The Killers Interview

A promenade to good music (@ Sziget Festival 2008)

The Killers are certainly the “it” band of this generation. I once heard a little joke about how bands that start with “The” are predestined to succeed in the music business, because people expect “The bomb”; but also that their success is doomed to fail the test of time, because bombs explode only once.

In contrast to the mavericks from The Clash, The Used or The Rolling Stones (who intrepidly managed to overcome the time impediment), The Killers is certainly a different group in all ways: from location, to creed, from apparel, to ideas, from offstage, to onstage. A potpourri of sensation, delight and déjà-vus for listeners everywhere. Why déjà–vu? Because if you haven’t grown up with it, you’ve certainly heard on the radio or playing in your dad’s car. That’s right! It’s the fresh version of The Beatles. Capturing the quintessence of good music, The Killers have created music that seems to be anachronistic compared to that of other bands in their generation, but it’s still beautifully out of this world for anyone who’s in for some sweet n’ mild alternative rock.

 At a first glance, and judging by their looks, you wouldn’t actually classify them as bona fide rock stars, and now I’m not even sure they would approve of that labeling, but one thing is for sure: once you’re on Killer grounds it’s pretty hard to escape “untouched”.

No “buts”

Haggardly running one-legged across Obudai Island wasn’t an easy task, but we finally managed to reach the press office, print our cryptic sketches and ask the guys there to lead us to our belated interview. They were certainly baffled by our request and redirected us to their “superiors”. After an unsuccessful twelve-minute attempt to speak on the phone with Superior no. 3, we figured that we were barking at the wrong tree and decided to take our chances in finding the place on our own. We easily reached the last stage of our quest: “Finding the Press Hall”, this time because the surrounding area was now packed with badass names such as MTV and MCM. As soon as we entered the press (RV)-Hall and stated our names, the staff expressed their tetchiness of us being late (oh really?!) and nonchalantly asked us to remove any video equipment we carried with us. We froze. This was supposed to be a video interview, as we had discussed with the guys from Universal, but plans were about to change.

We knew humming wouldn’t lead to anything good so we decided not to let this little inconvenience mess with our composure, nor allow it to jeopardize the interview, and we went straight for it armed with pencil, paper and a damn fast notetaker.

Seize the whining, for our cavalryman awaits us…

Before this Q&A (which I randomly believed would be with Dave Keuning or Ronnie Vannucci Jr. since they are the chatty ones), I did some research on interviews with the Killers on YouTube and I felt like it was actually impossible to get a Killers member to answer your questions and not feel awkward about it.

But, to our surprise, the man standing before us was no other than Mark Stoermer, the acclaimed bassist of The Killers and an authentic gentleman by all means. He stood up as we ladies entered the room and kindly shook our hands and welcomed us with a “smile like you mean it” sort of look.

For us he was the man in the shadow no more, but turned into this above-board person with deep unsolved blue eyes and a superb blithe smile.

 “We really like it here in Continental Europe. We’ve been trying to get into Germany as well, but we’re more confident in the English speaking countries. Actually this is our second time at Sziget Festival. We were on the bill last year as well…But, right now we’re getting to know the audience everywhere because we’re still a young band. We felt great from the very beginning because we were launched in the UK and the public there is more open to new bands”

Opulence, the heat, the beat: Las Vegas…But how did they find the oasis in the middle of the desert?

“Las Vegas isn’t the best place for an upcoming band because people there prefer doing other things like gambling and spending money on one night luxuries. So at first we played where we could, each time creating a following; at the beginning we played in a drag club and then the venues just got bigger and bigger. “

Since they’re Americans you’d say they naturally fit under an American label, so I find it interesting how they caught the public’s eye after releasing the heavily British influenced Hot Fuss album under Lizard King Records in the UK.

“American labels simply didn’t like our music, because they thought it wouldn’t sell”

The album definitely has a bit of a European touch to it. ”Maybe that’s why they liked it so much and we managed to thrive and end up in the charts. Our music didn’t fit the US radio so we had to limit our options drastically. The US radio wasn’t so eager to promote new bands, but rather to help big bands sell their already released records. There’s more to fresh music in England because people are more open-minded. “

The release of Hot Fuss still resounds today and is considered by many fans the zenith of their career up to this moment. The catchy tunes of their first hit, “Mr. Brightside”, have certainly made a difference in the mundane music industry.

