obviously, it wasn’t bad, it is still the Kooks, but when I left out I felt very underwhelmed. The whole experience was simply missing something, maybe a little extra oomph, or more energy, I am not sure.

Even how they entered the stage was a little… boring almost. I wasn’t bored per se anymore when the band started playing, but that was also because the crowd was so excited that I could hear them over the band easily.

The sheer excitement of other people just transferred to me as well. In the couple of first songs The Kooks played, there were some technical issues. The mic was making sounds that nobody should hear from a concert venue sound system. This did decline the mood everywhere, but only for a tiny moment. Soon the sound was fixed and the gig would continue again.

To be honest, I think was one of the moments that took the experience down a bit. Not because there were some technical issues, those happen and that’s that.

But how the band reacted to the issues was a little bizarre. The singer, Luke Pritchard, just stopped singing and otherwise, it kind of continued. I mean I get it, he couldn’t sing because his voice was covered by horrible screeching sounds, but the whole thing was just a bit bizarre. Anywho, as I said, this was fixed fast and without any apologies or even a quick joke about that, the band just kept on going.

Even though all this happened, the crowd at this gig was clearly having fun and knew all the songs by heart. But then again they have had over a decade to practice them. The only time people seemed sour was when these technical issues happened, but to be honest, everyone just kept on dancing and singing right after. Seeing people having a blast at a gig is always fun, and these tipsy random people dancing and shouting The Kooks’ songs were certainly the best part of this Sunday evening.

The support, Stone, was fine, a very British rock band from Liverpool. Their music fit The Kooks’ style nicely, and their performance kept on getting better and better with each song. In the end, it was almost electric, and the band was clearly full of energy.

I would totally see these guys again, especially at a festival or in a smaller pub concert.Back to the main rockers of the night The Kooks. Maybe they were just tired, and after 15 years, who wouldn’t be?

Basically, the party really seemed to start 10 minutes before the whole gig ended, which was way too long on a Sunday evening.

The Kooks came, sang their debut album, and left the stage and me wanting something more.

Photos: Niklas Rosen

words: hanna koivunen

The Kooks - store vega, copenhagen - 12.02.2023

Wallows really managed to do something I thought to be impossible. They lifted my mood so high, that I forgot that we still have a couple more rainy months to go.

This was the very first time this American alternative rock band came to Copenhagen, and they really seemed to enjoy the city. At least they kept on mentioning how great and beautiful it is, which is always nice to hear.

Actually, the most times anyone from the band talked, it was to mention something about Copenhagen. Hopefully, this will mean that they will come back again!I have rarely heard the crowd scream this much just from the lights going black. Then again, they had been waiting for a long time outside in the queue and the crowd was surprisingly young.

I don’t know how I didn’t realize before that most Wallows fans are part of gen z. Not that I complain, a younger audience often leads to a fucking great party and this time didn’t disappoint. The vibe was amazing from the beginning until the end. I think this was because of both the audience and the band.

As I mentioned, the crowd was young, and everyone was just simply having the time of their lives. Everyone (besides the parents who came in as guardians) seemed to know every line perfectly and had the energy to jump, dance and sing until the very last encore song. This great crowd combined with a fantastic band can only lead to unforgettable results.

I really don’t think I have gotten this excited about someone playing harmonica before, but the way it mixed with “I don’t want to talk” was simply exhilarating. And just like many other great indie bands, Wallows is also full of great performers. The band is very enticing to watch, and the crowd obviously went crazy when Dylan (the singer) jumped off the stage. Overall this gig was a very cute, fun, and dancey indie concert.

If you didn’t really pay attention to the lyrics, you wouldn’t even realize that most songs were about breakups. Everyone seemed way too happy for the songs to be about something sad. My sincere apologies for the support of the night. I full-on thought that I didn't know the band MAY-A before, but I was very wrong.

They are behind many great hits that I have heard before It even took me embarrassingly long to realise, but this is certainly not the band’s fault.

The band is very Gen Z. In other words, they are really fricking cute. MAY-A got the whole crowd extremely pumped, by playing a combination of their original songs with some fun covers. Their performance was giving very “young Paramore”, but make it queer. If that doesn’t say a lot to you, don’t worry. It just means that they were really fucking great.

