Live report KATATONIA, SÓLSTAFIR & SOM, Gruenspan, Hamburg – February 22nd, 2023

Hamburg is not exactly known as a carnival hotspot and yet, today’s concert event fits very well for Ash Wednesday.

With Katatonia, Sólstafir and SOM there are three bands in town, which do not exactly stand for the colorful fifth season. Rather, the bands are dedicated to the rather dark sounds, which are musically sophisticated and at the same time catchy.

The three bands will perform tonight at Gruenspan, one of the legendary clubs in Hamburg. Already before the start it is clear that we have to do with a sold out event and at 7 p.m., when SOM enter the stage, the room is already well crowded.

I didn’t know SOM until this very moment, but this will change with today’s show. SOM play a blend of shoegaze, alternative metal and doom. Wrapped in a greenish stage light the guys play a 30-minute set which is quite inspiring. I don’t know how many of those present knew the band from the United States, but SOM can certainly gain new fans. Heavy guitar riffs collide with rather melancholic emo melodies, which will also impress the one or other fan of the co-headlining bands. I have to think a few times of bands like Deftones while enjoying these songs and after half an hour SOM are given a proper goodbye with applause.

After a change-over, the stage is prepared for Sólstafir. The Icelanders start with’Náttmál’ into their set. The 12-minute song contains everything the band and their music is about and is a well received start into 70 minutes of music, which is characterized by vehement outbursts as well as soulful passages in which you could hear a needle drop.

The crowd adapts seamlessly to this sonic range. From clap-along moments, to headbanging, to spellbound listening, the fans experience everything that such a show can offer. This is also fueled by Aðalbjörn Tryggvason who doesn’t miss the opportunity to climb into the pit to be up close to the fans. In addition, he is in constant contact with the crowd, which is not only limited to some announcements, but also has a lot to do with gestures and mimics.

Moreover, this evening holds a special moment when frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason has something to announce. Guitarist Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson celebrates his birthday today and of course the fans attending the show don’tmiss the chance to serenade him with a loud ‘Happy Birthday’.

Solstafir offer a set tonight that reflects all phases of the band and includes with ‘Rökkur’ only one song from the latest album. Even after a long tour, the band presents itself still enthusiastic and fully committed, which everyone in the hall appreciates very much.

Now it’s up to Katatonia to pick up the spirit and build on it. It’s already relatively warm at Gruenspan which is reflected by condensing water on the ceiling. Even the relatively cool performance of the main band doesn’t change this.

Katatonia start with ‘Austerity’, the opener of the new album ‘Sky Void of Stars’, into their set. The ingenious new song is placed rightly at the beginning of the set, but the sound is not optimal at this point, which doesn’t help the brilliance of the song. Speaking of brilliance. As not to be expected differently, with Katatonia it is the music that is in the foreground and not the musicians. With a lot of light from behind and zero lighting from the front, the five guys can only be recognized in silhouette and sometimes wrapped in stage haze.

With ‘Colossal Shade’ the second new song follows right away, while the band then embarks on a journey back in time to the ‘Dead End Kings’ album by playing ‘Lethean’. Even if the band leaves out the first albums, tonight’s show goes back to the 2003 album ‘Viva Emptiness’ with ‘Evidence’, which is very much appreciated by the fans in the audience.

With ‘My Twin’ is also one of the best songs of Katatonia on the setlist of this evening and it is singer Jonas Renkse who announces the tune in an entertaining way. With a little self-irony he tells about ‘My Twins’ as the have-to-know song of the band. But since Katatonia is still a young band there is plenty of time to compose another hit in the future. And that ‘My Twin’ is well known is shown by fans singing along, an unique moment this evening.

Slowly the show comes to an end and even before Katatonia comes back on stage for two encores you can see the first fans streaming towards the dressing room to pick up their jackets. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that this three-band tour package harmonized well, and pleased fans are the ones who make their way home again around 23.00 o’clock.