“Well I don’t know if it turned the world upside down but when we first met, we knew there would be a special connection and that we would get along just great, although we had different backgrounds. I, for one, knew, the first time I heard “Mr. Brightsight” that it had something special to it and deserved to known. Of course, when we started off, we would have never dreamed that it would receive the praise it did up to this point”

Although they are in the new wave flow, The Killers sound different with every album and seem to have the expertise of a band that’s been pulling it off for longer than 6 years. In an age when music groups compete in coming up with something new and exciting, The Killers just know how to hit the spot. But how in the world did they manage to fuse different elements that came out so naturally?

“Ease comes with the combination of our backgrounds and past experiences. Besides Brandon, all three of us previously played with other bands so we were constantly learning new things and had a chance to show it all with The Killers. Even Brandon tried it out with “Blush Response”, but it didn’t work out (referring to Brandon’s previous band and his refusal to move to California with them) I mean, we all listen to all kinds of music and genres and love to keep an open mind”

Could you please tell us the interesting story behind the sequel “Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf”/”Midnight Show”/”Jenny was a friend of mine”?

“Well that’s Brandon’s story, since he is also the main lyricist, but I’ll tell you what I got out of it. In the first part he tells the break up story between him and his girlfriend and it’s also a declaration of love; than in “Midnight Show” he tries to get away with it and in “Jenny was a friend of mine” he is overwhelmed by the accusations and burst out. “      

When musicians you grew up with incorporate bits of your music in their songs…

“It’s special, I guess it’s the dream of every musician and it really came as a surprise for us“.

As we were signaled that we had little time left, the conversation took a rapid course.

“I know about New Order, U2 and Coldplay. I mean you didn’t grow up with Coldplay but anyway…

Mark:  No, we did, they’re from 1999 (laughing)

Will you surprise us tonight with songs from your upcoming album “Day and Age”?

Mark: During shows we usually play one or two new songs, but today we’ll play just one and many other songs that we haven’t had the chance to perform live up to now.

So we should expect a unique show.

Mark: I’ll let you be the judge of that!

Did you finish recording?

Mark: Yes, in June, the entire album is finished, but we just need to polish it in the next couple of weeks.  So it should be ready by November.

Is there a precedent?

Mark: The album has no concept; it’s not like Hot Fuss or Sam’s Town.

So was it like writing random words on a keyboard?

Mark: (laughing) Not really, it’s just completely different, because we had no plan initially, when we decided to make the album. It has both new elements and old ones in order to please everybody.

 So are you proud of your achievement?

Mark: We’ll just wait and see the public’s response. I am, I think J”

 

During the show that night The Killers had soul and were definitely soldiers.

So, in Las Vegas when the sun goes down, I think of the Killers, I even randomly think of all the lights and how they have gambling games in McDonald’s restaurants and in the most unusual places, but mainly I think of Stoermer’s beautiful eyes and how they open up to show this exotic place as a paradox for anyone who tends to generalize. 

Report by: Andreea Balica

Interview by: Cristina Popescu and Andreea Balica

MetalSTUDIO cu Negura si Coro – LIVE

MetalACT are, de 4 saptamani, o (pretentios numita, dar nush cum altfel sa-i zic) “divizie video“, pe numele ei MetalSTUDIO. MetalSTUDIO inseamna in primul rand si pentru inceput PRIMA emisiune de metale in totalitate LIVE din Romania. De la o simpla idee, proiectul MetalSTUDIO a devenit posibil cu ajutorul lui Adrian Cristea si NETv.ro, precum si a lui Coro (AXA Valaha Productions), care a acceptat imediat invitatia de a fi gazda unei emisiuni de metale, impreuna cu Negura.

MetalSTUDIO LIVE cu Negura si Coro poate fi vizionata in fiecare vineri, intre orele 21:15 si 22:15, desi ziua de vineri este deocamdata stabilita provizoriu – dupa inca 4-5 emisiuni si in urma sugestiilor celor care urmaresc aceasta emisiune, vom alege atat ziua cat si orele cele mai convenabile pentru difuzare.

