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On October 12th 2022 a concert took place, which captivated and enthused on a certain level that it should simply be talked about. We are talking about a part of the European tour of two Icelandic bands that have set out to breathe new life into classical rock. There is a great preference for old Rock´n´Roll in the whole of Scandinavia, and The Vintage Caravan and Volcanova make this assumption very clear.
Both bands are quite young formations and actual close friends simultaneously, which turns a joint tour to an incomparable adventure. Live on site at Bahnhof Pauli, a cozy and relatively new location in Hamburg, which has been around since 2019, was Hannes from mukken.com to witness creative retromania. After the pandemic, Bahnhof Pauli is slowly but surely becoming an essential part of the event industry in Hamburg and could become an insider hit location within the city.
First, we devote ourselves to the opening band Volcanova, which, like the main act, consists of a trio combo. Dagur Atlasson on drums and vocals, as well as Samúel Ásgeirsson on guitar and vocals and finally Þorsteinn Árnason on bass and vocals as well. The fact that all three band members present their individual voices gives the Stoner/Desert Rock from Iceland a special dynamic. For all members have distinct vocal colours, which convince during their triple harmonies, above all. Drummer Dagur Atlasson, who has an almost operatic vocal range, is a secret star in this constellation.
Added to this are his sporadic announcements, which are full of clamour and provide great entertainment value, a natural showman! In addition, the venue was pleasantly filled for an opening band, and this seemed to have had a positive effect on Volcanova's playfulness. At the beginning of their set, the sound was still quite muddy, which fortunately improved significantly later. Despite tonal difficulties, playfulness and charisma were the greater force and the irresistible charming retro vibes enchanted the audience.
After the bar of the evening was set by Volcanova enormously, the headliners came on stage, The Vintage Caravan. The unusual fashion immediately stands out, matching the sounds of the past whilst paying heartfelt homage. The trio consists of Óskar Logi Ágústsson (guitar & vocals), Alexander Örn Númason (bass & vocals) and Stefán Ari Stefánsson (drums). The drums remain stable in the background and provide one driving beat after another, while the guitar and bass factions traditionally operate in the foreground.
This foreground is masterfully determined by Óskar and Alexander and their virtuosity was being playfully put on display. Progressive passages are always embedded in the songs, which leads to great arrangements that at the same time provide a nostalgic and modern listening pleasure. Great importance is placed on anthemic sections, which the audience's reactions strongly underline, because choirs out of the ranks constantly echo through the venue for an almost one and a half hour set by The Vintage Caravan. Pure and honest Rock´n´Roll was presented here, which electrified the crowd constantly and made the course of time completely forgotten.
The concert of childhood friends, as was often emphasized during the evening, was a complete success for both bands. Bahnhof Pauli was filled to the brim and was graced with nostalgic rock´n´roll. First the three guys from Volcanova put off a lot of steam, who found their own niche for their Desert/Stoner Rock, Icelandic style. Heavy doom passages meet energetic, forward-orientated rock in a balanced mix, which makes you crave for more in the future.
The Vintage Caravan skillfully continues their predecessor's triumph, providing a true retrotopia to quote Zygmunt Bauman for the lack of a more appropriate term. Númason's reserved and shy announcements and repeated thanks for the numerous appearances only underline the band's sympathy. Guitarist Óskar Ágústsson is probably one of the best talents of the day! The northmen are still shuffling among the audience, which is another great point of sympathy! And having your own sound mixer is a blessing for touring bands, which The Vintage Caravan proved impressively with their thoroughly rich live sound. Both bands are highly professional and an enrichment for the modern rock world, an absolute recommendation!
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Originally published on January 30, 2023, updated on February 3, 2023