What would rock and roll be without blues music. The earliest pioneers of blues music laid the foundation for what would evolve into what we call rock and roll today. Many bands still tap into the spirit and emotion of blues when writing modern day music. Whether that be taking a blues scale, slapping a distortion pedal on it, and making it sound heavy. This exact technique is what helped to grow and define the metal genre. To bands that keep the blues vibes in the forefront of their jams. Icelandic blues rockers Kaleo is one of the latter. Instead driving their music with the tone and feelings that come from the blues. Bringing their Payback Tour to The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA for a two night event. Night two featured the opening act ReignWolf, and the die hard blues rock fans came to support these rockers.

Opening night two was Seattle's own ReignWolf, fronted by singer and guitarist Jordan Cook. ReignWolf brought some heavily distorted blues rock to the screaming fans in Los Angeles. Cook injected his guitar tone with fuzz that took me back to the sound of early Zeppelin. The way he sang carried with it a bit of unrefined grit that made him sound raw and unregulated. Backed by drummer Joseph Braley, who kept his playing partially subdued to let Cook’s guitar take center stage. But Braley knew when he could unleash his chops to push the tempo of the song and make it more powerful. Featuring songs like “I want you/Alligator,” “Over & Over,” “Electric Love,” “Are You Satisfied?,” “Lonely Sunday,” and “New Song.” ReignWolf’s tenacity was the perfect way to kick off the night and filled people’s spirits with blues rock bliss.

Kaleo started off their night with a new song called “Lonely Cowboy.” Vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jökull Júlíusson strolled onto the stage strumming on an acoustic guitar, but it was when his voice projected through the speakers that the crowd was enticed into the show that was about to happen. Júlíusson has a deep warm sultry voice that is just candy to the ears. He doesn’t have to push his voice or sing with flare as with just minor inflections, Júlíusson is able to convey beautiful emotion. Lead guitarist Rubin Pollock, strapped with his electric Gibson Les Paul, chooses to use his axe to enhance and help carry the melody of the songs. Bassist Daníel Ægir Kristjánsson and drummer Davíð Antonsson drive the groove of the beat. You can’t help but find yourself tapping a foot to the rhythms they create, and even swaying in place, getting lost in the vibe that is put out there. But it was keyboardist and harmonicaist Þorleifur Gaukur Davíðsson that nearly steals the show. As he steps to the forefront of the stage and just unleashes himself upon the crowd through his harmonica solos. He finds himself in a flow state and we are privileged to watch his mastery of the instrument. Kaleo brought an insatiable set of songs that pleased every blues fan in attendance like “Broken Bones,” “I Can’t Go on Without You,” “Break My baby,” “Alter Ego,” “I Want More,” “Automobile,” “Hey Gringo,” “Hot Blood,” “Vor í Vaglaskógi,” “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” “Skinny,” “Way Down We Go,” and coming back for a three song encore including “Backdoor,” “No Good,” “Rock ‘n’ Roller.” Blues was reinvigorated this night in Los Angeles, and it took a quintet from Iceland to keep this heart beating.

Before Kaleo could even hit the stage, fans were unabashedly talking about how they saw them the day before and could not pass up the chance to see them again this night. Icelandic blues rock may not be on the forefront of the music industry, but Kaleo has found a devoted fan base across the world, and a thriving one in Los Angeles. The Payback Tour has just a few stops left in June, before restarting in August and running through October. Whether you are familiar with this band or not, if you are a fan of blues rock, this is a show that I can say for certain you will not be disappointed by seeing.