Emisiunea MetalSTUDIO este embeduita in site-ul MetalACT, pe NETv.ro, dar are si pagina proprie, pe care speram sa putem implementa un chat cat mai curand, pentru ca emisiunea sa devina si interactiva. De asemenea, cei care au o camera web si microfon pot intra de saptamana viitoare in direct in emisiune.

Cacanarii au Paint

Acest cacanar a postat afisul asta:

Dave umfla capre

Iar afisul arata asa:

Deci Dave, un bou patentat, umfla capre. A sters logo-ul MetalACT din poster! Mwhahahaa!

Coldplay concert review

Coldplay Review

15.09.2008

O2 World Arena

 

The Deutsche Saga

 

I admit. On Banking’s Black Monday I invested all my unspent summer money in a Coldplay concert. Where? In the newly established O2 Arena in Berlin, singing in unison with 17.000 other enthusiastic people.

 

Worn out from walking all day, I made my choice to take a quick nap rather than go and see the opening act (which was supposed to be Albert Hammond, Jr. from The Strokes); I’m uncertain even now whether they really played that night or if my timing was good enough to arrive ten minutes before the show.

The O2 Arena came as a technological quandary after seeing the triteness and conventionality of the lonely city of Berlin, once known for its fulminating history. In unconformity with the surroundings, the Arena, which looked like a tremendous shopping mall, was flashing ads with various upcoming events, spottable from a long distance. At the press office a frisky middle-aged lady gave me the accreditation, which was no different from any other ticket. Taking into account that “Coldplay will not give interviews during this appearance” and the isolated position of my seat, I casually exchanged my accreditation for a Stehplatz(standing) ticket because… that’s where the fun really begins.

The old King in dead, long live the King

 

I’ll have to admit that a group who manages to shake the German audience to a point where they sing along every single lyric, deserves all the praise. With an exhaustive set list that spoke for itself, the Brits, inaugurated this venue, which, packed, didn’t seem so awkward after all. Keeping in mind that this was a promo tour for their new album, Viva la Vida, one could easily recognize old Coldplay classics sung with the same Chris Martin-je-ne sais-quoi smoothness.

We made our way through a roughly disciplined public, one I almost fell sorry for disturbing while trying to find a place with a better view, and finally we settled down.  

The veils soon revealed the image in the background, Delacroix’s famous painting, La liberté guidant le peuple, while the

tile track from Viva la Vida, Life in Technicolor, started to play enabling fans to go crazy with excitement. Chris Martin energetically started the show with a few new songs, of which one was Violet Hill, a catchy tune that you could’ve sworn you heard before Viva la Vida.

One thing that struck me after a Coldplay concert I saw on HBO previously was Chris’s psychedelic bouncing-piano-playing on Clocks. It was confirmed to me that he is actually pretty hard to follow, gliding from one part of the stage to the other and grooving uncontrollably to the music. If this manic Monday couldn’t slow him down, I can’t imagine how he’s like at the beginning of a tour.

After a small chatter with the German audience, during which Chris revealed his Deutsche skills, admitting that skipping German classes during high-school is now “paying off”, Coldplay was again ready to go. After transferring their enthusiasm with the Speed of Light, Coldplay switched again to a back-to the-roots hit, In My Place.
After strolling through the Cemeteries of London, we dug a hole in the Earth and ended up in Asia listening to the sweet Chinese Sleep Chant.

I’ve already spotted a few personal favorites among the Viva la Vida songs and 42 is definitely one of them. With an incredible melody that switches interestingly from retrospective nostalgia to skeptical optimism, this song will definitely go straight to your heart. Trouble needed fixing, so naturally, Fix You came as a relief for those who may have thought that they would go home without hearing their favorite tune. The minus of the show was trying to harmonize two techno versions (God Put A Smile Upon Your Face and Talk) with the piano version of The Hardest Part, which turned out to be really out of place. As the first notes of Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental) started to play, Chris “let” us know that there were two minutes to go until the crowd would go wild. In anticipation, I was already happily playing Viva la Vida in my head, hearing “Jerusalem bells ringing” from under “pillars of salt and pillars of sand”. It’s an unmatchable feeling to sit next to thousands of people who all sing about how it was like when they were famous religious or historical figures; a little self-conscious, but incredible overall J I think Viva la Vida is a really back to the basics album, like a manual of haikus bursting out with meaning and shrewdness and is clearly the Coldplay zenith so far.

