Last year, the band behind the hit track Way Down We Go filmed a very special concert movie which has just released this weekend.
KALEO: Viva Roma – In the Shadow of the Colosseum takes place in front of the ancient Roman landmark and marks the Icelandic blues rockers’ 10th anniversary performance.
The intimate gig followed KALEO’s creative tendency to perform in breathtaking live settings, having previously filmed inside a dormant volcano and atop a floating iceberg.
Daily Express sat down with frontman Jökull Júlíusson (JJ) to chat about how the unprecedented access came about, opening for the Rolling Stones and more.
Booking the Colosseum for a concert film can’t have been easy?
Yes, it was definitely challenging. Very surreal. Definitely a dream of mine. A big part of making that happen was having some really great friends in Rome that helped out a lot. I definitely wanted to do this for a while, to play this site. It was a very intimate gig. Fans came from all over the world. We had people from every continent except Antarctica there.
You’ve opened for the Rolling Stones on a number of occasions – what an honour that must be?
We’ve been doing that for about 10 years. Originally, Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese were doing this HBO TV series called Vinyl, and they used my track No Good for the trailer. And I guess Mick is a fan of our stuff, and obviously a lot of bands open for the Stones, but when we were asked, that was a no-brainer. It was really, really pleasant. We’ve always loved doing those shows on that scale, just to see how far they’ve come in over 60 years as the biggest rock and roll band in the world. So that’s been great. And we’ve had the chance to sit down with Mick and Keith and have a 1-on-1 with them. It’s an honour to open for them. It’s just mind-blowing that they keep going. It’s like they’re immortal. They still sound amazing. And I don’t know where Mick gets the energy, but it’s definitely impressive. It’s something to be inspired by, for young bands… And when performing, you know you are opening for the Stones and everybody there is just there to see the Stones. They don’t really give a f***, so it’s definitely a challenge, I’ll say that. So, yeah, the best and the worst gig you can do! But it’s enjoyable.
Some Kaleo songs project some very strong emotions. I’m guessing that’s not just coming from nowhere?
I vary between fiction and daydreaming and then also some very direct songs when I do have a message and there is a theme. So not always. At the end of the day, I like melodies the most. I mean, I like classical music without words. But then again, there’s something very special about hearing a Bob Dylan song where you can take it away with both a great melody and a very strong message that can really resonate with people and move them. So I like to do both. And I just also get sick of doing the same thing over and over again. I don’t like that. I like the variety. And I think if you listen to my albums, they’ll have many colours.
You’ve released an album this year, so I’m guessing the next one’s a while away?
Yeah, hopefully not as long as usual. But the thing is, it’s just tough finding the time. But no, we’re excited. We’re trying to get into the studio before the end of the year, and get some work done, and we’re kind of taking a break for the first time since the pandemic. A break from touring heavily. Everybody needed one, but we’re excited to get back to the studio and start working again.
KALEO: Viva Roma – In the Shadow of the Colosseum is available to watch on StagePlayer+ here.
