Icelandic rising stars Kaleo set for Birmingham show
This summer, the whole of Europe came together to celebrate the rise of Icelandic football as the relative minnows impressed with their spirited performances that put the likes of England to the sword.
One of the persevering images of their fairytale run was the Icelandic clap. A Viking-like warcry, it saw players and fans unite in an emotive and gripping clap-and-shout 'dance'.
But the tiny little island's musical influence doesn't end there. Since the emergence of Sigur Ros from a volcanic island that holds roughly 350,000 people their mysterious lifestyle and traditions have captured the imagination.
Now, we have another snapshot of Icelandic culture and influences through Kaleo. Every story has two sides, and that adage is certainly true for the four-piece who now call the US their home.
Call it a split upbringing: the isolated heritage that results from coming of age in Iceland has paired with the fresh inspiration of moving to America, and the band has built a sound to match the disparate landscapes.
A rich blend of rock, folk and blues – somewhat like their forbearing predecessors Sigur Ros, if not accompanied by an entire made up language – Kaleo's debut LP embodies that very spirit of duality. Titled A/B, the album displays the band's multi-layered dynamics and ability to play different genres with equal skill.
They will showcase their talent when they arrive at Birmingham's O2 Institute tonight as part of their worldwide The Handprint Tour.
Best friends since attending elementary school outside of Reykjavik, bandleader JJ Julius Son, drummer David Antonsson, and bassist Daniel Kristjansson began playing together at the age of 17 before adding guitarist Rubin Pollock to the mix in 2012.
They named the band Kaleo, which means 'the sound' in Hawaiian, and started their career with a handful of well-received shows at the 2012 Iceland Airwaves festival.
The band signed to Elektra/Atlantic and moved to the States in early 2015, choosing Austin as their new base. The rest, as they say, is history.
"It has obviously been a big change coming from a small country of 300 thousand people in Iceland to the USA with more than 300 million people," says Son.
"We've learned a lot, and we are more experienced now than when we first came. Overall it's been a great adventure."
The past year has been a busy one for the band, as they've played nearly non-stop – seeing more than 45 US states along the way – as well as notching a spot on the soundtrack to HBO's hit show Vinyl and also recording A/B.