After Lost, I really felt that there was more to the connection between their lyrics and the flow of their actions, as they suddenly disappeared backstage, and soon reappeared in the most unlikely place you’d think you’d find them.

 

Up, up and away

 

 “You thought you had bad tickets here, huh? Now we’re gonna sweat all aver you and at the end of the show you’ll want your money back.” joked Chris while taking out his guitar to play The Scientist (acoustic version),” an old-old song from when you guys were like 15” (Wrong, I was 9). On Death Will Never Conquer, the lead singing was taken over by Will Champion, their drummer and apparently also singer and guitarist, as Chris accompanied him on the harmonica. Who would’ve thought Coldplay had so many eclectic musicians? 

Intrinsically, after the pseudo-ending with Lovers in Japan and Death and all of his Friends, Yellow was the most awaited tune and Coldplay called it a night with The Escapist. On the whole Chris managed at least to keep the public on its feet with his bad tempered demeanor, offset by a boy next door vulnerability, which proved to be charming.

 

 I’m usually not a big fan of promo tours because I never get to hear the old songs I like, but this show would be classified among the few which seemed to satisfy everyone, musically speaking. So whether we’re talking about death, attempted escapes or the French revolution it was and always will be Viva la Vida!

 

Andreea Balica

Metallica- [Hate] Magnetic

Aceasta nu este o cronica de album. Ar fi inutila INCA O CRONICA LA ULTIMUL METALLICA, discul e la streaming gratuit, integral, pe www.metallica.com, se gaseste pe toate torrentele, aveti prieteni care il au si pot sa faca un gest misto sa vi-l dea si voua. Si se gaseste chiar si in magazine! Really, no shit.

Aceste randuri ale mele sunt de fapt 2 constatari si concluzii trase de mine despre natura umana, aplicabile asupra ultimului disc Metallica, “Death Magnetic”. Nu suna bine ceea ce veti citi aici, nu incanta nici ochiul, nici mintea. Bune sau rele, sunt concluziile mele si nici nu conteaza daca sunt adevarate sau daca lumea e de acord cu mine. Dar e si un indemn la final, sper ca macar el sa merite sa cititi.
Nu invata din propriile greseli

Imediat ce o trupa mare sau foarte mare scoate un disc, toate publicatiile de gen (tiparite si online) umplu lumea de cronici. Pe principiul “Hei, e trupa X, sunt genii, sunt grei de tot, nu se poate sa nu scriem ceva de ei”, principiu care se aplica pana si revistelor glossy. E de porc sa scoata Metallica album si sa nu scrie in orice cacat de aparitie despre ei. Hortensia Papadat-Bengescu rocks!

OK, scriem. Dar ce scriem? E vorba de o trupa mare, cu multi fani. Dar parca numarul fanilor e in scadere. Dar parca rockul revine. Dar parca trupa nu mai are vana de odinioara. Dar parca ultimul disc e mai bun. Dar parca ultima decada a fost mai lesinata. Daca dau nota mica si vin fanii sa mictioneze pe publicatia noastra? Sa-i dam un calificativ satisfacator, ca parca nu mai e nici ca pe vremuri, dar nu e nici foarte rau discul, si in felul asta multumim si fanii. Ce dracu, doar e Metallica, cat de slab poate fi?? Everyone’s playing it safe….. CITITI AICI TOT ARTICOLUL

Neo si Redox in Club Corner, Bucuresti

S-a intamplat la lansarea clubului Corner, duminica asta. Poze si tot tecstu ie pe site, na si LINKU

Concert Neo si Redox, in Club Corner, Bucuresti

Club Corner – noua speranta a cluburilor rock

Un nou club de rock / metal mi se pare un subiect bun de highlight, mai ales ca (personal) sper prin deschiderea lui ca se va relansa seria de concerte mici si foarte mici, “de club”. E, aici vorbim de initiativa putin inconstienta a lui Mike The Revelator, de a tine si niste seri cu tematica roch, intr’o locatie de altfel cu specific hip hop undeground (adica trv cvlt, pentru metalistii care au glume in ei), ceea ce iar mi se pare interesant. Bun, locatia este curata pe interior, iar in exterior imprejurimile sunt ok, politia sectorului 1 este putin mai incolo, si chiar langa club este un magazin cu d’ale gurii si cu tigari.