The band certainly knows how to rock and make a show happen, and it doesn’t surprise me at all that some of the members clearly already had some fans. So back to my original point. For the name Wallows, the band surely managed to pick me up.

In the case, that they will come back, I highly recommend buying a ticket and getting some serotonin while dancing to happy breakup songs. Until then, at least pop their cd on and have a dance party to brighten up any gloomy day.

Photos: kasper Pasinski

words: hanna koivunen

Wallows - store vega, copenhagen - 02.02.2023

I was already excited to see Crawlers, also known as the eyeliner band from Tiktok, and this young Liverpool band managed to exceed all of my expectations.

The band rose to fame in 2021 with their song “Come Over (Again)” on Tiktok, so you might assume that their fanbase consists mainly of teenagers. You would be correct, at least according to the crowd last night.

To be honest, this made the gig even more fun, because everybody was having a blast from the beginning until the end.The mood was absolutely fantastic from the very moment the band entered the stage, even though we couldn’t even see them during the first song. The energy was very rock n roll, which I personally always love, and I could literally feel the drum through the platforms in my shoes.

During the first two songs, the instruments were even a little too strong, overpowering the lead singer Holly Minto’s mic. Thankfully this was fixed, because her voice is truly worthy of hearing. Her notes literally sent goosebumps all over my skin during “Hang Me Like Jesus”, that is how talented of a singer she is.Getting goosebumps might have still been one of the mildest experiences during the gig. Obviously I screamed and shouted “Come Over (Again)” with the rest of the crowd, and I might have even scream-cried during some other songs.

Then again, Crawlers is perfect for some scream-crying. Many of their songs are inspired by many humane experiences, in which many can relate to, which makes their music so touching. No wonder their fans truly love this band.And this love is noticeably reciprocated.

Holly was cracking jokes from the start, but also complimenting everyone in the crowd in the cutest ways. The band is very aware of the significance of “Come Over (Again)”, especially for trans youth, of which they talked during the gig.

The performance ended with Molly proudly waving the trans flag, which was incredibly touching. These are some seriously precious performers, perfectly balancing rock music with emotional speeches about mental health and filling the room with love.Before I continue with the support band, UBLU, I need to give you a little warning.

This will be basically just me ranting about how fucking fantastic they were. This Copenhagen based club rock band was easily one of the best support bands I have seen in god knows how long.

The band was perfectly chosen to support Crawlers, and everyone in the crowd was clearly vibing. The members of UBLU seemed a tiny bit nervous when they entered the stage, but this wore off immediately. Their charming personalities and simply fantastic charisma, was revealed right away when they started.

This, combined with pure talent that all of the band members clearly have just left me in awe. I might have not heard about this fantastic queer band before, but I am so happy that I finally did. UBLU might have a song called Tragic Star (which I will blast the next time I’m cycling), but there is NOTHING tragic about any of them.

F*****g stars all of them, and if you ever get an opportunity to see them, you should do it.

Photos: Laura Ionana v

words: hanna koivunen

Crawlers - loppen, copenhagen - 19.11.2022

If I say that Franz Ferdinand put on a great f*****g show, is anyone even surprised?

Franz Ferdinand is a legendary Scottish indie rock band, and they have certainly worked hard to earn this title. They clearly love performing and know how to put on a great show. Alex Kapranos, the lead singer, is like a duracell bunny on stage, jumping around like no tomorrow.

It is very noticeable that Franz Ferdinand has been touring a lot in the last two decades, and everyone in the band is a true professional. The gig had a lot of great solos, and they know how to edge the crowd with their most famous songs.

Believe me when I say this, experiencing 'Take Me Out' live really took me to another planet, and it is not just because it’s a great song. Franz Ferdinand just really performs that well. I must say that the crowd took some time to loosen up, and in the beginning I was hoping for a bit more energy. Only some people were dancing, jumping and singing along from the start.

Thankfully this did change, and in the end everyone was partying as one could imagine. The crowd was mainly beer drinking millennials, so maybe they just needed to warm up their joints before dancing, who knows.

