Lakeview in Zurich

Another day another concert, this time it was Lakeview in Zurich. Country meets rock, boots meet headbanging. That’s probably the easiest way to describe a night with Lakeview in Zurich. The Pittsburgh duo (calling Nashville home now) has been making waves with their blend of country storytelling and heavier rock influences, which made this show a particularly exciting one for me.

There was no support act on the bill, so everyone was ready for Lakeview to hit the stage at 8pm. Well, that was the plan. Just before showtime, things suddenly went dark. Literally. Technical issues and power problems left the venue without much of what a concert usually requires.

Instead of getting frustrated, the crowd headed to the bar, grabbed a drink, caught up with friends, and waited it out while the venue staff and crew worked behind the scenes. Thankfully, their efforts paid off and after a short delay everything was back up and running.

Small Crowd, Big Atmosphere: Lakeview in Zurich

Once the lights came back on and the show finally got started, the duo wasted no time making up for lost minutes. While Exil wasn’t sold out, the people who showed up were clearly determined to have a good time. Throughout the set there was plenty of headbanging, singing along, and the kind of carefree energy that makes smaller club shows so much fun. The atmosphere felt relaxed and genuine, helped even further by the fact that the air conditioning also returned with the power. Suddenly surviving the evening became much easier.

What surprised me most was how present the country influences were in Lakeview’s sound. Going in, I expected the heavier side to dominate, but the country roots were woven throughout the set and gave the songs a unique character. The combination worked incredibly well live, creating a show that felt equally at home at a country festival and a rock club. Add a bunch of friends in the audience, a crowd that was fully invested, and a band clearly enjoying themselves on stage, and it turned into a really enjoyable night.

If Lakeview ever make their way back to Zurich, I’ll happily be there again. Although I might need to stop saying that about every artist I see, otherwise my calendar is going to become one very expensive and very crowded concert schedule.