Strom (actually spelled with an umlaut over the “o”, but my North American keyboard can’t handle that…..lol) are a Swedish band hailing from Vaxjo (also with umlauts….stupid keyboard). They began less than three years ago so their Bandcamp page tells me, and have one album in their catalog, 2022’s self-titled.
Normally I’m not overly excited about bands and music that’s in a foreign language. I’m not a super lyrics-analyzing or even intently listening-to type of guy. But I do like to be able to recognize and understand some words, especially in a chorus so I might sing along too. That all said, Strom never really crossed my path until about 2 months ago. I was hosting my regular weekly live stream video and radio show when a listener requested a song by them. That listener, Nathan had recently discovered the band when they set the stage for Bullet, another wicked Swedish band. BTW, I’ve been able to see Bullet twice, both at Sweden Rock Festival including my very first in 2013! Nathan requested the song “Ta Mig Tillbaks“. Wow, what a jam! I liked it right away, even though I couldn’t understand a friggin’ word! I was sold and actually bought the album right there during my live show! Incidentally, that means “Take Me Back” according to Google Translate.
Reminded of a Great Canadian
Now I was excited to see them at Sweden Rock! I arrived at the Pistonhead stage in the tent about 10 minutes ahead of stage time. There I met up with Nathan, the very same song requester from my show. We took up a position in the center but back about 15 or so people maybe. The sound was actually better in this region, although I didn’t necessarily notice it as poor anywhere else I’d been for other shows in the tent.
The band genuinely seemed very happy to be up there on stage. I was struck by a personal moment in which I recalled Gerry Mcghee. Gerry was the singer of the Canadian band and friends Brighton Rock. Sadly he passed away of cancer back in August of 2020. But the reason he floated into my thoughts as my foot tapped away and my head bobbed to the hard rock outputs was the mic. Strom‘s vocalist held half a mic stand, much the way Gerry used to do on stage. I can’t say I’ve seen that too often, if at all aside from these two.
Music is the Only Language We Need!
As it turns out it didn’t really matter that I didn’t understand the words, Nathan and I sort of made up our own lyrics based on the general sounds of the words. Fists raised high, beers cheers-ing, Nathan and I were having a great time with Strom. With only one album, I will assume that the nine songs they played all came off the debut. But looking on setlist.fm there seems to be one that does not appear on the album. “Kicken” which translates to “Kick” is perhaps a new song…..I’m on the case!
Unfortunately at this point in the day, things began to take their toll on me. The tiredness swayed into exhaustion. The Swedish sun had bronzed any exposed areas of lily-white Canadian skin, adding to the sapped energy. I started to fade on my feet near the end of the set. But I soldiered through, emboldened by this high energy-straightforward hard rock juggernaut.
I’m pretty sure the band was very happy with the crowd responses, in fact, I’m sure I saw the vocalist shedding tears of joy. I know I was close. What a show, good enough to place as my #2 favourite of all Sweden Rock 2023!
Ready for My Next Strom Gig!
Returning home and back to my live stream video/radio show, I again played “Ta Mig Tillbaks” and also “Katapult” as I spoke of how much I enjoyed the set. A listener from Sweden let me know that Strom means current or electricity…..like AC/DC. Very much the style of Strom‘s music and therefore such an appropriate name! I look forward to seeing them again soon at Time To Rock Festival in early July!
**Unfortunately with only one photo vest, CGCM photographer was busy at another stage and so I supply these crappy cell phone shots simply to add some colour to the blog**
BUY: Strom Music
STROM OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK
OFFICIAL FESTIVAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK
All of the continuing CGCM coverage of SRF 2023: LINK
Cheers,
The Meister
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I haven’t read the whole article yet but one thing really hit me.
You arrived at the tent 10 minutes before they started?
It’s funny to me because I did pretty much exactly the same thing, which makes me wonder…
did you also stand at the main stage, watching Skidrow and waiting for them to play 18 and Life?
Because that’s what I did!
Right after Skidrow finished 18 and Life, I ran for the tent so I wouldn’t miss ström, the most anticipated band of the whole festival for me.
And man, they did not dissapoint!
Great fucking show Ström!
Can’t wait for them to release another album or single or whatever, I wanna hear it either way!
Hopefully I get another chance to see them live again!
Also the one song they played that wasn’t from the debut album was and still is an unreleased single.
I’m guessing both you and Nathan didn’t speak swedish because the singer did talk about it and he was pretty funny about it, telling the audience to record it and share it.
I can’t do his speech justice so let’s just say it was funny and I obviously got my phone out and recorded it.
If a musician tells me directly to “please record and put it up online” then I’m gonna at least record it for myself, haha!
Damn great concert.
The second best on day 4 at least.
(Sorry Ström but Ghost had a fucking masterpiece of a show)
I just watched one of the videos I recorded from their concert.
The last song, Tiden Sjunger.
I remember clearly how, durikg the super stretched out part of the chorus right bore the end where the crowd just repeated “tiden sjunger, våra dagar förbi” for like 2 minutes straight., you could really see how emotional the singer got from the reception that I was sure he could break down any second.
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing or anything, I know for 100% certain that I cried tears of happiness through that whole part of the song.
Gotta add one last comment here.
I’ve just watched through my videos recorded from the concert a s looked at your pictures on this post and relised that, I was probably standing like right behind you.
Like just a few rows just behind you, your photos and my videos are from the exact same perspective but I’m a little bit further back, I recognise some of those hats and stuff that some are wearing in the crowd.
What a small world.
Hey mate! I didn’t see these comments until now, sorry about that! But Strom were awesome (saw them again at Time To Rock as well a month later). And yes, being from Toronto, Canada I didn’t understand a damn word….lol. Hoping again to catch them in 2024 somewhere. Will you be at SRF again in 2024?