Posted in Whathaveyou on April 1st, 2025 by JJ Koczan
Oh man, I was lucky enough one time to see Dozer take the stage at Fuzz Festival in Stockholm (review here), and I can only recommend it as a life experience. The Swedish spearheads, who’ve been talked about around here a fair bit on Fridays these last few weeks if you’ve been keeping up, join Långfinger, The Big Rip, and Montana fuzzbringers Wizzerd in this announcement, and as you can see on the poster below, Dozer will co-headline the two-nighter with Brant Bjork Trio. One assumes Fall tour dates are incoming for a number of these acts, but even looking past the headliners, that you get Carson, Craneium, Stonus, Domkraft, Gnome and Hellroom Projectors — and of course, the ones behind the whole thing, Truckfighters — in addition to this latest round of names is certainly compelling.
November, huh? I don’t foresee either an invite or a cash windfall, so I can’t imagine I’ll be able to be at this one, but damn it’s a rad assemblage. Don’t sleep on keeping up just because there are a hundred festivals in Europe in October and this is later.
From social media:
🔥More bands announced for FUZZ FESTIVAL #6 14-15 NOVEMBER 2025🔥
Dozer: Swedish stoner legends that need no introduction, heavy fuzz and alot of in-your-face grooves.
Långfinger: A vibrant heavy rock/stoner trio from Gothenburg.
Wizzerd (US): A Fuzzorama Records band hailing from Montana that will bring a doomy, stoner groove to Stockholm.
The Big Rip (NO): The Big Rip plays groovy fast paced stoner/scandirock with elements of doom.
Takes place at Debaser and Bar Brooklyn, Stockholm, Sweden.
Grab your ticket now and join us for a weekend of unforgettable music, good vibes, and like-minded souls. Whether you’re a veteran festival-goer or a newcomer, Fuzzfestival 2025 promises to be a gathering of sonic exploration and celebration.
Stay tuned for even more lineup announcements and festival updates. We can’t wait to see you there!
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 19th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
It’s a cool one. I dig the whole vibe here. The way StonerKras comes across to me is so much more like an open party than a typical heavyfest. It’s six bands in 2025, which isn’t nothing, but consider that part of the intention is that the party goes all night for those who’d be mad enough to ever want it to — I know some humans are still in their 20s, and that’s adorable — and a friendly experiential presentation that includes shiatsu massage and vendors selling probably hippie clothes and I don’t know what, as well as the ongoing encourangement toward family attendance, and it seems like it would be a laid back time either way. I don’t know that the kid would make it to the afterparty, but I know for sure I wouldn’t, so there you go.
And the lineup’s good too. Truckfighters were previously announced, but I saw MR.BISON in January and they were expansive despite such solid groove. Them Moose Rush and Zolle are both righteous in completely different ways. I am less familiar with Veuve — though I know they were on Argonauta at one point — and Black Pope, but if you’re going to a thing like this, you go ready to learn. That’s not to say I’ll be there, sadly, but even the hypothetical is fun.
StonerKras Fest is an open air psychedelic music gathering based on stoner, doom and heavy psych music. The festival has an international footprint but with the aim of enhancing the local heavy scene (both Slovenian and Italian) while attracting spectators from the region but also from neighboring countries.
Youth aggregation and cultural exchange accompanied by good music.
!!! FULL LINEUP ANNOUNCED TODAY !!!
TRUCKFIGHTERS (very exclusive show for Italy/Slovenia/Croatia in 2025) MR.BISON (heavy psych, ITA) THEM MOOSE RUSH (stoner prog, CRO) ZOLLE (lard rock duo, ITA) BLACK POPE (southern metal, ITA) VEUVE (heavy psych, ITA)
+ AFTERPARTY DJSET with Alterative Nite + Satisfaction
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 19th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
If you’re going to pay for a US work visa at this point, you might as well use it. Thus will Sweden’s Truckfighters be following up the Fall 2024 East Coast tour that brought the celebrated fuzz mavens to Desertfest New York (review here) with a West Coast run starting in late April and rolling into May. Neither the past tour nor the one upcoming were the hugest the band has undertaken, but it’s enough to say they’ve covered the ground this time through as they hover somewhere near 25 years since their inception.
Their most recent studio album, V (review here), came out in 2016, and is ready for a follow-up if there’s ever going to be one, but far be it from me to rush anybody, and if there’s a chance to see Truckfighters in the meantime — there usually is; in addition to this tour they’ve already also been confirmed for Desertfest Oslo 2025 and StonerKras 2025, and they’ve revealed part of the lineup for their own Fuzz Festival in Stockholm this coming November; they’ll play, as well as Brant Bjork Trio, Gnome, Domkraft, Craneium, Carson, Stonus and Hellroom Projectors and more to come Nov. 14-15 — doing so should generally be considered the prudent course. Here’s where they’ll be, as per social media:
The time has come to return the the western parts of the USA. See you soon. Spread the word, come enjoy the fuzz!
Support from The Well and Restless Spirit *** TICKET links at our website (if a ticket link is not there now it will be very soon) ***
4/24 Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live 4/25 San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick 4/26 Los Angeles, CA @ The Moroccan 4/27 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent 4/29 Portland, OR @ Star Theater 4/30 Seattle, WA @ Substation 5/01 Boise, ID @ Neurolux 5/02 Salt Lake City, UT @ Ace High Saloon 5/03 Denver, CO @ HQ Denver
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 13th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
After a 2024 lineup that featured Colour Haze and Black Rainbows, among others, the Trieste, Italy-based StonerKras Fest is starting big with its 2025 reveals — no less than Swedish fuzz kingpins Truckfighters will take part. Among the most reliable live acts heavy rock and roll has ever produced, Truckfighters will play this show as a regional exclusive, Trieste being situated near the Italian/Slovenian border.
I don’t know how many acts the festival will ultimately have – last year’s StonerKras was an eminently manageable five bands — but particularly if you’re looking for a smaller fest-type event where you can take your family, this is one to keep in mind. I’m doing the same, for whatever that might be worth. Tickets are up for presale now, and I will do my best to keep up with announcements and details as they emerge.
StonerKras is a psychedelic music gathering based on stoner, doom and heavy psych music. The festival has an international footprint but with the aim of enhancing the local heavy scene (both Slovenian and Italian) while attracting spectators from the region but also from neighboring countries.
Youth aggregation and cultural exchange accompanied by good music.
!!! FIRST BAND + TICKETS PRESALE ANNOUNCED TODAY !!!
*** TRUCKFIGHTERS *** – stoner fuzz rock legends from Sweden –
!!! VERY EXCLUSIVE SHOW FOR ITALY, SLOVENIA and CROATIA IN THIS 2025 !!!
If you are interested in groovy, stoner-influenced, progressive and melodic hard rock you probably know about Truckfighters already. “The best band that ever existed” as Josh Homme said in the 2011 “fuzzomentary” Truckfighters. You might also know the story about how Niklas ‘Dango‘ Källgren teamed up with bassist and vocalist Oskar ‘Ozo’ Cedermalm in a worn down rehearsal space in Örebro, Sweden in 2001 and how the first song they ever recorded, Desert Cruiser, since then has gone on to become a desert rock anthem. You probably also know that the band itself has gone on to release five full length albums and played sold out shows on four continents.
Truckfighters have become a fundament in the ‘stoner rock/metal’ sub-genre with fans all over the world enjoying the crazy live shows and the fuzzy sounds…
After more than 20 years as a band it is safe to say the touring is less frequent than the most intense years of the band. Just as safe as is it to say that the shows will be better than ever and as always with a hell of a fuzzy sound!
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 11th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
After unveiling an initial lineup featuring Chat Pile, Oranssi Pazuzu, Hippie Death Cult, Elder, Whores., Help, Agriculture, Magmakammer and others, the 2025 edition of Desertfest Oslo — just the second one behind the first earlier this year — has brought four more acts on board to entice those thinking about digging into the next bunch of early-bird tickets, also just released to follow, as I understand it, a more-than-handful that already sold out. Good for them, making a thing work.
