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

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2012 – Prelude To Party

Tags

Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen, Deathfist, Jex Thoth, Krisiun, Kvelertak, Psychorizon, Purify With Pyra Tour, Ram, Rock Hard Festival 2012, Stoned From The Underground 2011, The Hellacopters, Turbojugend, Turbonegro

Just about a month has passed since this years Rock Hard Festival turned the sight located somewhat outside the city of Gelsenkirchen into the centre of attention for an entire scene once again. It takes about a half hour bus ride from the central station to get to the beautiful and impressive area offering anything from red-painted bridges, park side in the green, industrial buildings and of course the waves of Rhine-Herne Chanel that makes the whole event so special. Along these important transportation waterway, the Amphitheater is situated with its stage giving straight view onto the splashing blue, furthermore the campground is generously build along it as well. It seems more like a resort offering daily concerts and with its informal and almost intimate atmosphere becomes so much more than just an odinary festival.

Still a day to go before the “real deal” gets going as we arrive in the sunny and unbelievably warm part of Germany on thursday. Good thing to show up at this point, cause it seems that half the population of the surrounding cities decided to attend Rock Hard Festival 2012 and getting an appropriate temporary home base for the next few days gets harder within the hour. One major change this year would be the option to reserve a campground area in advance, which is marked as a Fanclub for whatever name one would like to give it. And with the main act on friday night being Turbonegro of course it won’t take long to find their colourful fans.

After an intensive all over inspection and some soundchecking of the festival opener Deathfist – featuring one of the constantly growing number of female shouters – the first Highlight and only band I really wanted to watch plays second in row: Jex Thoth.

Jex Thoth on stage

Besides the fact that a rather small part of the audience hails them as much as we do on Psychorizon, there are some things that make their appearance not as overwhelming as the one at last years Stoned From The Underground Festival. First of all the sound at stage level is and let me point out for the first time EVER since I started attending RHF on a regular basis in 2004, pretty bad. Too loud, too undefined and actually all I can perceive is bass all over. On the ranks it is much better in fact but the choice is somewhere between a tonal disaster and getting roasted. Nevertheless the US-based band surely wins a bunch of new admires and as we get to know a few days later, this day turns out to be one of the most successful shows of their “Purify With Pyra” Tour. Another thing a true fan would have to miss is the notorious ritual burning of sandalwood, vocalist Jessica likes to perform, but it was hot enough anyway! The setlist includes a mixture of older and brand-new songs and my favourite “Warrior Woman”, well done.

Setlist Jex Thoth:

Kagemni
Stone Evil
Obsidian Night
Raven Nor The Spirit
Slow Rewind
Eclipsed
Separated At Birth
Nothing Left To Die
Warrior Woman

After this first set of slow-mo onstage action time calles for a midday offering. Sorry to all you veggies and vegans out there, but for many visitors a campout almost mandatory barbecue serving meat in all kind of forms. Rocking all day long makes one hungry and while RAM and Krisiun are sweating just a few steps away, we do the same in front of our tent.

Even as the evening hits off the only refreshment besides cooled drinks seems to be diving into the water, which as we now know is restricted and will be paid penalty if one gets caught by the river police.

The night of the Norwegian vikings was heralded by one of the more exotic bands of this year’s RHF edition. Combining elements of Thrash, Black Metal and High Energy R’n’R in the style of The Hellacopters, Kvelertak entered the stage with a bang. Although the sound issues were still not really solved, the six Berserkers set sails to Helheim immediately. The show included all the songs from their self-titled debut record as well as “Spring”, a relatively new track that die-hards knew already from last year’s headlining tour.

With a three-guitar onslaught, Kvelertak (meaning “Stranglehold” in English) kept a tight grip on the audience: Singer Erlend Hjelvik rampaged from one side to the other and screamed, screeched and barked like there was no tomorrow, culminating in his obligatory stage dive and mingling with the front rows, while tattooed beat messiah Kjetil Gjermundrød clearly enjoyed the scenery around the drum-kit and hammered savagely on his drumheads throughout the set.

If you have a full stack or some lighting rigs on stage, chances are nearly 100% that a man called Marvin Nygaard will climb them in order to perform from a higher point of view. With Orange stacks around a plenty, the fierce bass player of course took the chance and boarded several of these amplifiers. Although Kvelertak’s lyrics are in Norwegian, a lot fans at least knew when to chant the keywords, so crowd participation was always at a very high level. Celebrated by Thrash Metal maniacs and Turbojugend members alike, the band finished its set with Utryd Dei Svake, leaving only scorched earth behind.

Setlist Kvelertak:

Sjøhyenar (Havets Herrer)
Fossegrim
Blodtørst
Sultans Of Satan
Spring
Liktorn
Offernatt
Ulvetid
Nekroskop
Ordsmedar av Rang
Mjød

Turbonegro have gone through some very hard times during the last few years. After loosing iconic long-time singer Hank von Helvete, the handsome sailorband recruited Turbojugend London President, Dukes of Nothing singer and former PR officer Tony Sylvester. Founding member Rune Rebellion also left, but re-joined and keyboardist/overall entertainer Pål Pot Pamparius only serves as a part-time member nowadays.

A lot of Turbojugend members were present at the gig to witness if the new line-up could live up to the reputation of the band.

