Could there have been anything sexier at The Great Escape than four Scandinavian lovelies playing oompah?
Katzenjammer – German for a cat’s wail – were greeted with wolf whistles when they first emerged, but left the stage to rapturous applause after flying through a whistle-stop musical tour of the first half of the 20th century.
The Norwegians swapped instruments and lead vocals throughout a set that took in doo-wop harmonies, Weill-esque melody, ragtime and mariachi madness. The audience adored them, but this wasn’t simply a victory of impeccable style over substance; the arrangements were fantastic, and the musicianship (on trumpet, accordion, ukulele, balalaika bass, and many more) accomplished. It’s incredible to think they’re self-taught on some 29 instruments.
Their secret weapon is the sheer range of voices within the band. Each singer was different from the last, from sultry torch songs to the roaring country stomp of Ain’t No Thang.
Quite easily the most fun I had over the festival, this was a set spoilt only by the mannered, “ironic” dancing of the coiffured fools around me.
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