Elephant Tree and Truckfighters might be the marquee names here, Truckfighters because they’re Truckfighters and they’re going to make an impression every time they touch a stage, and Elephant Tree owing to the recently-issued split with Lowrider that’s being roundly hailed as album of the year despite kind of being two mini-albums, but don’t neglect DVNE or Håndgemeng here. Thus far, Håndgemeng are the first repeat act of Desertfest Oslo‘s relatively brief history — house band? — and DVNE are still at just a few months’ remove from their Voidkind LP, likewise soaring and stunning. It’s just four bands, but it’s quality over quantity here, is what I’m saying.
The fest is set for May 9 and 10 in Oslo at Revolver, John Dee and Rockefeller, and of course there will be more to come probably ahead of as well as in the New Year, so keep an eye out. We saw this year already Desertfest Oslo became an anchor for many Spring tours in Europe. I would expect that trend to continue unabated, and reasonably so.
From the PR wire, or socials, or somewhere on the internet:
Desert Cruisers and Scandi Stoners, Heavy Rockers and Angry Loners!
Buckle up hard, we have a new batch of bands dropping for you, followed by a new batch of early bird tickets! Secure your entrance, you DO NOT want to miss out on Desertfest Oslo 2025🔥
🪐 Elephant Tree 🪐 Masterful Londoners who somehow mix a retro psychedelic sound with the more modern stonerrock vibe. They are effortlessly creating one of the most unique and uplifting sounds out there, with their stellar harmonies as a bulletproof signature, easily separating them from most of their peers. Elephant Tree manage to refine some of the best elements coming out from Seattle in the nineties, owning it, and creating their own legacy around it. What a bunch of lads.
Their sound sweeps you of your feet, throws you in a sonic vortex, and spits you out on to a solitary astral plane of dreamy soundwaves.
🪐 Truckfighters 🪐 Few other bands can boast this level of energy and tightness along a library of absolute banging hits. Sweden is ripe with stonerrock, but Truckfighters may just be the beefiest wrestler in the ring. They have been around for what seems like forever, but never resting of old endevours. Always a must-see live! Truckfighters are in it with their hearts and souls, and we cant wait to welcome them to Oslo in May.
🪐 DVNE 🪐 The Scottish highlanders creates a supernova of sludge and progressive metal, with doomy post metal aesthetics. With complete darkness as their canvas, they paint a surreal, dreamy, cosmic landscape as a backdrop for their harsh vocals. Their ebb&flow and ever evolving sound will keep you on your toes at all time. Andy yes, you should pay attention!
🪐 Håndgemeng 🪐
The local heroes with flared jeans, cowboy boots and more fuzz than rubber slippers on a wall-to-wall carpet are returning! It is the perfect opener. The ideal palate cleanser. The ultimate in-your-face desert rock blast off for Desertfest Oslo 2025.
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 17th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Granted, Truckfighters are pretty fresh in the ol’ brain after seeing them this past weekend, but while ‘always deliver live’ is an essential part of their ethic as a band, the Swedish troupe behind this fifth edition of the aptly-named Truckfighters Fuzz Festival are hardly the only appeal here. 1000mods will have just released their new album a couple weeks before Fuzz Festival #5 gets underway, and Slomosa and Bottenhavet, Daevar, High Desert Queen and 10,000 Years have or will have 2024 releases under their belt as well. Not to harp on it, but I also saw Domkraft this past weekend, and they don’t have a 2024 record but would nonetheless be a significant draw in this two-nighter’s favor if I happened to live in Stockholm.
Grand Atomic, Steak, Witchrider, Goddess (who I don’t know at all, but am inclined to check out based solely on their inclusion here), Siena Root, Håndgemeng and the ever-fluid Besvärjelsen complete a strong bill for the Debaser and adjacent Bar Brooklyn, and you’ll find the full lineup and ticket link, courtesy of the band’s socials and website:
The Truckfighters Fuzz Festival is back! For the 5th time, there will be riffing in the name of fuzz at Debaser Strand and Bar Brooklyn, this year on the weekend of November 22-23! One could say that the festival has become Sweden’s answer to a company party but here it’s all about fuzz, swing, and a damn good mood. All spread across 2 stages as we combine Debaser and Bar Brooklyn into a single festival frenzy over 2 days. You will be treated to great music from 6:15 pm to midnight on 2 stages, and the evening is not over there as DJs extend the nights with cool music and we hope for a great hangout.
