It would be easy to say that Teddybears in 2026 is purely a nostalgia act; after all, they have no new songs to offer and are mainly performing their tried and true classics. But the fact is, nothing feels outdated or overplayed. These are, admittedly, middle-aged but still super-cool guys who know exactly how to create a party atmosphere and dance euphoria.
When the curtain drops, the trio stands with their backs to the audience, dressed in the same silky college jackets as on the cover of the breakthrough album Rock'n'roll Highschool. Then they turn around and kick off with Ahead of my time, and the vibe immediately hits its peak.
The tour marks their first proper run in Sweden since 2000, when they released Rock'n'roll Highschool. On that album, the band made a significant change of course and abandoned the furious hardcore they had played for a decade. The new songs offered an innovative and infectious hybrid of pop, disco, reggae, and hip-hop, and a handful of hits that instantly found a large audience.
The fact that they are now heading out on a club tour can possibly be linked to Rock'n'roll Highschool being released in a new vinyl edition last year. It's also new that they've now retired their characteristic bear heads, something the band members say is because they've grown too old to play in heavy and sweaty masks. Perhaps they also want to try smaller venues, after mainly playing festivals for the past 15 years.
In any case, the album is performed in its entirety, and it sounds so fantastically timeless, as if it came out yesterday. The Åhlund brothers strike every imaginable rock pose and then some, which could look ridiculous, but works perfectly. That's thanks to their presence, attitude, and confidence.
Frontman Patrik Arve, now as long-haired as a heavy metal rocker, struts back and forth across the stage and spices up the banter with casually biting comments that make everyone smile a little wider.
After running through the entire album and finishing with one of their biggest hits, Punkrocker, the band shows they can still blast out some good old hardcore. In quick succession, we get Move It Vomit, Silicon Sally, Let's Go, and Step on It, and yes, they can still play machine-gun fast and razor-tight.
This is followed by a parade of hits that few other bands can match, now with generous support from rapper Rigo, known from Infinite Mass and Latin Kings. Little Stereo, Different sound, Get mama a house, and Sunshine make the already-amped audience even happier.
The evening ends with their by far biggest hits: Hey Boy and Cobrastyle, and the venue has now turned into a veritable sweat bath. When Cobrastyle fades out, the members stand with their backs to the audience again, and the curtain drops to cheers and whistles from the crowd. Stylish and dramatic!
Afterwards, I wonder if perhaps this tour is a summary of the band’s career, because who knows what will happen next? All three are very busy with their own projects, so the question is whether there will ever be more records or gigs together.
Therefore, I would advise everyone to take the opportunity to see them this fall—not just because it may be the last chance, but above all because they may never have been better live.