Mesute si scaunele din lemn sau scaunele inalte de bar. Toaleta la fel de curata, iar ventilatia buna, dar mai vedem cand s-o baga cocs calumea la forja, adica pe la vreun concert mai populat. Asta va spun pentru ca am fost la un concert (care o sa fie de gasit in curand la cronici concerte), dar prezenta a fost alcatuita din clasa si prieteni buni si foarte buni, si oricum nu foarte fumatori. Buun. Bautura este, personal dau pe gat cu placere ursus – 6 lei, da’ cred ca am zarit prin galantar si fineturi, plus sucurile de rigoare. Pentru Ardeica: nu stiu daca are Redbull. Deocamdata scena se intampla intru’un colt al locatiei, si are un sunet decent. Singura problema este spatiul putin cam mic, dar Mr. Mike a promis niste extinderi, si o sceneta cumsecade la casa omului gospodar. Si de asemenea a mai promis ca muzica o sa fie data mai incet, adica o sa se poata auzi om cu persoana la masa.

Deocamdata programu’ de rock este joi, de la ora 20, si duminica zi de concerte. Dar de asemenea, zilele astea se pot muta, in functie de succesul avut.

AICI este galeria foto, puteti sa aruncati o privire mai indeaproape.

Kavarna forever thrash

Cronica Thrash Till’ Death Festival, Kavarna, Bulgaria, Exodus / Overkill. Multumiri lui Traian (Hell9Level)

Biserica electronica si degraba spamuietoare

Cine spune ca biserica este o instituie anacronica ? pai in afara de spovedaniile online (ce poate fi mai tare decat sa stai comod in chiloti, cu o bere in mana si o tigare, si sa te spovedesti relacsat, in timp ce in alta fereastra de mess stai la vrajeala cu o pizda pe hi5), biserica iese iarasi in intampinarea crestinilor internauti si plini de pacate. Iata ca drept va graiesc eu voua, acest mesaj a fost scris de o persoana reala care va respecta drepturile, si mia venit pe adresa de email de la srevici. Atentie, a nu se confunda vechiul Ierusalim cu noul Ierusalim !

“Cuvantul lui Dumnezeu graieste neamului roman.
Manastirea Noul Ierusalim

link link link

Acest mesaj se doreste a fi informatie utila, nu spam. Este trimis celor interesati de aceste mesaje. Daca v-am inclus din greseala in baza noastra de date, ne cerem scuze si va rugam sa apasati aici pentru a fi scos automat din baza noastra de date sau sa ne trimiteti un reply cu subiectul UNSUBSCRIBE la acest e-mail. Acest mesaj a fost scris de o persoana reala care va respecta drepturile. Nu schimbati subiectul emailului care se lanseaza cand apasati pe link-ul de mai sus. Doar trimteti-l. Va multumim pentru intelegere.“

Tecstu atasat spamului cel sfant vine intrun fisier numit sugestiv “dumnezeu.doc”. Faptul ca este numit “dumnezeu.doc” imi intareste convingerea ca intradevar este compus de catre dumnezeu insusi. Ma intreb daca dumnezeu are word’u cu licenta. A, inca ceva, daca nu faceti parte din neamul roman, nu cititi acest email, pentru ca nu vi se adreseaza. Pentru celelalte neamuri, exista variantele respective, cereti si vi se va da.

“Dumnezeu grăieşte neamului român: Eu sunt Cel ce sunt, şi sunt Calea, Adevărul şi Viaţa pentru fiecare om care iubeşte viaţa şi nu moartea, şi sunt duhul înţelepciunii pentru cei binecredincioşi cuvântului Meu cel de ieri şi cel de azi, căci fără înţelepciunea Mea în el, omul este gol şi este ţărână şi nu este duh ca şi Mine şi…”

Si bla bla bla, si bla bla bla, polologhie pe vro doo pagini A4.

Beshi mah dacilea.

Amin.

Jocurile Olimpice sataniste

* copyright Decibel Magazine