Justin Timberlake performs during BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on May 24, 2025. Photos: Matt Pang and Sean Liming/STAFF. NAPA — The crowds at the Napa Valley Expo felt bigger and a little younger on Saturday, and there was an excitement in the air for one…

Kaleo, “Mixed Emotion.” Icelandic rock band Kaleo delivers an authentic take on throwback American rock and roll. The band’s fourth album, Mixed Emotions, draws from the Seattle sound, post-grunge, Delta blues and modern alt-rock. The band’s sound flows through vocalist Jökull Júlíusson (JJ Julius Son), whose gravelly howl is…

Iceland is a long way from Mississippi… or not. Kaleo was still in its native land when it started turning heads half a decade ago, as the band least likely not only to try playing American roots music—but also to excel at it. It’s almost like they’ve been doing it…

Kaleo performs at The Masonic in San Francisco on April 13, 2017. Alessio Neri/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Kaleo played an electric set Thursday at the Masonic to kick off several California dates, culminating in appearances at Coachella. During an hour-long set, the Icelandic blues rock band played mostly tunes off…

Kaleo performs at BottleRock in Napa on May 27, 2016. Photos: Jon Ching. The four musicians in Kaleo may be from Iceland, but they share much more sonically with American roots and blues. Vocalist JJ Julius Son, bassist Daniel Kristjansson, guitarist Rubin Pollock and drummer David Antonsson have a growing reputation for their…

Kaleo photographed at BottleRock Napa Valley, May 27, 2016. NAPA — The fourth installment of the BottleRock Napa Valley music, drink and food festival is perhaps its most cohesive, with a strong lineup from the very top with Florence and the Machine, Stevie Wonder and Red Hot Chili Peppers, all…