Gimmicks work. Especially for a live show, of course, the music has to stand on its own, but a gimmick helps. They can really enlighten the live show. Just ask the godfathers of it: KISS, Alice Cooper, even AC/DC and of course many more bands.
And so a band I’ve known for some time now was due to close out the Trailblazer tent stage on the last day of COTW. The last band to grace this stage at the 2025 festival and the band’s first time playing outside of their Norwegian homeland. It’s always a bit trepidatious approaching a show like this. I mean, I love their first album and really enjoy the second. I’ve had these guys as guests live on my radio/video livestream show. We’ve communicated on Facebook, etc, for a couple of years. By chance, meeting them in the field on Saturday, they even got me drunk as we met in person for the first time!
But what if they’re not good live? It’s happened to me before. And, yes, I was nervous, I mean, I consider these guys friends. Nonetheless, for the past three days, I had been asking folks to check out my friends from Norway and telling them not to miss Kardang.
TRAILBLAZING…
On stage, immediately I saw their gimmick…..they were all dressed in black pants, white shirts with black ties. Actually very smart and sharp-looking. Little did I know that would soon literally be torn away! Kardang launched their set of straightforward riff-charged hard rock. Instantly, I was taken by how tight they sounded, absolutely fantastic! Not only was the music delivered flawlessly, their hard-rockin’ tunes off the albums duplicated amazingly on point live, but the show was excellent. It was fun. I looked around constantly and saw folks smiling, clapping, laughing, dancing and clearly having a great time. As was I, smiling and singing away to these songs I knew so well.
The antics included players off stage, running around the barrier and into the crowd quite a few times. Every one of them with seemingly boundless energy. And these aren’t 25-year-olds, let me point out!
But vocalist Chris Williams was truly mental. It didn’t take long for him to begin his application for the Chippendale stripper dancers! He spent his time from singing note perfectly on stage to milling about in the crowd, clapping, dancing, jumping, hell, there may have even been cartwheels! When he was on stage, he also wasn’t on stage! I saw him shimmying up the large wooden pole that holds up the tent roof! And let’s be clear here, these were not “the youth” of today, they’re guys in my age range. I can’t get out of bed in the morning! As the set went on, Chris also progressively began unbuttoning his shirt, until it was stripped away, for the jokes underneath. No, that’s not a bodily insult/shame, I just don’t want to give away the particulars of the act and ruin it for you when you see Kardang.
Of the setlist, I was so happy to hear my favourite track “Junkie Jane” live and here it was enhanced as well, but the entire set started with high energy and just kept pace throughout with songs like: “We Ain’t Dead Yet” and “Don’t Let Me Drive” crisscrossing both albums.
YOU’RE WELCOME…
After the show, a friend described his thoughts, saying, “He (Chris) was as mad as a box of frogs“! Several other folks thanked me for pushing them to go and see Kardang. Thank you, Kardang, for a set that I will remember for years to come.
This was the epitome of showmanship! Fantastic fist in the air anthems delivered flawlessly and a fun, entertaining show all around. Absolutely, hands down THE band of the entire weekend!
Gotta wonder if they were on the big stage, how would that go with the “in the crowd” antics? Let’s see…..COTW? Balls in your court.