The Venue is located on the island of Södermalm, in Stockholm. This is a very nice area in the central parts of town. Get there with subway or bus to “Hornstull” station.
The bands on the bill are hand picked by us to ensure a great evening! All bands are good! All bands play some kind of heavy groovy rock music with a fuzzy sound! We hope to see you. Keep the fuzz burning! / Truckfighters
Stockholm! Debases & Bar Brooklyn = Fuzz Festival #5 November 22nd & 23rd! 🔥🔥🔥
The lineup is nailed, one day tickets are released now so now we go!
Lineup: Truckfighters 1000mods Siena Root Slomosa Domkraft Witchrider Steak 10,000 Years Besvärjelsen Håndgemeng High Desert Queen Grand Atomic Bottenhavet Daevar Goddess
Posted in Reviews on September 15th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Before Show
Truckfighters soundchecking outside with “Desert Cruiser.” There’s a concrete rise in back of the Knockdown Center, up to a train platform presumably leftover from when whatever what manufactured here, and last year it was open for people to go up like a balcony and watch the bands on the outside stage. It would be hot up there today with the sun beating down, but it doesn’t matter since it’s closed off. So it goes.
Today is the last day of Desertfest New York 2024, and it brings that third, outside stage, where yesterday alternated between the two in the building itself. There are picnic tables out here, corners you can put yourself in if you want, and I appreciate that kind of thing, especially on a day with a crunch of bands. The most brutal schedule conflict? High Desert Queen playing in the Texas room during Truckfighters. Hard choices will be made. I don’t know that I’ll get to take pictures of both, but I plan to watch at least part of each set since it’s not like you have to go down the block to see one or the other. We’ll see how it goes.
Got back and crashed out last night around 1AM. It’s the last day here, so of course one’s head drifts to thoughts of returning to real life after this relatively brief but certainly welcome sidestep. I started packing that glut of stuff I brought with me. I was thinking of driving home tonight, maybe splitting out during Russian Circles, throwing my bags in the car and letting out for Jersey, but I don’t actually expect to be in any shape to do such a thing by then, and Saturday night traffic in New York is like Thursday afternoon. By the time I got home, any favors I’d have done myself by leaving early would have evaporated. That’s me, talking myself out of a thing.
Doors are in four minutes, reportedly. People were waiting out in the sun when I got here. I don’t have an AAA pass or anything because I’ve never been cool, ever, but I do like getting j and sitting a bit before the show starts, writing and whatever else. Calm before the storm? Maybe. Some quiet for the subsequent volume to contrast once the day actually starts. Light tension in the air. You know how it goes.
Like this:
Kadabra
There’s a lot to look forward to today, front to back, but Kadabra must definitely aren’t to be left out of that consideration. The Spokane, Washington-based trio played Desertfest London earlier this year as well and are a better band than the general underground consensus seems to know, though they drew a decent crowd for being the first band on, so maybe I’m wrong on the hype level. Fine. They’re here supporting their 2023 album, Umbra (discussed here, review here), and I very clearly was not the only one who thought to get to Knockdown Center early. The groove and sinister vibe came quick like the haze from the fog machine, only not so quickly breezed away. “The Serpent” and “The Devil” from the latest album featured, and if you wanted to call either a highlight, I won’t fight you. The sound came through clear enough to do justice to the vocal melodies, and their swing was the start today needed.
Gozu
I don’t know how long it’s been and I don’t feel like looking, but it’s too long, in any case. Soul and hard-hitting groove, fury (of the markedly impatient) and craft underneath it all. And every now and again, Gaff might do a softshoe. Well earned. I was watching them play and trying to write, but couldn’t get out of my head, and in what might be the best decision I make today, I stopped trying to write. I put my phone in my pocket and let Gozu bowl me over with their particularly classy roll. It was the right choice, and after half a decade — I felt guilty and looked; last time I saw Gozu was before the pandemic; too long — they both played songs I’d never heard live before and, as of course they would, nailed new material and old. Never a doubt in my mind. Honestly, I was just happy to see them, let alone see them kill it. Not going to pretend to be the impartial observer. I missed Gozu.
Spaceslug
You know that feeling when you’ve dug a band for a while and you see them live for the first time and you dig it and it’s a relief? Seeing Spaceslug for the first time was like that for me. Because it was that, exactly. It was also good to finally see for myself how the live show and the sound of their albums — a consistently evolving thing, definitely on a path — intertwine in terms of presenting the material. The division of duties on vocals and the arrangements have gotten more complex with time, and while you might put on their 2016 debut, Lemanis (discussed here), and 2024’s Out of Water (review here) in succession and know it’s the same band, their breath changes what they mean, and on stage, they can lean into different sides at different times, dynamic without being hurried about it. I don’t know that I’d ever get to see Spaceslug if this wasn’t happening — though I’d certainly make it happen if I could — so thank you Desertfest, and thanks Spaceslug for making the trip and for the show.
Hippie Death Cult
Hippie Death Cult and Kadabra have been out on a tour since last week and were in Rhode Island last night. Meanwhile, Boston got a dose of High Desert Queen, Gozu and Dozer. It’s a good weekend to be on the Eastern Seaboard. Last time I saw the band was at Psycho in 2022 (review here), and that was before basisst Laura Phillips took over on lead vocals. Last Fall brought the release of their first album with Harry Silvers on drums and Phillips on vocals, and with a foundation in Eddie Brnabic’s fluid riffing, they were a Hippie Death Cult able to bring more of an aggressive roll to bear with intermittent harsher vocals; something of a sludgier potential that may or may not be explored over time as they continue to grow. But they were rad when they had Ben Jackson singing and they’re rad now. Hypnotic enough that I forgot to be anxious about missing the start of Eagle Twin, which was nice for a couple minutes to get out of my own head. Twice today. I’m coming dangerously close to letting myself enjoy a thing.
Eagle Twin
Doom with antlers, but not literally, because that also exists. They’re not a band who comes to the East Coast every day, or year, and though I imagine a specific ideal is seeing Eagle Twin out in the woods someplace, they brought a more than solid main stage crowd. I was thinking it hadn’t been that long since I saw them but it turns out it was six years ago at Høstsabbat (review here), where they made a specifically bluesy impression. Go figure. Their sound feels no less born of bigger, more ancient forests than one finds here, but on a level even just of performance and the aforementioned tone, they brought it. There’s a lot to dig about them, I’m just out of metaphors. I took a peak in the Texas stage at Trace Amount, then found a spot at a table with some friends and planted there until a bit before Dozer went on. Eagle Twin were cool, but until I looked just a bit ago I thought I’d seen them in the last few years, and I don’t get a lot of nice, human conversation with people I like in my day-to-day.
Dozer
Powerhouse set, and Dozer’s first time in the States in at least two decades. The urgency of last year’s Drifting Through the Endless Void (review here) speaks for itself, and I’m not here to sell records anyway. But I’m lucky enough that this is my third Dozer show in the last three years after seeing them on what was then a one-off at Desertfest London 2013 (review here), and as classic as their early work is, they’re vital, moving forward in sound from where they left off after 2008’s Beyond Colossal (featured here), coming back after a stretch of time that in hindsight they made short. Propulsive unto themselves in the sphere of heavy rock, people clapping along to Sebastian Olsson’s drums. Their show with High Desert Queen and Gozu in Boston last night precedes them much as it did Gozu, put there were clearly people in the crowd who’ve never seen Dozer before, one can only hope they come back again. Bonus, the train platform was open, so I got to watch from there for a minute too. Enough to witness a light mosh taking shape for the last song.
