Here is a funny story.
Last year me and Mrs. Void were supposed to meet up with big Ripple Music label
boss Todd in San Francisco
as we visited the city on our vacation. All was set but when the day arrived it
all fell apart because of the San Francisco Marathon that clogged up the whole
city. So we never managed to get together.
One year later in Stockholm. We arrive in
the Swedish capital in the afternoon to attend the first ever Ripple Fest in Sweden. Todd
and his lovely wife Corrine (aka Mrs. Ripple) are traveling the Scandinavian peninsula. To celebrate that three of the
Scandinavian Ripple bands, Vokonis, Craneium and Kingnomad, are putting
together the Ripple Fest event. Perfect time to try again to meet up with Todd.
As we make our way
through the city we notice that lots of streets are being closed down for
traffic. When we arrive at the hotel the hotel manager asked if we are staying
for the marathon. It turns out the track runs right through central Stockholm
and as it turns out right outside our hotel and Todd's hotel over in the Old
Town. Oh, the irony.
Anyway. After finding
our way to Todd and Corrine's hotel happy greetings and hugs were exchanged. We went for a dinner with very traditional Swedish cuisine (and schnapps).
Meeting Todd is like finding my lost twin brother. Lots to talk about. And Mrs.
Ripple and Mrs. Void quickly connected sharing the same traumas of living with
record collecting and nerdy husbands. Good times.
Later on. We ride the
subway to Copperfields that is the venue for the evening where the Ripple Fest
is going down. Now I have attended lots of gigs in my days but this turned out
to be something very special. Minutes after arriving all wet because of a
wonderful autumn rain we see Johnny from Kingnomad. Todd and Johnny look at
each other and just smile. The rest of the nomads arrive and a big jolly hug
bonanza commences. Epic moment. The dudes from Craneium join the fun and more
hugs are being exchanged. I have never hugged so many bearded men in one night
in my life. Love is everywhere.
Enter Simon and
Vokonis. This is really special. One year ago Simon and I were standing in
front of the stage at the Wizard Of Fuzz Festival talking about Vokonis
needing a record deal for their second album. I told him I’d tell Ripple about
them and he kind of laughed it off. Well I did just that and you all can guess
what happened next. “The Sunken Djinn” is one of Ripple Music's heaviest
releases in 2017. I still can’t believe that all that happened but I’m happy it
did.
Anyway. The band
enters the venue dripping wet from the pouring rain and more epic moments
happen. Seeing Simon and Todd hug each other is one of the sweetest moments I
have ever witnessed during my years as a writer and radio DJ. It’s like they've
known each other for an eternity.
Then I get to hug even
more bearded men, meeting lots of cool people from Domkraft, Nekromant and
other power players in the heavy underground and even
more love is in the air.
After inspecting the
official event t-shirt, the wonderful blue vinyl second pressing of “The Sunken
Djinn”, discussing new music with Kingnomad and planning the next Craneium
release it’s about time for some live music right? You bet.
First band of the
evening on stage is the mighty Kingnomad. They deliver a truly stellar set
nailing all the details in the songs from the album without losing the power
and might of the tracks from “Mapping the Inner Void” and then they premiere a
brand new track that is just as good as everything else they've ever released. The
band rocks the Copperfield so hard that I’m starting to wonder how the hell
someone is going to be able to top them. 
Well Craneium takes
the challenge. Our friends from Finland
put on a spectacular live experience with their heavy, fuzz driven stoner rock.
The guitars are loud and distorted and heads bang furiously. Very impressive.
The clock has passed
well beyond midnight when Vokonis enters the stage. Now once again I am
wondering how the hell someone is going to top the previous band but I do
not need to worry. At all. Vokonis is just crushing it. Simon's riffs are ten
ton hammers and Emil and Jonte are laying down the groove of doom. More
headbanging in front of the stage and the total love for Ripple Music is in the
air. You can inhale it.
After the gig we all
get together outside Copperfields and more hugs are exchanged. As we gather for
a group picture of the Scandinavian Ripple Family I just feel happiness. Just
pure happiness. I’m happy to get to meet Todd and Corrine, Vokonis, Kingnomad
and Craneium. I’m happy that music can unite people from all over the world.
I’m happy that I got to be a part of all this.
It is called the
Ripple Family. Because it truly is.
-The Void
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