Entombed and Hellacopters guitar hero Nicke Andersson hits the stage tonight with his latest project, IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC [8], and the Ballroom’s heaving already.
Their infectious garage rock is all uptempo beats and sunny grooves, with the band galloping with gusto across the stage, no doubt fuelled by the pumped-up punters.
GRAVEYARD [8] are often lumped into the category of ‘retro’ bands who emulate 60s and 70s blues rock, but the Swedes’ music, a melting pot of eerily erratic riffs with dark yet delicate melodies, has earned them a status beyond any passing trend.
While they’re musically stunning live, Graveyard aren’t known for being animated onstage but, perhaps due to the roaring response they receive or the vibrant light show that sets the stage ablaze in a psychedelic swirl and brings the music to life – or, perhaps the band have just found their feet in a live setting – tonight they play with passion and enthusiasm.
They open with jaunty newbie Magnetic Shunk, and peppered throughout the hit-heavy set that includes the ghostly Hisingen Blues and the lush Uncomfortably Numb are tastes of the new album, Innocence & Decadence – the soulful Too Much Is Not Enough a highlight. The Siren is the perfect closer – a gut-wrenchingly emotional slab of beautiful blues rock that leaves all entranced.
