Tiger Lou is the band of the week over at MTVE.com. Head on over for a short interview and profile. The new EP "Trouble and Desire" comes out August 20 from Startracks.
This week's edition of the Brainwashed Brain includes reviews and samples of Arbete & Fritid, Martin Horntveth and more.
Ray Adams, the Norweigan singer who had the big hit "Violetta" in the 60s, has died at age 72 from Leukemia.
Tiger Lou is coming to the US! After touring Germany with Kadd Stevens aka Homage To Catalonia, he was invited to tag along on their upcoming winter tour. Of course, being a gentleman, he accepted. Tenative dates so far:
11/24 - Washington, DC @ The Brian Mackenzie Infoshop
11/25 - Richmond, VA @ The Pace Center
11/26 - Asheville, NC @ tba
11/27 - Summerville, SC @ All Books Coffee Shop
11/28 - Atlanta, GA @ house show
11/29 - Gainesville, FL @ tba
11/30 - Pensacola, FL @ End of the Line Cafe
12/01 - Little Rock, AR @ tba
12/02 - Austin, TX @ tba
12/03 - El Paso, TX @ tba
12/04 - Tucson, AZ @ Skrappy's (or house show)
12/05 - San Diego, CA @ The Che Cafe
12/06 - Los Angeles/Ventura/Santa Barbara, CA @ tba
12/07 - San Francisco, CA @ tba (house show, if we want it)
12/08 - Portland, OR @ Red and Black Cafe
12/09 - Olympia, WA @ tba
12/10 - Seattle, WA @ The Punkin House
12/11 - Boise, ID @ tba
12/12 - Denver/Colorado Springs, CO @ Double Entrendre or High Life House
12/13 - Lawrence, KS @ Pink House
12/14 - Chicago, IL @ tba
12/15 - Toronto, CDA @ tba
12/16 - Ottawa, CDA @ tba
12/17 - Montreal, CDA @ tba
12/18 - Portland, ME/Burlington, VT @ tba
12/19 - Boston, MA @ The Middle East
12/20 - Brooklyn, NY @ tba
12/21 - New Brunswick, NJ @ house show
12/22 - Philadelphia/Allentown, PA @ tba/The Pirates Cove
In other Tiger Lou news, he's also got some local Swedish gigs lined up for the near future:
07/13 - En ljummen i gräset fest, Café Pladder (solo)
more info: http://linux1.stickomdeintpassa.com/ljummen
08/01 - Debaser, Stockholm (full band)
08/22-23 - Eskilstuna Fest w/The Concreats, José Gozalez, more (full band?)
09/06 - Faulbaum Festival, Tantogården, Stockholm w/Fire Fox, more (full band)
Tiger Lou has a new website which includes a bunch of mp3s for downloading. As mentioned before, Tiger Lou is the most recent signing of Startracks Records and is essentially the solo act of Rasmus Kellerman from the bands Araki and Music By Em.
The new Bear Quartet album will be named "Angry Brigade" after the English anarchists of the 70s.
The latest from Startracks Records:
Christian Kjellvander will be recording the new track "Portugal" next week for a video/single release sometime around October. He debuted the song live at Hultsfred fest and you can view footage of it here.
Fireside's latest album "Get Shot" finally gets a US/Canada release now on August 19 and the label says that tour plans are definitely in the works.
The label's latest signing Tiger Lou has set August 20 as the release date for their new EP. The tracklist:
01. Sam, as in Samantha
02. Nova Lee
03. When I was a kid
04. Trouble & Desire
You probably didn't notice as there hasn't been much publicity about it, but Simba Records recently released the Kristofer Åström "Plastered Confessions" EP in the US. Simba also put out a similar Marit Bergman EP over here that's worth checking out as well. And while we're on a tangent here, let me add that Simba is also working on a Joni Mitchell tribute CD that will feature contributions from Kristofer and Dennis Lyxzén (International Noise Conspiracy, Lost Patrol) among others. FYI, the label's website appears to still be a work-in-progress as I think it just came online.
