Live Review: Bourbon Boys in Stockholm
Cowboy hats, flannel shirts, beards and chainsaw discussions – Bourbon Boys left the innermost part of Stockholm feeling like I’ve dropped into rural Texas.
Already when boarding the commuter ferry, I can easily differentiate which of the passengers has the same object for tonight as me. Before me walks a trio of middle-aged men dressed in flannel shirts, cowboy hats and adorning long braided beards. It’s among hundreds of people like this that I would spend the night of July 29th inside the partially outside venue of Dansbanan at Gröna Lund amusement park. Playing on stage was the critically acclaimed Swedish country-rock band Bourbon Boys.
The band was founded in 2011 by singer Per Hulkoff and guitarist Jonas Kjellgren. Both musicians started their careers in the Swedish metal scene respectively playing for bands such as Raubtier, Carnal Forge and Scar Symmetry before turning to a more old-school country sound. The band has released three albums – the third of which was released in febuary of this year after a decade long break. Back with Forever Rebels Bourbon Boys are touring Sweden and I had the pleasure to witness these old-school redneck country men in action.
The venue is a classic Swedish dansbana – a circular structure with a pointed roof and railings instead of walls. The ceiling is covered in fabrics and fairy lights and the railings borders the kids’ section of Gröna Lund amusement park. A peculiar setting for a concert one might think but crucial to the intimate feeling that was harboured at the event in my opinion.
Photo: Nora Herrgård
A loud cheer fills the venue when the bandmembers take the stage. A cowboy hat waves in the crowd and the beat of Don’t thread on me fills the park. The music is loud, rhythmic and country. Hulkoff jokes that it isn’t a concert if we don’t go without hearing for a week. The band follows up with songs such as Rolling Home, Dust & Dieselsmoke, Proud to be a Redneck and Chainsaw Brotherhood. The latter being introduced with a serious discussion of which brand of chainsaw gets the seal of approval and if using an electric one is acceptable (it is not).
As someone not too familiar with the genre of country but an avid lover of rock I did really appreciate the music. While not everything was my taste – some parts stuck with me. For example Kjellgren’s guitarwork and the steady beat. I would argue that it would be hard to be completely still to this set. Whether it is bopping your head, stomping your feet or clapping along with the bass drum – the music makes you want to move.
I always love going to concerts with a really clear audience. While you yourself might not be a part of the fanbase you still feel the energy and community in the crowd – and this is something the Bourbon Boys crowd has succeeded in. You could feel the dedication and fellowship of the people in that venue. After a decade of no new music the fanbase is still there to welcome them. At a certain point Hulkoff asks the crowd to cheer if they are country-folk. At least two thirds of all the people break out into a roar and a sea of fists and hats break into the air. We are in the centre of Sweden’s capital – in the middle of the big city – and yet almost everyone are from outside its borders. If that doesn’t show you dedication I don’t know what does.
The night ends with an encore. The two closing songs are Taxman and Hillbilly Heart to which the crowd clap and sing along to. After the band wave their final goodbyes and walk off stage a majority stay and cheer for “One more time! One more time!”.
Bourbon Boys came to the big city to do one thing and one thing only – to heighten the country spirit. And with their cowboyhats, guitar riffs and on-theme lyricism they definitely succeeded with that.
Written by: Tove Hellmalm
29-07-24. Bourbon Boys. Gröna Lund. Stockholm, Sweden.