Green Lung
I wouldn’t hazard to predict the future, but Green Lung look like they’re in it for the long haul. Stage presence enough that I don’t feel ridiculous imagining them playing festivals like this 20 years from now. They could probably play “Mountain Throne” then too. Their organic cultistry, nature-worship and on-stage harmonies were on point, and though I knew all of that would be the case going into the set, it was exciting to see them play songs from last Fall’s This Heathen Land (review here) and take advantage of the full breadth of their sound and a reach that only seems to be expanding. Part of the appeal is that they’re over the top, and they are, but there’s so much raw talent on stage when they play, and they’re clearly learning how to wield it. This is their first US tour. I have a hard time imagining it will be their last. “Maxine (Witch Queen),” “Old Gods,” “Hunters in the Sky,” “Graveyard Sun.” Fucking “Let the Devil In.” Everything they played sounded like it could’ve been on a greatest hits collection. Hooks and performance. They made it a show. It was a spectacle, classic metal in many ways, some of them theatrical, but brought to life with its own take on both conceptual and stylistic traditions.
Truckfighters
This was my moment to both have and eat cake. Truckfighters went on five whole minutes before High Desert Queen. The Ruins (outside) stage is about a minute’s walk from the Texas room, so I watched the start of Truckfighters and then went back and forth for the duration. Acid King was getting started soon enough as well, so it’s probably the most ‘go’ moment of the fest, at least for me, but those are three different parties you want to be at. Truckfighters aren’t the only band this weekend whose reputation precedes them, and they had the biggest crowd of the night outside — also at some point it became night; when may or may not be clear in the photos — and another mosh. Surprising amount of mish this year. It’s like New York is extra antsy since the Saint Vitus Bar closed, which is reasonable, frankly. I got to see Truckfighters do “The Chairman,” and that was justification enough for the back and forth, a mellower vibe in the buildup to the payoff, as opposed to some of their stuff, which is more pure shove and roll. A reputation well and continually earned. Weren’t they recording an album? Or is that just me hoping for a thing?
High Desert Queen
Just a blast of a band. For a good time, call. Up from Austin, they’re on the already noted tour with Dozer and Gozu, playing in support of this Spring’s Palm Reader (review here), their second album and first for Magnetic Eye. Those songs rightly featured heavily in the set, which started 30 seconds after I walked into the Texas room like it was on cue. Tight, heavy groove, nothing too fancy stylistically — I always hear some C.O.C. in their sound, one way or the other, and that was true tonight, but not the end of the story as regards their sound either. You can hear the influence of pre- and turn of the century heavy — if I held up Dozer and Acid King as examples, I’m not discounting the relevance of either’s present work in doing that; I’m just thinking of when they got going — and you can tell watching them that they’re into it. Not everybody on stage is dancing around like vocalist Ryan Garney might be to a given riff from guitarist Rusty Miller, but he, bassist Morgan Miller and drummer Phil Hook were right there too in the moment on stage. It was great to see, and even against Truckfighters on the bill, the room filled up.
Acid King
Fair to say Acid King remain at a crucial moment about a year and a half out from Beyond Vision (review here), which was my pick for album of the year last December — not just me, they topped the year-end poll as well. I’m not worried they’re about to immediately do another record right away — you never know, but Beyond Vision was eight years after 2015’s Middle of Nowhere Center of Everywhere (discussed here, review here), and that was down from 10. But the reason I’m saying see Acid King now isn’t just that Lori S. is a hero and bassist/synthesist Bryce Shelton and drummer Jason Willer are so dead on in the nod, but it’s the songs they’re playing from Beyond Vision. The material itself. “Mind’s Eye” and “Destination Psych.” Closing with that insane build from “Color Trails?” Come on. Any chance you’re afforded, see this band.
Russian Circles
Chicago instrumentalist forerunners Russian Circles came out with a burst, hitting hard in the spirit of 2022’s Gnosis (review here) and building outward from there in multiple directions. Post-hardcore is part of it, but so is psychedelic rock and the occasional time-to-crush bit of riffery, and they’ve found a way to keep structured songs from falling into a verse/chorus trap. They genuinely sound like a band who listen to more kinds of music than the kind they make, amd benefit from it in being able not just to pay loud or quiet, but evoke a different feel from song to song. A lot of anything would have been a comedown after Acid King, but Russian Circles in the headlining spot had a level of volume that was their own as much as their sound, and as it had been a while, I was glad to watch them, or at least listen in a spot where the strobe wasn’t quite so fast. Even as Desertfest draws down, it delivers. There were even more bubbles.