The support artist was Swedish, Freja the Dragon. She was great, songs were gorgeous and had beautiful lyrics, but here is the tiff. The support just didn’t fit the vibe at all.

For a high energy band like Franz Ferdinand, I would imagine that the support would also be more high energy. This was certainly not the case, because Freja the Dragon’s music is much more mellow and melancholic.

It could even be that having a low energy support influenced how long it took for the crowd to get energised. Regardless of the 'way too low energy' support and a slowly warming audience, Franz Ferdinand gig was everything I expected it to be.

As true legends, the band put on a great show from the very beginning until the very end, and I can honestly say that there were many moments I won’t forget for a very long time.

Given the opportunity, I would happily see these guys again in the future!

Photos: Laura Ionana v

words: hanna koivunen

Franz Ferdinand - store vega, copenhagen - 13.11.2022

Are you looking for a fun gig full of good times to lift up some serotonin? Then you should get tickets to see Sea Girls.

Basically, all I can say about this gig was that it was super cute and so much fun. Hotel Cecil is a great place for concerts, because it has a very intimate atmosphere, which gives a little extra umph to any gig.

Even Sea Girl’s singer Henry Camamile was pointing this out. The whole gig was a lot of fun, and especially the lead guitarist was clearly having their own little party while performing. This fit perfectly with the crowd that was dancing and singing along from the very beginning.

'Sea Girls' are so entertaining to watch that even Henry f*****g up the beginning of All I Want To Hear You Say ended up in a cute moment between the crowd and the band.

F*****g up the lyrics of the most famous song and still making the whole moment fun? That takes some skill and love from the audience. Michel von Wussow, who was playing support, can be described as a German boy next door.

This was his first performance outside of Germany, but Michel truly charmed the whole audience and in the end the whole crowd was singing in German. Obviously none of us sang as well as he did, because this German boy has some pipes.

This combined with his cute vibe, the whole performance was absolutely adorable. And when I say he was adorable, I really mean it. Dude even got a huge AWWW from the crowd by telling that he dedicated one of his songs to his own mother.

The concert was fantastic, and absolutely what I needed on a rainy and miserable November Thursday. Some people were getting drunk which was very noticeable, but nobody seemed to be too bothered by this and everyone was having a blast.

Thank you for 'Sea Girls' for giving me enough serotonin to last a bit longer through the Danish winter.

Photos: Laura Ionana v

words: hanna koivunen

sea girls - hotel cecil, copenhagen - 10.11.2022

It's not every day that we get to say that we went to a concert, got battered and bruised for over an hour, but came out unscathed and enjoyed every second of it.

Well, that was the case for this show and Loppen (Copenhagen) proved once again that they can attract some of the hottest bands on the planet, pack out the venue and completely install themselves as one of the most exciting and energetic venues in Scandanavia!

This time it was Aussie pub punk rockers, Amyl & The Sniffers, and by their own admission, were playing at an 'old school' venue, a step back to the early days of their career packing out small outback bars and dive bars in their homeland.

But with no crazed wallabies in sight, the only animals staring back at the band were the eyes of a hundred music ravaged beasts, salivating over the smell of a musical stew that the band were cooking up on stage.

With the venue sold out, these guys knew they would have sold this venue out multiple times, but we didn't care and were treated to a set filled with Amyl delights such as 'Freaks To The Front' and 'Guided By Angels'.

The crowd was swaying back and forth like a Nadal/Federer rally and if you thought for a moment you would be able to hold your beer without spilling a drop, then you were probably lost on your way to a 'One Direction' gig... this wasn't for the faint hearted.

Amy (lead singer) has a sack full of charisma and it is impossible not to be swallowed up by her shameful display of musical seduction... we were all in love.

It feels sad to think that we won't get to see this band for a while now and it's the constant problem in life when someone comes to town that completely blows you away.

But a reminder that good times have certainly returned and life has a little more meaning once more for us music loving mortals.

Loppen provided the perfect stage and the band duly obliged with totally ripping the living s**t out of the place.

You're welcome back anytime Amyl & The Sniffers... anytime!

