Les Big Byrd & Sulfate – Double Whammy: March 24, 2026 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Les Big Byrd, part of the European Experimental and Art Rock genre alongside acts like Neu!, Hawkwind, Deus and dare I say it, The Killers.
Formed in 2011, by indie scene stalwarts Joakim Åhlund – Vocals & guitar, Frans Johansson – Bass, Nino Keller – Drums and Christian Olsson – Synth & Keyboards. They have an affiliation with The Brian Jonestown Massacre, with Newcombe appearing on and releasing their debut album They Worshipped Cats in 2014, on his A Records label, and the band playing with them regularly. This is their first time in Aotearoa, first in Australia too, and another Tuesday night show, that’s three in a row, so far…
Sulfate
Sulfate, once a solo act, then a duo, now a trio, led by Peter Ruddell and featuring drummer David Harris, both previously in Wax Chattells. It’s anthemic, a lead in theme song, then a song, proper, fit for a stadium, but on a smaller stage, about wanting, Ruddell is swinging his guitar. They have 30 minutes, so the pace is spritely. The bass comes in heavy, no guitar just twin maracas and even heavier reverb on the vocals. It’s got a dark rhythm, a touch of electronica, but Ruddell can’t not have his axe and it’s back on the post punk emo nag.
The Wax Chattels ghost is never far away, it’s those rhythms, the drums beats. Atmospheric like a Joy Division banger. On the downbeat, a song where the A.I. references to Low and Codeine are generated. Ernest words pacing deliberate, guitar segmentation as the axe swings. The music floats into the next, a moment of pause, a single word – Bravado. Last song. Samples and the krautrock drumbeat. Bassline backbeat. with squealing guitar, inserted strategically and sonic rhythms teased. 30 minutes of show and tell, a taster, a teaser of a Sulfate 2026.
Les Big Byrd
Vocalist Frans Johansson is chatty off the bat, as they launch into two new songs, yet unreleased. The first of the two has a soundcheck feel to it, but cometh the second, a krautrock beat, energized guitar and synth sound steps up the crowd. Songs we might know, the crowd tonight are likely fans and the fascinated, Double Whammy is half-full, but full of furore.
Thankfully, as part of his repertoire with the audience, Johansson introduces many of tonight’s songs, but not all. I Used to Be Lost but Now I’m Just Gone from their 2022 album Eternal Light Brigade is full of hooks, guitar, keys and drums. It triggers the crowd, as does Diamonds, Rhinestones and Hard Rain from the 2024 album of the same name.
Renowned Swedish politeness is on show as as Johansson changes guitar he almost asks if we mind. Not all tonight is in English, an older song, possibly Vi borde prata men det är för sent starts with a delicious keyboard intro, it has a driven melody, and an addictive rockism too it. The link to Brian Jonestown Massacre is voiced, and delivered as they cover Vad hände med dem?, more danceable, one of their ‘best in show’ efforts. A song, a faceless song, starts with a slow groove, rhythmic very CAN keys, and drums screaming NEU! It’s a space rock trip for the crowd, as it took many twists and turns, and turns out to be another banger.
Roundhouse Blues is dedicated to Johnny, the link is not given, from their 2016 Liquid Sky EP. A song with a psychedelic vibe, a keyboarded hook, with a Cowboy Country beat is followed by the wonderfully titled I Fucked Up I Was a Child, a return to a more art-rock sound. Not quite the end, as an early single, a love song? – Two Man Gang is launched as their best, their last song, the chorus line reverberates the room “Our gang is just you and me, everyone else can go to hell”
Tonight Les Big Byrd swung between magic and mediocre, magic in the psychedelic and krautrock, mediocre in the formulaic rock, the player pedigree was never in doubt, but I had wished for more magic tonight.
Simon Coffey
Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Brenna Jo Gotje:
Les Big Bird:
Sulfate:
