Last time Mando Diao were in town, they completely outshone the one-trick lame pony of The Bravery in a rocking yet unassuming support slot, just seeming pleased to have been given the chance to stay up late with the big boys. This time, it was their night and their night alone (New York support band Diamond Nights’ laconic Darkness impression could quickly be discounted), and they bounded on stage to multiple feedback squeals and crashed straight into the set with the exuberant, frenetic head-shaking excitement, last seen by Chachi when he was finally allowed to grace the Happy Days stage at Arnolds. "Seeing Mando Diao live is like going to church. Our fans get the same feeling from us that some people get from religion" is the opening quote on the band’s biog. Normally this kind of hyperbolic promo spiel is to be ignored but looking around the Roadhouse, every which way you turned you could see people with eyes closed, hands raised in prayer, singing along, completely lost in the moment, bouncing away like altar kids, infused with the punk-rock and roll spirit of the Scandinavian messiahs before them. Mando Diao have completely mastered the art of making you want more, each track hooks you instantly, you get swept up in the killer riffs and searching vocals from dual frontmen Gustaf Norén and Björn Dixgård. In a packed house, there wasn’t a song went by that the whole crowd didn’t know the words to - God Knows from latest album Hurricane Bar storming through as a major favourite. You don’t find any Westlife-esque crassness in these love songs – you get dirty great big crashing exultations of blatant want and you really can’t say no. I’m still bouncing… |