Norwegian sextet Kaizers Orchestra’s infectious and theatrical alternative-rock transcends language barriers. The group is a sell-out show commodity in Scandinavia, but has also garnered a devoted audience in Europe and beyond.
The band is now knocking on the doors of the USA with a select run of east coast dates, including the Lincoln Theatre in DC on Tuesday, Oct. 8, for their first American tour.
Despite its lyrics only being sung in Norwegian, Kaizers Orchestra’s quirky, conceptually ambitious, and triumphant music — a synthesis of Scandinavian and Eastern European folk influences turbo-charged by high-energy indie rock — is broadly resonant.
After a hiatus from 2013 to 2023, Kaizers Orchestra have made a tremendous comeback and have since completed a four-month, 56-date Norwegian reunion tour that sold 82,000 tickets in under 15 minutes.
“I live my life, create my art, and perform from a true place. It’s like I am standing on an oil barrel shouting a message that maybe not every person understands, but they feel the energy,” said Janove Ottesen, the group’s singer and principal composer. “Sometimes you can communicate feelings without words. For example, I love French music and Latin music, and I don’t speak those languages. Being authentic to my life means singing in Norwegian, but the vibe and what I am trying to communicate is universal.”
Watch Kaizers Orchestra’s special message to their audience in America via YouTube:
Kaizers Orchestra has been on a winning streak for more than two decades now. Yet this is their first USA tour and only the second time they will play the States at all. The band earned a cult American following amplified by its one-and-done 2013 performance at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was covered as a high-profile debut by The New York Times.
Kaizers Orchestra formed in 2000 and the band members are Janove Ottesen, lead vocals, guitars, percussion; Geir Zahl, guitars, vocals, backing vocals, oil barrel; Terje Winterstø Røthing, guitars, backing vocals, oil barrel; Helge Risa, organ, piano, accordion, backing vocals; Rune Solheim, drums, percussion; and Øyvind Storesund, double bass, bass guitar.
These are their only five USA dates for now:
October 2 The Sinclair Boston MA
October 4 Sony Hall NYC NY
October 8 Lincoln Theatre Washington DC
October 13 Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
October 15 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA
Parklife recommends you catch their premiere DC date.
Kaizers Orchestra
Lincoln Theatre
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Doors @ 6:30pm
$35/$45
All ages