Hojdare from Hellbillies.

Photo: Tormod Sperstad

There have been several signed Hellbillies concerts below over the years, but I have never heard or seen the band perform as well as they did during this year’s Malakoff.

Expectations ahead of Friday’s concert at Nordfjordeid, on the other hand, weren’t great, after several concert-goers whispered in my ear earlier this summer that the Hellbillies sometimes seem a bit bored and lackluster on stage these days.

But it’s the complete opposite of the lackluster band we witness on this awful Malakoff night. You know how well they deliver for a packed festival area and the crowds are so good natured and singing all the time.

It sits like a bullet from the first note in the opening track Hit the toe with the arrow, and all the way out. That’s experienced. Sometimes raw. And it’s never boring. Aslag doesn’t really speak in our heads, but he never does either. That’s also unnecessary. Here comes the song, the lyrics, and the most important group of talented musicians.

It’s extra fun to watch good old songs that are still allowed to develop in a form dressed up in new arrangements. Even Rotten sounds so fresh in a very tough horse jazz-ish beat.

If allowed to poke ørlite cypress, in this case it sure can be a little too safe at times. And it would be nice to attend a concert without it The most beautiful I knowthough it might be like cursing at Hellbillies church.

Two clear highlights: Stein/Stones-tough Stone soilas well as the fattest version of the Marshall Tucker classic ever Fire On The Mountain (Sour as Rowans). And then it should be allowed for a middle-aged bassist to choose another bassist for once: the world you’re working on, Mr. Stemkens! And your world is so good that you added the songs.