And lastly, Startracks has finalized the tracklist for their first label-showcase compilation. It also comes out August 20 and will be dirt cheap:
01. Fireside - Throw it away
02. Christian Kjellvander -Broken Wheels
03. Kristofer Åström & Hidden truck - One good moment
04. Tiger Lou - Nova Lee
05. Loosegoats - Days of black (nights are light)
06. Kristofer Åström - 8 long years (previously unreleased)
07. Songs of Soil - Page
08. The Lost Patrol - Stating the obvious
09. Revolvo - Moscow mule
10. Jaffa de Luxe - Don't forget about Raquel
11. Candysuck - Popcorn
12. Leiah - Cover Discover
13. Starmarket - Mexican summer
14. Moneybrother - Thunder in my heart
15. Buck - Rock dream
16. Monster - Don't answer the phone
17. Refused - Pump the brakes
Melody Club has annouced their full list of summer tour dates. Here's the schedule as of now:
05/14 - Hamburg (D) Molotow
05/15 - Düsseldorf (D) Unique
05/16 - Weinheim (D) Cafe Central
05/17 - Berlin (D) Bastard
05/18 - Kassel (D) K19
05/19 - Frankfurt (D) Cookys
05/20 - Dresden (D) Downtown
05/21 - München (D) Atomic Cafe
05/23 - Göteborg Liseberg / Okej Dagen
05/30 - Eskilstuna Blå
05/31 - Härnösand Högslättens Isstadion
06/06 - Drammen (NO) Working Class Hero
06/06 - Hultsfred Hultsfred Festival
06/06 - Visby Gutekällaren
07/01 - Östhammar Musikveckan
07/04 - Sundsvall Sundsvalls Gatufest
07/05 - Kristianstad Tivolirock
07/11 - Arvika Arvikafestivalen
07/19 - Mariehamn, Åland Rock Off Festival
07/23 - Hedemora Hedmora Parken
07/26 - Karlskoga Stranddagar
07/30 - Visby Gutekällaren
08/01 - Östersund Storsjöyran
08/02 - Stockholm Pridefestivalen
08/06 - Gävle Gävle Cityfest
08/08 - Emmaboda Emmabodafestivalen
Johan Bergqvist has posted all three songs from his new single in RealMedia format over at his (newly refurbished) website. Check em out in the upper right-hand corner.
Billboard reviews the US release of "Living in America" from The Sounds.
Stylus Magazine has named Norway's Rune Grammofon their label of the week.
Massproduktion has announced that they will be reissuing a remastered version of the very first Left Hand Solution seven-song EP "Shadowdance" on CD with five extra bonus tracks, three of which are previously unrereleased. It's been ten years since the recording first came out and serves as an almost-complete document of the era when Kicki Höijertz fronted the band.
The Flicker will be playing Club Clampers in Stockholm on May 17 and the first 25 attendees will receive a copy of their new CDr "Phases". Download an mp3 of the track "Consulation" right here.
DigitalMetal.com interviews the avant-metal band Solefald and black/dark metallers Aeternus.
Samson & Rourke recently published an interview with Anders Wendins of Moneybrother. (in Swedish)
The new Lost Patrol single "All Right" featuring Lisa Miskovsky comes out June 2. For those that don't know, LP is the solo project of International Noise Conspiracy frontman Dennis Lyxzen.
Even more bands added to Popaganda fest in Stockholm: Doktor Kosmos, Isolation Years, Superheroes, Miss Universum, José González, Tiger Lou, Carpet People, Mano & the tears, The Search, Blanka, Callahan, Ebon Tale and Anna Vnuk.
Starting on June 3 Swedish Radio P3 will have a week-long feature on Swedish music. Be sure to check it out and remember you can listen online at their website.
The Caesars recently had the single "Sort it Out" featured during an episode of the UK's most watched soap opera Eastenders. Listen to the track here. Like I've said before, expect big things from these guys. The band has also been confirmed for the 'new bands' stage at Glastonbury fest which takes place June 27-29.
