Written and Photographs by Jordan Newton
The Icelandic blues rock band KALEO brought a religious experience to the iconic Sydney Opera House with their mix of country, blues rock and gospel tunes.
Kicking off the set with USA Today, Break My Baby and Broken Bones, automatically drawing in the crowd with it's emotionally haunting lyrics, soulful gritty tones and howling vocal range by lead singer Jökull Júlíusson. Personal favourite of mine was Broken Bones as the track dwelves back to a time when guys like Robert Johnson, Howlin Wolf, B.B King and Buddy Guy were forming delta blues by transferring their misery into songs and guitars, eventually evolving to Rock N Roll. Speaking of Rock N Roll, Jökull appeared on stage his Stevie Ray Vaughan inspired outfit (which some of the audience members had done also) with his assortment of guitars for every song including Gibson Les Pauls, SGs, Hummingbird and a Pete Turner Guitars Handmade Resonator.
"How many guitars does this guy own?" asked ane on looker.
The energy changed throughout the concert with tracks like Hey Gringo, No Good and their double platinum cowboy hit Way Down We Go. It certainly got the audience off their seats, claping their hands and stomping their feet like preaching to the lord on Sunday. While tracks like All The Pretty Girls, Automobile and Vor í Vaglaskógi (sung in Icelandic) showcased the band's country and peacefully soft side. The ambience of concert hall gave KALEO's performance a church like quality from each band member's instrument. Whether it be Thorleifur Davíðsson's harmonica solos, David Antonsson's drums, Rubin Pollock's guitar work, Daniel Kristjánsson's bass or Jökull Júlíusson's gritfully haunting vocals. Their bond as a group was strong and everything was on full display.
KALEO added a bonus song to their encore, a thrill filled track called Back Door which was officially released the next day on the 21st of February as part of their third studio album Mixed Emotions due to be released on the 9th of May this year.
In Summary, KALEO delivered at holy, magical and authentic end to their Australian leg of their Payback Tour.
"As you know, we come from Iceland. It's currently winter there so we greatfully enjoyed spending time here in the Australian Summer" - Jökull Júlíusson
KALEO Sydney Opera House Setlist 20/2/2025
USA Today
Break My Baby
Broken Bones
Can't Go On Pretty Girls
Automobile
Hey Gringo
Hot Blood
Lonely Cowboy
Vor í Vaglaskógi
Skinny
Way Down We Go
No Good
ENCORE
Backdoor
Rock n Roller
Special Thank You To Loz Grice and Frontier Touring for allowing access to this event
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