Photos: Joe Miller

words: Sabien Kuhn

AMYL & THE SNIFFERS - LOPPEN, copenhagen - 10.11.2022

I don’t have a lot of notes from Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes gig, which tells about how much fun I had. I simply didn’t have time to write, because I was too busy dancing and jumping around.

From the very first glimpse of the band the whole crowd electrified out of excitement and this didn’t die out at any point during the concert. The crowd was singing along, screaming and jumping around ever since the first song started.

And this was only fitting, since the band was full of energy right from the beginning. Literally during the third song Frank was already jumping to the crowd, getting us even more excited. The whole band’s love for being on the stage is very visible, and this makes the whole performance f*****g entertaining.

What was especially fun about this gig was the interactions between the band and the crowd. Not only that Frank Carter was cracking jokes and talking about more emotional things, the band was also laughing at the fans’ stupid ass jokes. Also I want to give Frank Carter million extra points for two very special moments. First of all for taking action immediately for a fan passing out during the gig, and making sure that they got help before continuing.

Second of all for making a pit only for women and non-binary people. I had decided before that I won’t join in a moshpit and didn’t wear the best outfit for this. But getting this opportunity doesn’t happen often, so of course I needed to join in the fun.

He specifically said that men need to make sure that they are not going to the pit, to ensure a safe experience for the rest. Frank Carter is already f*****g yummy, but this just lifted him to a whole new level in my eyes. Frank Carter being hot and a great performer aside, the gig was just overall fantastic, and everyone was clearly having the greatest time.

Nevertheless, the support Mimi Barks left me a little confused. First of all, during the first song, Mimi’s voice was almost impossible to hear over the instruments. This was fixed for the next songs, but there was still something that wasn’t hitting right with me. Not to say that it was bad, it just didn’t get the crowd as excited as support bands sometimes do.

In the end, the crowd seemed even reluctant to squat down as Mimi told us to do, which was just a little awkward.Thankfully this awkwardness didn’t last over Frank Carter & Rattlesnakes.

We screamed, stomped, moshed, laughed and even slow danced, and I can honestly say that I was having a f*****g blast. And afterwards I was as sweaty as one could imagine after a f*****g great rock gig.

Photos: Laura Ioana V

words: Hanna koivunen

Frank carter & the rattlesnakes - Store VEGA, copenhagen - 06.11.2022

Let me begin this review by saying that before this gig I was in absolutely f*****g shitty mood. That’s why I am thoroughly impressed that Wet Leg managed to cheer me up.

Then again the band started with playing a short piece from the Lord of the Rings anthem, and who wouldn’t love that.The whole gig was a lot of fun, I kind of wished a little bit more stomping, but that could have been simply because of my mood.

The band has a funny vibe around them, and their interaction was very entertaining to watch. And of course it was a lot of fun to sing about sex with bunch of euphemisms.

How horribly vulgar and so fabulous at the same time.The support band Coach Party was cute, but that’s pretty much it. Something just didn’t work for me. I feel like the singer’s voice and the instruments weren’t working nicely together, even though on Spotify they sound great.

Also, obvious minus points for confusing Denmark to Sweden. All in all, they weren’t bad, and the band was cute and clearly having fun, it was just a little meh.

Even though Wet Leg was fantastic, I can’t say the same for the crowd. Of course the people in the first rows seemed to have a blast, so I am not talking about them. But after those first rows, a lot of people were just so… boring.

During the song Ur Mum, Wet Leg singer Rhian encourages all of us to scream and around me it was just crickets. Or not even that actually, but a bunch of judging looks coming my way, because I of course did scream. Live a little geez.

Not to forget that some random man lifted my friend and our photographer Laura up out of nowhere. Even if she didn’t have her cameras with her (which she did), how about we don’t go lifting random people up? Learn to behave geez.

Photos: Joe Miller

words: Hanna koivunen

WETLEG - lILLE VEGA, copenhagen - 02.11.2022

I might have fallen a little bit in love with the Go_A lead singer Kateryna Pavlenko at the very moment she entered the stage. Or at least I am now officially crushing on her, but I mean, how couldn’t I? The sheer power she had right from the very moment felt intoxicating and I promise I wasn’t really that tipsy.

