BLACK MIRRORS, ’77 & HORISONT – We Need More Cowbell

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'77, About Time, AC/DC, Andy Cobo, Anouk, Armand Valeta, Axel, Black Mirrors, Break The Limit, Century Media, Charles, Crusher Records, David, Debut, Funky Queen, Guillem Martinez, High Decibels, Horisont, Jack White, Janis Joplin, Jex Thoth, LG Valeta, Magnus, Marcella Di Troia, Metal Blade Records, Napalm Records, Nightrider, Nirvana, Nothing's Gonna Stop Us, Odyssey, Pierre Lateur, Pitcher, Pontus, Queen Of Spades Photography, Queens Of The Stongeage, Rise Above Records, The Unseen, Två Sidor Av Horisonten

Early on in promoting their About Time Tour 2017, Swedish Classic Hard Rockers Horisont announced a first date as sold out. What to expect from a show in a rather tiny venue, selling out on a Saturday night to host the third day of their European leg with special guests ’77 and Black Mirrors: Nothing but one of the best live packages of early 2017, maybe the entire year.

Starting off with a slight delay of about ten minutes and a strict curfew to be done by 10pm sharp, opening act Black Mirrors enters the small stage of Pitcher – Rock’n’Roll Headquarter Düsseldorf. The Belgian four-piece offers a great blend of groove enthused Garage Rock, taking influences from Janis Joplin, Jack White, Anouk, Nirvana and Queens Of The Stone Age, this is pure, raw entertainment. Guitarist Pierre Lateur gives in to the power of the moment as if there was no tomorrow, laying on his back, bending his knees as much as the strings on his white stratocaster. While vocalist Marcella Di Troia impresses the audience with her vigorous and well-trained voice, looking like a younger version or younger sister of Jex Thoth. Their self-titled debut EP has been released on March 3rd via Napalm Records and with songs like the funktastic “Funky Queen” a full-length record is only a matter of time.

Won’t You Take Me To Funky Town?

With both founding members, brothers Valeta well in their 30s and their minds set somewhere in the 70s, Spanish Powerhouse ’77 saw quite a rejuvenation right after I’ve last seen them in early 2013. Adding youngsters Guillem Martinez and Andy Cobo to the lineup, the new face of the band is vivid and rough. Though Armands lead vocals seem a bit frail at first, each member delivers all the way through from the introductory part to the final tone. My personal fave “High Decibels” comes in second and as I changed my position from stage left to merch right, this proves to come in handy mid through the set, as lead guitarist LG climbs up the bar the present his entertainment skills. No need to warm up the audience for the main act with sweat literally dripping from the ceiling, ’77 take the title of their most current record literal as there is no stopping them – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” released 30.10.2015 via Century Media. And no need to compare this act with AC/DC during the Bon Scott era, as they rock and roll a niche entirely of their own.

On Your Knees And Play!

A century into their career, Horisont take the headlining position serious enough to choose tracks from all phases of the past ten years. Epic timelessness flows from tracks such as “Electrical” off their most recent release “About Time” (out on 03.02.2017 on Century Media) or “Writings On The Wall” & “Diamonds In Orbit”, both off “Time Warriors” (out on 27.09.2013 via Metal Blades Records). The night clearly peaks with the uptempo masterpiece “Break The Limit” from the fourth full-length “Odyssey” (out on 18.09.2015 through Rise Above Records), that has main parts of the crowd singing along with the chorus. But my personal highlights are the two beautiful bluesy pieces from their debut “Två Sidor Av Horisonten” (out on 25.09.2009 on Crusher Records) “Nightrider” and my all-time fave “The Unseen”. Needless to say that the with its current incarnation featuring vocalist Axel, guitarists Charles and David, bassist Magnus and drummer Pontus, the band is as strong as ever.

All pictures courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photograpy!

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BLACK MIRRORS on Facebook

HORISONT on Facebook

’77 on Facebook

THUNDERMOTHER – Rock’n’Roll Disaster

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AC/DC, Artwork, Cheers, Clare Cunningham, Deranged, Filippa Nässil, Giorgia Carteri, Linda Ström, Man With Blues, One For The Road, Please Me, Rock'n'Roll Disaster, Saturday, Shoot To Kill, Sweden Rock Festival, The Dangerous Kind, Thundermother, Thunderous, Tilda Stenqvist, Tourdates, Warner Music Sweden

If AC/DC were twenty years younger, female and located in Sweden, they’d be THUNDERMOTHER, period! Of course it’s not all that simple doing a review on the impatiently awaited full-length debut of the fierce five-piece. After an intense line-up chance, leaving only the axegrinding founders, THUNDERMOTHER are “back” (odd to say this about a band, that is just getting really started right now) with a blast! The ten tracks on their freshman attempt with the witty title “Rock’n’Roll Disaster” turn out to be everything BUT a disaster: Catchy choruses, classic and flawless riffage, a grooving rhythm section with new members Tilda Stenqvist on drums, Linda Ström on bass and above all the outstanding rocking voice of Irish vocalist Clare Cunningham.