Opening the set with well-known “mainstream ingratiation” All My Friends Are Dead, the handsome sailors put on a very professional show right from the beginning. Tony definitely showed no signs of nervousness and blended perfectly into the show, featuring a Clockwork Orange inspired make up and dress.

After two classics (Dungaree High being the second song), it’s time for three new ones in a row. IMHO a great statement to show off Tony Silvester’s qualities. You Give Me Worms, first single from the upcoming album Sexual Harassment and sufficiently known thanks to youtube, clearly picks up the vibe of Party Animals era TRBNGR. The raspier and slightly lower voice compared to Hank adds a rough edge to hymns full of sexual innuendo, alcohol and other means of self-destruction.

If there would be an energy-level indicator installed in the front rows, it would be deeply in the reds all the way. Partying hard to every song, I literally got soaked up into the center of the Jugend and had a great time during all of the songs, no matter if it’s a new masterpiece or an old classic.

Bass player Happy Tom, known for his special sense of humor, made the crowd laugh with funny announcements in broken German (“Schüttel’ dein Scheiße-Apparatus!” for Shake your Shit Machine), while steadily pumping out his distinctive Turbo-basslines. Euroboy aka Prince of the Rodeo lived up to his name as usual, delivering his solos and fills with grace and power alike.

The encore featured the ultimate threesome: Age Of Pamparius, Prince Of The Rodeo and I Got Erection, showing once again that the band remains untamed and still is able to fuck the world after all the changes it has gone through.

If my body ever was a temple, re-born TRBNGR teared it down once more on this wild night!

Throughout the day even RockHard member “Heavenstone” could be seen wearing his Turbojugend Satanica jacket proudly alongside lots of Turbojugend member with day tickets.

Setlist Turbonegro:

All My Friends Are Dead
Back To Dungaree High
You Give Me Worms
I Got A Knife
T.N.A. (The Nihilistic Army)
Get It On
Denim Demon
Mister Sister
Shake Your Shit Machine
Hello Darkness
Do You Do You Dig Destruction
Wasted Again
Fuck The World (F.T.W.)
Turbonegro Must Be Destroyed
—————————————
The Age Of Pamparius
The Prince Of Rodeo
I Got Erection

ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2012 – All Highlights And Running Order

Tags

'77, Alpha Tiger, Bolth Thrower, Deathfist, Dr. Living Dead!, Girlschool, Graveyard, Hell, High Spirit, Jex Thoth, Krisiun, Kvelertak, Magnum, Motorjesus, Portrait, Psychotic Waltz, Ram, Rock Hard, Rock Hard Festival 2012, Tankard, Turbonegro, Unisonic, Unleashed, W.A.S.P.

With the Festival Season ahead one of the most popular events is set to be a true Highlight of the year, yet again.

Graveyard at Underground, Cologne April 30th 2011

Rock Hard Festival 2012 offers a large amount of bands that cover almost all Metal and Rock genres available these days. Especially the Retro, Stoner and Sludge section finally arrives along the beautiful sight of the Rhine-Herne-Chanel, as the likes of GRAVEYARD and KVELERTAK will visit the city of Gelsenkirchen this year.

Furthermore the Queen of Doom herself Jex Thoth will pay her respects to the international audience.

Jex Thoth at Stoned From The Underground 2011

Another Highlight will be the appearance of british Death Metal veterans BOLT THROWER who are known for hardly playing live at all and being generously offering their self-printed merchandise at fan-friendly prices. They already annihilated the ROCK HARD FESTIVAL area some years ago and now it is time to return and destroy the place complete!

Bolt Thrower at Attak, Enschede April 30th 2010

For all fans of all-female Hard Rock Bands GIRLSCHOOL will the one band you shouldn’t miss. GIRLSCHOOL are well-known for turning every festival into a gigantic nuthouse. At Rock Hard Festival 2012 they will play a special “Hit And Run” set, which will be one of the festival´s highlights for sure.

And as a special fan request MOTORJESUS from Mönchengladbach will enter the stage set right in front of the channel for the very first time. The band that used to be called The SHITHEADZ offers an independently and outstanding of Rock and Metal elements that will make the crowed go insane!

Check out the complete Running Order:

Friday, May 25th

21:30 – 23:00 TURBONEGRO
19:45 – 21:00 KVELERTAK
18:15 – 19:15 KRISIUN
17:00 – 17:45 RAM
15:55 – 16:40 JEX THOTH
15:00 – 15:35 DEATHFIST

Saturday, May 26th

21:30 – 23:00 BOLT THROWER
19:45 – 21:00 PSYCHOTIC WALTZ
18:15 – 19:15 TANKARD
17:00 – 17:45 UNLEASHED
15:50 – 16:35 HELL
14:45 – 15:25 PORTRAIT
13:45 – 14:25 MOTORJESUS
12:45 – 13:25 DR. LIVING DEAD!

Sunday, May 27th

21:30 – 23:00 W.A.S.P.
19:45 – 21:00 UNISONIC
17:40 – 18:40 MAGNUM
16:15 – 17:10 GIRLSCHOOL
15:10 – 15:55 GRAVEYARD
14:05 – 14:45 HIGH SPIRITS
13:00 – 13:40 ´77
12:00 – 12:40 ALPHA TIGER