The Ark, Hammerfall, Looptroop, Paola, Her Majesty, Evergrey, Moneybrother and Mando Diao have all be confirmed for Göteborgskalaset on August 8-16.
Mike Wead (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate), Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Dream Evil, Notre Dame), Sharlee D'Angelo (Mercyful Fate, Witchery) and Simon Johansson (Memory Garden, Abstrakt Algenra) have all teamed up to form a new band called Firegod. Mike's statement on the current state of the group:
I'm more than thrilled to be joined by some of the guys I consider to be the most creative and talented in Scandinavia. Me and Simon [have] been working really hard for almost two years writing and demoing something like 40-45 tracks... These tracks will be the perfect frame for what I'm sure will become a concept album that will stand out among the rest! People into our older bands as well as our current ones WILL NOT be disappointed!
They expect to have an album out around early 2004.
The new Finnish death-metal "supergroup" Chaosbreed has posted a couple sample mp3s from their demo for downloading:
01. Wretched Life
02. Rotting Alive
03. FC/DC (Freedom Corps Death Crush)
As mentioned before, Chaosbreed features vocalist Taneli Jarva (ex-Sentenced, The Black League), guitarist Marko Tarvonen (Moonsorrow), guitarist Esa Holopainen (Amorphis), among others. The band is currently entertaining any serious offers for booking or label support and anyone wanting to get in touch should email them at chaosbreeders@hotmail.com.
David & the Citizens and The Knife are both receiving gold disc awards from Border Music in Sweden for sales of over 5000. It's part of a new initiative enacted by the company to encourage and reward independent labels. The ceremony will be held at Pustervik in Göteborg on May 23.
In other D&tC news, the band's album "For All Happy Endings" was just reviewed in English over at firesideometer.com.
Lovitt Records has announced they will start taking preorders of the new Division of Laura Lee collection "97-99" with songs from before they signed with BHR/Epitaph. Email mailorder@lovitt.com for more info or visit the label's website. You can also download a preview mp3 of the track "Stereotype" if you're curious about their old sound, which they describe as "reminiscent of the DC post-punk sound with a dash of Drive Like Jehu." The record hits stores June 16.
Glad Påsk! Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Hope you enjoy your holiday weekend!
Watch the video for "Long Beach" from Laakso: high / low
Startracks has announced a new signing - their first since picking up the Loosegoats in '96. And the lucky band is Tiger Lou aka Rasmus Kellerman. He used to be in EM/Music By EM, but has now gone solo. His first show ever with a backing band is at Popaganda fest in Stockholm on May 30, but he's also hitting the road by himself:
4/21 - Lübeck D Cafe Brasil
4/22 - Oldenburg D Alhambra w/Karate, One Man and His Droid
4/23 - Hamburg D Molotow w/Me Without You
4/24 - Köln D Underground w/Karate
4/25 - Wolfenbüttel D Juz Harztorwall w/Karate
4/26 - Konzert Geschlossene Veranstaltung
4/27 - Freiburg D KTS w/NRA, Oil
4/28 - TRIER D Ex-Haus
4/29 - Aflenz A Sublime
4/30 - Wien A Shelter w/Karate
5/01 - München D Kafe Kult w/Karate
5/02 - Leverkusen D Pentagon
5/07 - Stockholm S Lava w/Lova and Dexter's Moon
Look for a 4-song EP in May/June. More info here.
For a limited time you can view the new Fireside video for the song "All You Had". Manne Lindvall filmed it and Leif Andree stars. Very entertaining.
Nicolai Dunger has booked himself a couple new gigs around the UK:
5/27 - Nottingham Rescue Rooms w/Matt Elliott (solo)
5/28 - Brighton Albert Inn (solo)
5/29 - London Union Chapel w/The Frames (band)
NorthSide Records has posted mp3s for two new albums that are coming out June 3. First is "Vettoi" (excerpt) from Hedningarna and their new CD "1989-2003", a best-of collection that includes a couple new tracks. Next is "Mikkel Per / Kus Erik" from Frifot's new album "Sluring". If you're curious about tracing the roots of Nordic music, I strongly encourage you the check this stuff out.
