The second day of Inferno was a highly international day. Bands from Singapore, Italy, Brazil, India, Germany Sweden and Norway played alternatively at Rockefeller and John Dee. Dimmu Borgir was the headliner, but I got to hear six bands before they entered the stage. (Picture above: Impiety from Singapore)
Dimmu Borgir are one of the big four Norwegian metal bands. They are also the band with most commercial success, having been on the Billboard sales list for Death Cult Armageddon in 2003. In 2011 they played a concert at Oslo Spektrum together with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and the choir Schola Cantorum. Yesterday night they were the headliner at the Inferno festival.
Inferno 2014 has started, and the first night – the club night – is over. I spent the night at John Dee, where Indie Recordings presented three of their bands. Norwegian Kampfar, 20 year veterans of the black metal scene, Finnish Woland and the Norwegian band Glittertind. An eclectic mix, and a great night. (Picture above: Dolk from Kampfar)
In the mid 80’s Heavy Gentlemen were one of Norway’s leading live bands. Their members were from the elite of Norway’s rock, funk and blues musicians, and together they presented a funky and potent mix. The band played mostly in Oslo, but never released a CD as a band. The different members were however active in many other bands and together they represent more recordings than they can count. Yesterday night they reunited together with some friends at Rockefeller in Oslo to celebrate drummer Paolo Vinaccia’s 60 year birthday.
Madrugada were one of Norway’s most sought after band in the years 2005-2007, until their guitarist Robert Buraas died in 2007. The band continued playing together for a year, but then their singer Sivert Hoyem went solo, and he has so far released five solo CDs, the last one, Endless Love, this year. He is recently on a tour to promote the CD, and yesterday night he played at Studentersamfundet in Trondheim.
The first Monday during SXSW this year I was invited by an artist I know, to ride with him and his family to Donn’s Depot. I had never been there before, but what a place! That first night I ended up being there, talking with the musicians after the show until the place closed for the night. Last Monday I just had to go back again.
The ABGB is a new venue in Austin since August last year, and I had a great evening there last night. First I saw Jane Bond, whom I haven’t seen for many years, and after a quick walk up to Maria’s Taco XPress to see Leeann Atherton, it was back to see Rick Broussard and his band Two Hoots and a Holler.
The first time I saw Ian Moore was in 2005, and then some years later at the Continental Club. I remember his playing and his extrovert show as something special. This year he played at the Continental Club again during SXSW, at 1 AM the last day of the festival. And it was the perfect artist to close SXSW for me.
This year I followed up my favorite SXSW Austin tradition of attending Leeann Atherton’s Barn Dance at her house the Sunday after the festival is over. This year the weather wasn’t as cooperative as the last years, but in spite of the cold, everyone had a great time. The BBQ was good, the music was great, the people friendly – in short – just as it always is at Leeann’s. (Picture above: Hedvig Mollestad and Leeann Atherton)
One of the premiers at the Film festival during SXSW was the documentary and concert film Road to Austin. The film was screened Thursday, and after the screening, many of the artists who participated in the film held a concert. The film is a perfect introduction to why the music scene in Austin is like it is. (Picture above: screen shot from the trailer to Road to Austin)
Artist Pictures Blog 