Weeping Willows

The Weeping Willows issued their first long-player in 1997 and soon found themselves linked to Sweden’s rising fascination with country sounds. Yet unlike outfits such as Alimony that spearheaded the full-fledged revival several years afterward, the group never performed straight country; instead they fused an eclectic mix of sentimental American idioms. The resulting sound blended heartfelt rock with dense string and horn sections. Strong sales and frequent radio rotation quickly propelled the debut to national recognition.

As early as 1993, vocalist Magnus Carlson and percussionist Thomas Sundgren were performing country and rockabilly covers when members of Stefan Sundström’s ensemble Apache invited them onstage. The following year the venture adopted the name Weeping Willows, though it remained a casual side project devoted to material by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and kindred artists. Subsequent seasons involved steady club dates across Stockholm while guitarist Nico Röhlcke joined as the seventh member alongside drummer Anders Hernestam, bassist Stefan Axelsen, guitarist Ola Nyström, and pianist Mats Hedén. In 1997 the band finally unveiled original compositions on Broken Promise Land, an album that attracted a wide listenership and moved briskly in Norway and Germany alike. Its arrival coincided with country’s new respectability in Sweden after nearly twenty years of neglect, and the group’s unabashedly emotional style meshed with the moment even though their rock ballads carried only faint country traces and leaned more toward classic entertainment fare. The dominant imprint of Elvis is unmistakable in Magnus Carlson’s delivery, while the overall palette draws equally from 1950s rock and the soundscapes of the late 1960s and early 1970s, encompassing every device calculated to stir tears.

Between that record and the 1999 follow-up, the musicians sustained momentum through festival circuits, television appearances whose nostalgic format echoed the band’s retro aesthetic and look, and a cameo in the motion picture Under Solen. Endless Night emerged amid lofty anticipation and promptly scaled the album charts, yet it failed to duplicate the unanimous critical praise accorded its predecessor. Although commercial figures remained respectable, the release never matched the lasting resonance of Broken Promise Land and soon slipped from playlists and airwaves. Magnus Carlson stepped out as a solo artist in 2001 with Allt Är Bara Du Du Du.