KALEO Endures Record-Breaking Heat for Sold-Out Night at Red Butte Garden

Most concerts are remembered for the music and the artist, others are remembered for the conditions surrounding them.

 

KALEO’s stop at Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre on Sunday night might just be remembered for both by the fans who attended. 

 

Earlier in the day, Salt Lake City reached 109 degrees, setting a new all-time high temperature. While most sane people sought refuge indoors, thousands of Kaleo fans made their way to the sold-out amphitheatre, determined not to let the historic heat ruin an evening celebrating the 10th anniversary of A/B, the album that launched the Icelandic rock band onto the international stage.

 

Water bottles, handheld fans and every patch of shade became valuable commodities as fans filled the amphitheater. Dawes opened the evening beneath an unforgiving sun, helping ease the crowd into the night despite the 100 plus degree temperatures that that slowly retreated into the  90s during their set.

 

By the time KALEO took the stage, the sun was beginning to sink behind the Wasatch Mountains, and with it came welcome relief. Temperatures gradually settled into the 80s as darkness fell, though a warm breeze rolled through the amphitheatre late in the evening reminding fans of the summer heatwave.

 

Rather than treating the A/B 10th Anniversary Tour as a nostalgic look backward, KALEO struck a balance between honoring the record that introduced them to much of the world while showcasing how the band has continued to evolve. The set featured 10 songs from A/B, mixed seamlessly with selections from Surface Sounds and the band’s newest release, Mixed Emotions.

 

The set kicked off with “Still No Good” before quickly shifting into “Bloodline,” signaling that this wouldn’t simply be an anniversary performance. Throughout the night, favorites including “Broken Bones,” “All the Pretty Girls,” “Hot Blood,” and “No Good” drew strong reactions from the Red Butte crowd, while newer songs such as “USA Today,” “Back Door,” and “Rock ‘n’ Roller” proved that KALEO’s creative songs hit just as hard with the fans as the favorites.

JJ Julius Son once again showcased why his voice has become one of the band’s defining trademarks. Effortlessly moving between soulful blues and gritty rock, his vocals filled the natural surroundings of Red Butte Garden perfectly. The intimate setting of the amphitheater complemented the band’s performance, allowing quieter moments to feel just as powerful as the heavier numbers.

 

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came after the band left the stage following “No Good.” As the crowd erupted in applause, KALEO returned for a two-song encore. JJ walked to a piano emblazoned with the band’s name across the front and took a seat as the opening notes of “Way Down We Go” echoed through the mountainside. Thousands of fans joined in, transforming the band’s signature hit into a powerful singalong beneath the summer sky.

The encore concluded with “Rock ‘n’ Roller,” a fitting choice that pointed toward KALEO’s future while closing the chapter on an evening centered around the album that changed everything for them.

On a scorcher of a day that rewrote Salt Lake City’s weather record books, KALEO gave fans another reason to remember July 12. While the temperatures may have made headlines, it was the music that capped off the hottest day in Salt Lake City memory.