The lyrics bounce between heartache, true-to-life experience and whatever you see and live through as a musician – just like any other band. The title track ‘Rock’n’Roll Disaster’ and ‘Shoot To Kill’ have already been recorded and released with the previous line-up and now give this new record a sort of familiar feeling to it. Not to mention that every single song is a hymn for itself and with an average duration of about three minutes, you won’t even know what hit you!

All songs are composed or at least co-written by guitarist Filippa Nässil, who also made her way producing “Rock’n’Roll Disaster”, furthermore the artwork has been handled by second guitarist and co-founder Giorgia Carteri. That’s taking care of business for you.  THUNDERMOTHER are not just another All-female Rockband, but the next mark on the international music landscape.

Tracklist:

01. Man With Blues

02. Deranged

03. The Dangerous Kind

04. Rock’n’Roll Disaster

05. Thunderous

06. Please Me

07. Shoot To Kill

08. One For The Road

09. Cheers

10. Saturday

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THUNDERMOTHER Homepage

THUNDERMOTHER Facebook Page

 

’77 – Saucy in Switzerland

Tags

'77, AC/DC, AC/DC Fancamp, Alte Kaserne Zürich, Armand Valeta, Bringing It Back, Bullet, Dolphin Riot, Ice Rock Festival, Le Cactus Music Bar, LG Valeta, Motorjesus, On-Off, Peter Metzinger, Pino Music, Psychopunch, Rage, Raw Rau, Rock'n'Roll Overdose, Sin City, Supercharger, The Crumpets, The New Black

As a true music enthusiast, travelling in the name of Rock’n’Roll has become a major part of my life and so I find myself hitting the road or in this case the air to see ’77 play two shows in Switzerland in early january. And although I most enjoy total spontaneous adventures, it is not a short notice for me to fly to Zürich and the whole trip is well-prepared. Arriving a day in advance of the first gig, there is enough time for some sight-seeing, as this is the first time ever that I visit our southern neighbours. So, take a look at this little check-list, prior to the journey:

– Cheapo flights from Cologne to Zürich, booked end of november

– accommodations for four nights

– new temporary passport, after losing mine

– money exchange, for they have no Euro in Switzerland

– measuring my suitcase to avoid luggage check-in and additional costs

– train ticket to Cologne airport

– and of course loads of music for the time travelling

Crazy crowd in Zürich (©Roland Müller)

This first insight into swiss nightlife leads me to Le Cactus Music Bar, downtown Zürich. A real cosy place for Rockers and Rollers – situated at the middle of Kanonengasse and thus just a few feet away from where all the action will be the very next day. Friday starts with an awesome breakfast and some more extended walk through the countries largest city, including getting a little wasted along lake Zürich. With nightfall we finally arrive at the venue Alte Kaserne (Old Barrack), just as ’77 starting their soundcheck.

The event, organized by Peter Metzinger and Pino Music, is a dedication to the 70s, when the world saw the adolescence of Rock’n’Roll and there seems to be some way of easiness around. “Bringing It Back” is the, let me call it working title and three bands are on the line up to bring the audience a breeze of the past to the present. Hitting the stage as the nights’ opener is Italy’s very own explosive Ribcrasher Rock’n’Roll Band and AC/DC Tribute, ON-OFF. Founded in 1998 by Matteo Vago they deliver a solid sound combined with a rocking show, which makes this a worthy entry. The influence AC/DC has on each of the nights’ bands is pretty much obvious and with an SG and a Rickenbacker bass (and bassist Fabio in a flannel shirt), ON-OFF even have a look close to ’77.

Rock’n’Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (©Roland Müller)

The original schedule has SIN/CITY second in line, but due to ’77 fronter Armand Valeta coming down with a sudden case of angina, the running order is being shifted and makes the German High Voltage Rock’n’Rollers an abrupt Headliner. As the place is well filled with fans of any age, we see the evenings’ highlight at a rather early hour and I’m ever so happy to witness the first true Rock Show of 2013! Besides the slight change, one could hardly tell ’77 are hitting the stage with a sick singer – Armand steps aside to have his brother LG on lead guitar and bassist Raw tear the place apart and engaging themselves with more vocals than – at least as far as I can tell – ever before. This proves to be no disadvantage but on the contrary: Zürich witnesses a strong and professional performance by one of this days most promising acts around. Furthermore, LG becomes the center of attention, singing “Give Me A Dollar”. Now, that’s what I call great genes!

LG: Getting into the merchandise madness (©Roland Müller)

The next day we, that is my local host and the organizers of AC/DC Fancamp, who also came all the way from Germany to see ’77, hit the road, heading for Wasen. High up on the hills of Emmental, Ice Rock Festival takes place for the 11th time in a row. For sure, this is not your usual event: Having a festival in the midst of winter, building a concert venue in an old barn, getting tons of equipment into the middle of nowhere – the Swiss are a certainly a crazy little people!