Also, I am clearly not the only one who felt her power. She could have literally told us to do anything like dancing as we were climbing up a ladder, and we would follow with a smile on our faces. If you are not familiar with Go_A before, you clearly don’t watch Eurovision.

The Ukrainian band placed second in 2021, and many believe that they should have won the whole thing. After this gig, I might agree with them. Since all the songs are in Ukrainian, I didn’t understand a word about the lyrics but I really didn’t even need to.

The electro-folk with some rockish vibes is incredibly entertaining to listen to and had me dancing the whole night. Even wearing heels couldn’t stop me from jumping around and stomping the ground as hard as possible.During the gig, Go_a focused on playing the songs over chatting the crowd up.

Still, we could get the taste of the very funny and dry humor Kateryna has. The atmosphere at the concert was amazing and the love and support for Ukraine could be felt in the air. In the end, the crowd participated in Ukrainian folk dance while Go_A was playing their encore, which only left us wanting more.

The support, Elias Gozal made me feel like I teleported from Lille Vega to the middle of a techno bar. His vibe was very weird, in the best way possible. The dude full-on looked like he didn’t give a shit and was just chilling, but I am sure that is just his concentration face.

And who am I to say anything when I look like I will kill anyone disturbing me when I am concentrating? Who even cares what his face looked like, the dude had some f*****g sick beats.

One last thing I need to mention about; I think I have never heard people cheer and shout for a flute that much before. Then again, I have never seen Go_A live before.

So to sum up:Did I understand a fucking word of the songs? Absolutely not.Did I have a f*****g fantastic time? Oh hell yeah, I did.If you end up making the smart decision of buying tickets to see Go_A, just take this advice.

Do not eat a whole burger and cheese fries before the gig. All the dancing and jumping you will do, won’t mix well together.

Слава Україні!

Photos: Nikolaj Bransholm

words: Hanna koivunen

GO_A - VEGA, copenhagen - 15.09.2022

Even before Aurora got to sing “You can cry, you can cry, you can cry”, I had done exactly that.

To be fair, even a cool and collected person might cry in Aurora’s gig, and since I am neither of those things, it’s safe to say that I cried a fucking lot. When I describe Aurora to people, who have never heard her music, I tell them to imagine a Norwegian forest fairy singing songs that pull your heart-strings.

Only that this specific Norwegian forest fairy has some fucking pipes, which makes the live concert almost a magical experience. Aurora had two support bands, Danish Fenja and Norwegian Sei Selina. Both of the artists were great and fit perfectly into the mood.

I could still notice some of the fellow guests getting a bit confused, when Aurora didn’t start after the first support, Fenja. Thankfully Sei Selina clearly didn’t disappoint anyone, and everybody was vibing to her songs.Even though the support was great, Aurora is so peculiar, that nobody can beat her performance.

Immediately from the first song, which was an acoustic version of Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1), I could feel her vocals even in my spine. She changes from strong to lighter notes so effortlessly, that it would be impossible not to feel them all over your body.

You could imagine, that she would need a tiny breather between powerful songs, but you would be very wrong. She only had some breaks to crack some jokes and let me tell you, Aurora is really f*****g funny. This became even more clear towards the end of the concert.

The gig was interrupted a by some technical problems, but even this couldn’t ruin the magic, all because of Aurora’s silliness. And hey, at least we got to experience Aurora and a lucky fan playing hairdresser on stage.

All in all, the concert was f*****g fantastic even though there were some technical issues. Aurora and her band free-styled with the setlist effortlessly, even asking the audience what we want to hear her sing acoustically. Who knows, maybe she actually is a Norwegian forest fairy.

There certainly is something magical about Aurora, and you can feel this if you get to experience her live concert.

Photos: Laura Ioana V

words: Hanna koivunen

Aurora - VEGA, copenhagen - 26.08.2022

The vocals. The lights. The drops. The F*****G VIBES. That’s how my really messy notes from the Kaleo gig start.

