Way Down We Go 10th Anniversary Tour 2026: KALEO w/ Vincent Lima
- Phantom Light Media
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
I, like many others in the States, first heard of KALEO when their single “Way Down We Go” went on its multi-platinum run across the world back in 2015. Featured on the Icelandic band’s second studio album, A/B, which released the following year, the band launched into a multi-year string of tours that gave the blues rock 4-piece a dedicated following that has lasted all the way to the present day. Now, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their largest album release, they’re once again touring the U.S. and Europe with a variety of regional openers and new takes on some of their most well-known tracks.
Outlaw Field is arguably the most beautiful venue in the Boise area, set right next to the historic Old Idaho Penitentiary and the Boise foothills to south and east, and offering a perfect view of the summer sunsets over the city to the west. However, as with any outdoor venue, it’s of course subject to the whims of the weather on any given day. The day of July 10th was hot. Very hot. The high had cracked the triple digit mark at a scorching 100 degrees, and even by the time the show started at 7 P.M., it had only cooled to about 98. Still, the sheer number of people willing to lay out blankets and lawn chairs to bask in the blazing sun was a testament to the hype surrounding the upcoming show.
The Way Down We Go tour features six different opening acts, rotating in and out throughout the tour. The opener for this leg of the tour was L.A.-based folk artist Vincent Lima. Switching between the piano and guitar and joined by just a single cellist, his set was filled with mostly melancholy ballads about love and all of its associated heartbreak and grief. The somber yet soulful tone was a perfect way to start the evening given the oppressive heat. That said, there was still a decent crowd up at the rail. As the sun sank there was more shade around the stage, which provided some welcome relief for those standing at the front. Lima’s powerful vocals fit the simple instrumental arrangement well, and made the set feel very intimate despite the scale of the stage and venue. Being the only opener meant Lima’s set could stretch to a healthy 40 minutes or so, just short enough to not outlast its own vibe and overstay its welcome.
KALEO took the stage after a brief intermission, bringing the energy that had catapulted their landmark album onto the global stage. Lead singer Jökull “JJ” Júlíusson’s vocal range and talent haven’t changed much in the last decade, and if anything his voice has grown slightly richer with age. They also showed off some new takes on old A/B classics, such as a slowed version of “No Good.” With the sun finally setting and the temperature dropping significantly, more of the crowd was up on their feet and dancing all throughout the venue. The lighting on stage became much more dynamic and moody, and the pace ebbed and flowed as JJ transitioned between the guitar and piano. Coming in at just over an hour long, KALEO’s set was tight but varied. I honestly felt that they could have played longer and still kept the attention of the crowd, especially with the revitalization brought on by the twilight hours.
As a whole, the only thing holding the show back was the scorching heat, which put a particular damper on its first half. However, that's the risk you take when attending an outdoor concert, and the setting of Outlaw Field still made the show much more memorable than if it had been held in one of Boise’s more generic indoor venues. Overall, I would highly recommend catching the Way Down We Go tour if you haven’t yet and have the chance. KALEO proved that they can still bring just as much energy and talent to the stage now as they did all those years ago.
Photos & Review By: Eric Gibson