Ice Rock has started on January 3rd, so we arrive for the final day and right in time for some more highlights. On our arrival four girls, calling themselves THE CRUMPETS heat up the interior. Five-string bass guitar, polyphonic harmonies and catchy lyrics are a guarantee of a great lively atmosphere. And to my surprise German Metal Veterans RAGE play BEFORE ’77 – but who would want to complain about this, except for Peavy, Victor and André.

with Dolphin & Raw of ’77 and Ice Rock Crew members before the Show    (©Peter Metzinger)

Stagetime is at half past eleven and a 90 minutes set is scheduled for this saturday. Expectations among spectators are up the roof and the four Spanish musicians manage to rock even harder than the night before. Summing it up, I can say that this trip was worth every single second!

For all you Spaniards, ’77 will be touring with BULLET in early march, don’t miss it. Check out all dates here! And there is good news for Germany and Switzerland, as the guys will be part of this years’ Rock’n’Roll Overdose – featuring PSYCHOPUNCH, MOTORJESUS, THE NEW BLACK and SUPERCHARGER –  in april, covering three weeks of Rocking!

Bringing it Back – Giving it all at Ice Rock 

THUNDERMOTHER – Filippa Nässil On Elk in Beer Stew

Tags

AC/DC, Backyard Babies, Close-Up Boat, Danko Jones, Deep Purple, Evami Ringqvist, Filippa Nässil, Giorgia Carteri, Gothenburg Rockfest, Imperial State Electric, Janis Joplin, Lenny Kravitz, Ozzy Osbourne, Rage Against The Machine, Rebecca Meiselbach, Rhandy Roads, Rut Karin Arvidsson, The Hellacopters, The Hives, Thundermother, Turbonegro, Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen

2012 marks the second year of the female sound collective known as THUNDERMOTHER. Vocalist Evami Ringqvist , Guitarists Filippa Nässil & Giorgia “Jo” Carteri, Bassist Rut Karin Arvidsson and Drummer Rebecca Meiselbach seem to have come out of nowhere, as the interest surrounding THUNDERMOTHER arouse during the première at Gothenburg Rockfest in the spring of 2012 and it has escalated ever since. After two successful Tours this year, one through Italy and the other supporting DANKO JONES on the road through Sweden, the five Rock Ladies from Stockholm are about to set sail on the infamous CLOSE-UP Boat with Turbonegro and Imperial State Electric – as the first through history, unsigned Band (without neither record nor record label).

Please tell us how each of you has gotten into Rock and Metal initially and how you all met.

I was 13 years old when I got into Ozzy Osbourne and Rhandy Roads guitar solos. The first rock album I ever bought tho was Rage Against The Machine with RATM. I also listened to a few riff rock songs like Highway to hell with AC/DC, and Are You Gonna Go My Way with Lenny Kravitz and also swedish bands like The Hives, The Hellacopters and Backyard Babies. When I turned 16 I started listen to Deep Purple. I went to a school to learn guitar so I was playin a lot more rock then I was listening to at that period; Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen to mention a few. It took a lot of time to realise that the best music is simple music with three chords haha;-) on that same school at that same time went Evami, our singer, but we never spoke until years later when I asked her to join Thundermother.

Did any of you ever plan to play in an All-Girl Band or is that something that just happened?

It was not a plan in the beginning but when we met Rebecca, it was definite to be an all girl band. With her passion we got motivated to find a girl bass player to be complete rockin’ , beer drinking gals. It sounds good, it looks good, it’s all good to be girls. And we write sexy lyrics about guys so It feels more natural.

How much harder is it to be taken seriously as a female musician?

A lot I would say. It’s not in people’s genes yet, I mean, not so long ago we couldn’t vote, now we play Rock’n’Roll and people turn their heads.

By now you have recorded a few songs available on your Facebook page – are you planing or working on a first album so far?

We have decided to record and release an album 2013 and we are so excited!

Let’s talk about songwriting: How does this work among the five of you, is it a democratic act or is there one dictator?

I have done a lot of riffs and songs in the beginning but the others is joining now and we arrange together in the rehearsing room. Often I have an idea at home and then Evami for example make a lyric; Sometimes via email, sometimes via jam or over a bottle of wine.

You have been touring pretty constantly in 2012, how did you get to be opening for DANKO JONES and what are your up to in the near future?

Danko and John liked us and wanted to push for us so we got to come along, a dream come true.

Release an album and tour even more!

Any plans so far for 2013 and any chance you’ll be playing in Germany sometime soon?

We sure hope so! We have plans to expand so this is the plan :)

“THUNDERMOTHER represents the ultimate combination of AC/DC and Janis Joplin” , is how you are described online. Are there other important influences you would like to mention?

Listen and hear for yourself when our album comes..;)

Is there anything else you want to tell the world, greetings, curses or cooking recipes?

We will actually be featured in a Swedish Rock band cooking book soon and there you can see how to make our Thundermother Elk in Beer Stew. Enjoy!

Thanks a lot for taking your time to answer my questions! See you soon.

Cheers, see u in Germany, soon hopefully !:)

Filippa Nässil