To put it super short; it was really fucking great. I was sweating while having goosebumps because f**k damn, those drops were intense. Absolutely everyone who enjoys Kaleo’s music should ABSOLUTELY experience the band live.

The wait between the support band and Kaleo was a bit rough because Falkoner Salen was absolutely packed with people. All this discomfort was immediately forgotten when Kaleo dropped the very first tune and everyone started screaming from the top of their lungs.

The band had pretty much no breaks between songs at all, which made the concert even more intense. The whole setlist was a great mix of old and new songs. Because the latest album was released in 2021, everyone seemed to be familiar with all the songs so all of us were trying (and horribly failing) to keep up with Jökull Júlíusson’s amazing vocals.

The support act, Junius Meyvant, was also good. They were making everyone laugh with their rudish jokes, and were very fitting to the mood. Still, after Kaleo, it was a bit difficult to remember the support anymore.

The only thing that surprised me in a not so great way was the gig ended super out of nowhere. It felt like they would still play one more song, but nope! The band just f****d off. Maybe I was completely on my own rock-laced dimension and didn’t notice them saying “Thanks Copenhagen” or something, in which case it was my bad.

Nevertheless, I didn’t seem to be the only one who was a bit confused. I could have still jumped and ugly scream-sing couple more tunes to be honest and I am sure I wasn’t the only one.

Photos: Julia Nikiforova

words: Hanna koivunen

KALEO - Falkoner Salen, copenhagen - 26.06.2022

The sunny vibes Peach Pit brought with their gig were exactly what I needed on a miserable Monday evening. The weather has been a full-on Danish shitshow, but Peach Pit actually made it feel as if it was almost Summer.

The whole vibe was amazing from the very beginning, which continued through the whole time. The crowd was singing along and laughing at the jokes the band made between songs (they were funny, not gonna lie).

The energy was constantly super sweet, cute, and warm, and the band was clearly having fun on stage which is always amazing to see. Neil saying that he was grumpy 10 minutes before the gig but now could only feel happy sums up pretty perfectly how I was feeling from the beginning until the end.Lille Vega was the perfect venue for the gig, but it did get way too warm at some point. I kid you not, some people were taking their shirts off just to be able to deal with it.

The uncultured swine I am, I hadn’t heard of the support band, Sun Seeker, before. Thankfully my boombox got fixed before summer actually arrives in Copenhagen, so I can blast their tunes while biking to the beach.

Others in the crowd clearly know better than I do, because they were already screaming the band’s name before they entered the stage, which was completely appropriate for how fun the whole gig was going to be.

Overall the whole concert was super cute, and I think even the youngest fan in the crowd, an 11-year-old girl, was having a time of her life.

Photos: Laura Ioana V

words: Hanna koivunen

Peach pit - lille vega, copenhagen - 30.05.2022

Before releasing their newest album, Alpha Games, Bloc Party has been quite silent for a long time. Actually, it has been such a long time that most people I told that I will go to the gig responded “Oh, are they still touring?” or some other version of that. Well, they clearly are touring, and I am more than happy about it!

I have listened to Bloc Party for way too long time, so I was expecting a lot from this gig. Safe to say, I was not disappointed at all. The setlist was a great mix of older songs that everyone knows, and some new ones from Alpha Games.

Obviously, when older songs like Banquet started, the whole Vega started to shake due to everyone screaming, dancing, and erm... more dancing! I literally can’t remember the last time I was this sweaty after a gig, and the reason was certainly not because I was wearing a lot of warm clothes.

I need to also give an extra mention to the support band, Pip Blom. The band literally started out of nowhere, and they lifted the energy immediately up through the roof. The band played well, and they were absolutely the cutest young rockers I have seen in a long time. To be honest, I only have one complaint, and it’s a very self-centered one.

The gig was absolutely fucking fantastic, but Bloc Party didn’t play Flux in Copenhagen, which they had done in some other venues (yes, I checked). This is not even a real complaint, I am just being whiney because I really wanted to hear it live for f*****g ages. Otherwise, a great f*****g gig!

Bloc party, Vega copenhagen - 14.05.2022

Photos: Laura Ioana V

words: Hanna koivunen