Uppsala Hio-hop duo Allied Forces have their debut 12" coming out soon. It'll be called "Ögon I Nacken" and will feature a guest appearance from Highwon and production from Masse.
The Sounds are now booked to play the outdoor stage at Gröna Lund in Stockholm on June 18. The rest of the acts confirmed so far for the venue this summer are:
4/30 - The Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Ark, Mando Diao (view poster)
5/9 - Melody Club
5/23 - Dilba vs. Stephen Simmond
In case you weren't already aware, the pop group Alcazar worked together with the Pet Shop Boys to write some new songs. Here's an short interview/article from Expressen on the subject. (in Swedish) Oh, and feel free to catch 'em on tour too:
4/18 - Ö-vik, Parken (S)
4/19 - Höör, Jägersbo (S)
4/23 - Stockholm, Company Party (S)
4/25 - Sälen, HC (S)
5/03 - Sölden, Snowmove (Austria)
5/10 - Amsterdam (NL)
5/15 - Nurnberg (Germany)
5/24 - Jönköping, Rix FM (S)
5/27 - Stockholm, Company Party (S)
5/30 - Umeå, Festen (S)
5/31 - Gislaved, Sigges Loge (S)
6/06 - Stockholm, Gröna Lund (S)
6/07 - Eringsboda Brunn (S)
6/08 - Sätela (S)
6/18 - Neubrandenburg, NDR (Germany)
6/19 - Bad Arolsen, Festival (Germany)
6/26 - Ludvika, City Festival (S)
6/27 - Enköping, City Festival, (S)
6/28 - Klagenfurt, Cityfestival (S)
7/02 - Sundsvall, Gatufesten (S)
7/12 - Tidan, Olstorp (S)
7/18 - Sölvesborg, Hanöhus (S)
7/19 - Bergen, NDR (Germany)
7/25 - Borlänge, Rommehed (S)
7/26 - Sunne, Fryksdalsdansen (S)
7/27 - Eskilstuna, Parken (S)
7/28 - Zurich, Pride (Switzerland)
7/30 - Ellös, Parken (S)
7/31 - Bromölla, Dagarna (S)
8/02 - Stockholm, Pride (S)
8/15 - Paris, NRJ (France)
8/16 - Gothenburg, Liseberg (S)
8/17 - Berlin, NRJ (Germany)
8/30 - Östervåla, Parken (S)
9/06 - Pasewalk, NDR (Germany)
11/01 - Bryssels, Company Party (Begium)
Tiger Lou – Nixon CDS (Startracks)
Sometime at the end of last year, my next-door neighbor emerges from his door and tells me he's on his way to see a band called Tiger Lou and that I should probably do the same. Operating under the assumption (sorry to say, but from the name of the band) that TL was probably just going to be another band of indie-rock sissies in horizontal stripes, I opted to go to a cheesy dance club in Malmö instead. Whoops. Tiger Lou are one of the more promising new bands to hail from Sweden within the last couple of years and exhibit a considerable aptitude for penning catchy pop tunes of a darker persuasion: while the songs on the "Nixon" single exude a sort of characteristic moodiness, they never quite veer into truly somber territory – at least not sonically. Most of the songs on the "Nixon" single can be found in one form or another on TL's full-length, "The loyal". The last two tracks are remixed versions of "The loyal" (by Martin Vogel) and "The war between us" (by Rupesh Cartel). The remix of "The loyal" is at best, a little dull: the only thing that salvages the track's tired electro-pop is the quality of the original song itself. The "War between us" remix is even worse as it epitomizes the awful b-side dance remix: imagine the Pet Shop Boys without the nuances that make the Pet Shop Boys well... palatable. The verdict? Ditch the single and buy the album.
- Jessica Numsuwankijkul