Keyboardist Jona Tee recalled praised show in Brazil in 2023, commented on the return of vocalist Kenny Leckremo and reflected on the 18 years of career
It may even seem that the Bangers Open Airheavy metal festival that takes place this weekend in São Paulo, is in its first edition. In fact, however, the event will take the Latin American Memorial for the third time. The other two occasions were named after Summer Breeze Brasil – And right at the premiere of the event, a Swedish band climbing between the inaugural attractions, still under the heat of early afternoon, stole the scene. It was the Heatwhich is written this way only by the aesthetic charm (“Heat” means “heat” in English), not because it is an acronym.
Kenny Leckremo (voice), Dave Dalone (guitar), Jimmy Jay (low), Don Crash (battery) and JONA TEE (keyboards) make up the sound group strongly targeted at the 1980s hard rock, especially the most melodic strand. Comparisons with Bon Jovi and Whitesnake They are not uncommon, but there is their own sauce in the sound of the quintet – responsible, along with the strong presence of stage, for ensuring them a position on the list of best shows in the festival two years ago.
It is quite true that Heat, rookie like Summer Breeze in 2023, returns to Brazil to play in the early afternoon track. It will not be surprised, however, to gather an even larger audience volume in front of Hot Stage, one of the main stages of the event, on Saturday, 3, according to the three days of the show.
In chat with the Rolling Stone BrazilJona Tee, also one of the main composers and producer of the latest albums, says that the 2023 concert performed almost a “war operation”. The band only landed in Brazil on the day of the presentation, due to a delayed flight from Germany.
“We arrived at the hotel around 8 am, slept an hour, went straight to the festival at 11am, set up everything and did the show. We went behind the scenes, took some drinks and met amazing fans. The same night, we fly to Buenos Aires.”
The new old vocalist
This time, the scenario is of greater tranquility not only for logistics. The Heat comes with his second album since the very approved return of Kenny Leckremo, Welcome to the Futurelaunched last Friday, 25. If there was any insecurity with the presence of Frontman in 2023, it fell apart with the unanimous approval of that performance.
The story of the singer, it is said, is curious: he was the holder of the vacancy at the time of the founding of the group in 2007, but after three years and two albums, he went out to treat a rare cardiac condition that led him to have tachycardia. Erik Grönwall He entered his place, recorded four more works and remained until 2022, when he also walked away due to health issues. Who replaced him? Leckremo himself, who, here, today, sounds much better than in the early days.
Speaking about the “new old” vocalist, Jona Tee spares no praise. For the keyboardist, Kenny Leckremo “is a monster”, “rarely has a bad day” and “is always full of energy.”
“He’s also great in the studio. It’s just a little slow when doing his part, but what he delivers is amazing. On the road, it’s very consistent, take care of himself, exercising and everything. Behind the stage, me and others we can get a hangover no one will notice.”
And what changed on Frontman in this second pass compared to the first? According to Tee, Leckremo is “much more humble now.”
“He was not in a good time when he left. He was away for more than 10 years and at some point he seemed to have met. I know he wanted to go back. Even before, when Erik was still in the band, he sent a message saying he wanted to return. I said that we already had a little tired of the band and wanted to do other things. very.”
Welcome to the future?
Invited to talk about Welcome to the FutureJona Tee describes the new album as a natural successor of Force Majeure (2022), first album since Kenny’s return, and Heat II (2020), the last with Grönwall. Here, there are no sound experiments: it’s hard rock like the booklet, from the hits to cliché repetitions. Jona even reveals to believe that the recently released album brings “a little more music from the 1980s”-as if it were possible-and “some more dramatic songs.”
Of this work, the repertoire of the show at Bangers should bring “Disaster”, “Bad Time For Love” and perhaps some other song; possibly “Call My Name”which has gained music video more recently. Moreover, there is great chances of the quintet promoting a tour of its already robust discography of eight albums, playing tracks of almost all of them, exception made to the ugly duckling Into The Great Unknown (2017), badly received for exaggerating precisely in experiments.
If the sound of the Heat has little of the future, given the nostalgic proposal, its members look further than behind. So much so that Jona is surprised to be informed that the band is completing 18 years of existence. Instigated to reflect on this trajectory, it even takes a while to formulate an answer, but finishes:
“We had ups and downs, but you need to move on and target it. We are blessed that we traveled the world, known so many great people and touched for thousands of people. I just hope we continue to do this, because I don’t think we reached our peak, and follow, with other bands, to keep this kind of music alive. Maybe we are a little modern in terms of sounds of the 1980s – the people could find that decade. Heat half ‘power metal’ if they heard us – but it’s still half retro and a kind of modern as well. ”
And what was the definitive moment of this career? In Tee’s view, now a little more accustomed to looking back, getting a contract with record label represented this situation of “key turn.” The group worked with the stamps Stormvox, Gain/Sony Music and Earmusic throughout this trajectory.
“I remember we were playing a show in our hometown, UPLANDS Väsby, and negotiated with a businessman who also managed Peter Stormareactor of Prison Break, Armageddonmovies and series of the type. We crowded the show, with about 150 or 200 people. When we were on stage, we saw Peter enter the bar. A Swedish actor from Hollywood at the height, you know? We went to the kitchen after the show and received the offer from our first recording contract. ”
*Heat performs in the second of the three days of Bangers Open Air 2025, a festival that takes place at the Latin America Memorial in Sao Paulo, on May 2, 3 and 4. Glenn Hughes, Doro Pesch, Sabaton, PowerWolf, Kamelot, Avantasia, Kerry King, Wasp and Blind Guardian are some of the other attractions. Tickets are for sale at the Emission Club website.
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Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