—
It was good to see old friends, new friends, and Desertfest friends, since as the years have gone on I’ve found there are people I see here and that’s it. I take that as a good sign — though I suspect I’d see more people if I went out more — since it means people are coming back, which is the ideal. Desertfest delivered a show to New York a show and a lineup worthy of the Desertfest brand, and I hope it continues to bring European acts over each year as it did in 2024 with Dozer, Spaceslug, Green Lung, Domkraft, Truckfighters, Belzebong, even Amenra. They’ve been working to build a sense of community since the inception, and between killer shows and returning patrons, I’d say they’re on their way.
A note about the Texas stage today before I leave off. I only got (some) photos of High Desert Queen, but I did get to pop in for some of Beinn and Trace Amount as well. I’d never seen either, so at least a few songs. Beinn were a pleasant surprise, kind of a heavy-ended post-hardcore thing, I heard some noise rock and some Cave In, and they went for it on stage, as did Brooklyn industrialist Trace Amount, whose studio work I’ve dug in a kind of machine-misanthropic vibe. On stage, it’s just Brandon Gallagher, and he was all-in, pacing back and forth and throwing himself around, screaming and in the crowd headbanging. It was by no means packed, but I respect the one-man show for sure. Not easy to keep up energy when you’re by yourself. Ask a standup comedian. Tower headlined the room and they continue to make a party out of trad metal in a way that is only endearing.
Thank you to Reece, Sarika, and the Desertfest crew. Thank you to Tim Bugbee, Dante Torrieri, the Great Tomoko, and Sean in the photo pit, and I’m sorry for taking up space. Thanks to everybody who said hi or something nice about the site — or both — and I can’t tell you how warm and welcoming it felt to be in a place where I felt like what I do matters to someone, even just a little bit. Thank you. Thank you for reading. And thanks, as always and most of all, to The Patient Mrs., though whom all things are possible.
More pics after the jump. And I’m mostly taking tomorrow (Monday) off to catch up on writing. Back Tuesday. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go take a 90-minute shower.
Posted in Whathaveyou on June 26th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Reliably certain you’re in for a good time when Truckfighters take the stage. Doesn’t matter where you might run into them, and they seem to have an endless supply of drummers to accompany bassist/vocalist Oskar Cedermalm and guitarist Niklas Källgren, which is certainly useful. But I’ve been fortunate enough to see them on multiple occasions and in multiple contexts over the last decade-plus since they first came to the States, and have never, not once, walked away disappointed.
Anchored around previously confirmed slots at Desertfest New York and Ripplefest Texas — not taking away from the gig they’re doing with Acid King on Philly, mind you — this tour is by no means the most expansive the Swedish fuzzlords have undertaken in the 20-plus years since their first split EP came out in 2003, but anytime they hit US shores it’s going to be worth showing up for the show they’re going to deliver.
Truckfighters took a hiatus from Feb. 2018 to March 2019, and since touring became possible again post-pandemic in 2022, their focus has continued to be on live activity such that their most recent studio album, V (review here), is now eight years old, having been issued in 2016. Last I saw them was at the tail end of 2022 in Stockholm at their own Fuzz Festival#3 (review here) and in addition to building up that event — the initial lineup for this year was announced last week; Truckfighters will play, as well as 1000mods, Siena Root, Slomosa, Witchrider, Domkraft, Steak, 10,000 Years, Bottenhavet, Daevar, High Desert Queen (returning), Håndgemeng and Grand Atomic — and touring, they also keep plenty busy releasing bands through their label, Fuzzorama Records. Not by any means inactive, is what I’m saying, even if it’s been a minute since they pressed up an LP.
Dates follow, as per socials:
🔥USA tour🔥 This September we’ll do a bunch of shows from previously announced Desertfest NY to Ripplefest Texas. It’s been a good wile since last time in North America, we are stoked to the max and sure hope you are too! Spread the word, enjoy the fuzz!