IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Epidemics - I don't get it (video)

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:20:21 -0800

New stuff from Umeå pop-punk act Epidemics. Expect an EP from the band later this year.

MP3: Paper - Built the system

Fri, 27 May 2011 14:28:50 -0700

Relentless, single-minded in the best possible way and extolling the very essence of the mantra "keep it simple, stupid"; this is Paper. And they're also playing at our It's a Trap! Clubnight at Debaser Malmö tomorrow night with Epidemics from Umeå! Don't screw this one up folks.

Epidemics tour report

Mon, 09 May 2011 17:23:43 -0700

Swedish punkrockers Epidemics report back from tour: http://epidemicsrock.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/tour-report/

Epidemics added to May Clubnight

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:28:19 -0700

Umeå pop-punks Epidemics have been added to our May 28 Clubnight! Be there!

New Epidemics EP, tour

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:16:18 -0800

Swedish female-fronted pop-punk act Epidemics have a new 7" EP they are giving away as a free download: http://epidemics.bandcamp.com/album/no-reply-e-p
The band is also heading out for a few live dates in April:

04/22 - Lobusch, Hamburg (GER)
04/23 - Koma F, Berlin (GER)
04/24 - Elba, Warsaw (POL)
04/26 - Mitril, Olomouc (CZ)
04/27 - Futurum, Prague (CZ)
04/28 - Pod Lampou, Plzen (CZ)
04/29 - L'86 (early show), Finsterwalde (GER)
04/29 - Kombi (late show), Nuenchritz (GER)
04/30 - G16 festival, Leipzig (GER)

En samling från Turist i Tillvaron

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:17:14 -0800

Turist i Tillvaron, the blog of Swedish punk critic Mikael Sörling, is putting out a comp LP this summer: http://sirling.blogspot.com/2011/02/turist-i-tillvaron-ger-ut-samlings-lp.html
Featured artists include Slöa Knivar, Abjekt, Bäddat för Trubbel, Epidemics, Snutjävel and more.

Umeå Punk City Fanzine + CD

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:58:18 -0700

Now in stock: Umeå Punk City Fanzine + CD
This zine + compilation package features 30+ interviews with Umeå-based punk acts such as AC4, Regulations, Masshysteri, Invasionen, Knugen Faller, Industri Royal, Epidemics, The Bombettes and way more along with a 26-track compilation CD. Not only that, it's dirt cheap! Highly recommended, especially for anyone with an interest in hyper-local music scenes! See more here: http://umeapunkcity.blogspot.com/

Updated Euro dates for Epidemics

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:44:16 -0700

Updated tourdates for Umeå-based punkrockers Epidemics:

04/17 - Kafe 44, Stockholm (SWE)
04/18 - Showdown Henriksberg, Göteborg (SWE)
04/20 - DGB Keller, Mainz (GER)
04/21 - Cloeb Frisch, Wiesbaden (GER)
04/22 - 3Königskeller, Frankfurt (GER)
04/23 - Elpi, Freiburg (GER)
04/24 - Teufel, Heidelberg (GER)
04/25 - Plattendeck, Emsdetten (GER)

The band will be bringing along fellow Umeå resident Inge Johansson from The (International) Noise Conspiracy to rep for label/club night Ny Våg and to DJ. They'll also be carrying copies of their new (English-language) zine "Umeå Punk City 2008", which I should hope is self-explanatory enough -- I'm looking forward to getting a copy of said zine myself.

Epidemics to tour Germany

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:33:20 -0700

Umeå-based punkrockers Epidemics are heading out on tour in April:

04/17 - tba (SWE)
04/18 - Showdown Henriksberg, Göteborg (SWE)
04/19 - tba (GER)
04/20 - DGB Keller, Mainz (GER)
04/21 - Cloeb Frisch, Wiesbaden (GER)
04/22 - 3Königskeller, Frankfurt (GER)
04/23 - Elpi, Freiburg (GER)
04/24 - Teufel, Heidelberg (GER)
04/25 - Plattendeck, Emsdetten (GER)

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:50:42 -0800

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Familjen - Nu händer det igen
02. TALK 1
03. Murmansk - Pale
04. KTMK - Valaistu risti
05. Lapko - Hugging the phone
06. Hebosagil - Big sun
07. TALK 2
08. Samuraj Cities - Washed up!
09. Sad Day for Puppets - Marble gods
10. Logh - An alliance of hearts
11. Epidemics - Never grow up
12. TALK 3
13. Simon Says No! - Shiver
14. Kornstad - Turkey, Texas
15. Spirits of the Dead - White lady/Black rave
16. TALK 4
17. Laakso - Hang me in the Christmas tree

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XM U. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and in my house, channel 831 on DirecTV.

MP3: Epidemics - Never grow up

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:32:23 -0800

Pop-punk is the music of my adolescence. Growing up in the East Bay meant that the shadow of Lookout! Records hung heavy: Green Day, Mr. T Experience, Screeching Weasel, yadda yadda -- I was way deep into that stuff when I was 15/16. It's quite fitting then that a band like Epidemics out of Umeå have a song called "Never grow up" because to my ears, this is the music of youth and willful naivety. Naturally, it all goes back to the Ramones, whose semi-ironic bonehead stance personified/s the genre. Epidemics don't really do much to tinker with convention, but that's fine. Strong vocal harmonies and charming single-note guitar melodies seem like a bit of a lost art these days, so I'm glad to hear it done well. I'm sure 4th-rate pop-punk acts are still a plague, but since I don't play in that scene anymore, I'm blissfully insulated from hearing them. If there's more bands like Epidemics out there though, I'm all about it. It makes me feel like a kid again.

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:00:36 -0700

Umeå punk label Ny Våg has a new website and news about new releases from Tristess, Masshysteri and Epidemics: http://nyvag.com

MyFriends: Bluebridge the Quartet, Desktop Orchestra, Epidemics, Gentil, Harasser, Panter

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I can't keep up! My list of bands to feature here gets longer and longer every day. Anyhow, here's six unsigned/up-and-coming acts that deserve more attention.

Bluebridge the Quartet
SOUNDS LIKE: Postjazz? Well, that's what they call it. Imagine what it sound like if EST indulged their rock side a bit more and I think you'll be close.
HIGHLIGHTS: Bergman, Torsdag, 2008 exclusive
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/bluebridgequartet

Desktop Orchestra
SOUNDS LIKE: It's amazing what you can accomplish with even a basic home studio these days. This is interesting electro/acoustic pop that should appeal to fans of acts like Fredrik or Fontän. Skirts the edges of experimentalism, but never alienating.
HIGHLIGHTS: Both tracks are great
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/desktoporchestradk

Epidemics
SOUNDS LIKE: Ex-members from Disconvenience soldier on with the punk-rock thing, 'cept now the vocal hooks are way bigger and the songs are better. Match that up with some excellent walking basslines and I can't help but think of The Rezillos. Nicely done!
HIGHLIGHTS: Bloodstains, Never grow up
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/epidemicspunk

Gentil
SOUNDS LIKE: Takes the weirdo electro/fucked-up indierock stylings of latter-era Bear Quartet and runs with it. Still a bit rough around the edges, but bursting with potential. Of course that probably means they'll be doomed to obscurity, but I'll be listening.
HIGHLIGHTS: Chapter 1 why language matters, Debaser
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/gentilmusic

Harasser
SOUNDS LIKE: Normally I'd say that attempting to emulate Swedish hardcore legends Breach is an idea that's doomed to fail, but somehow these Danes pull it off. Bravo!
HIGHLIGHTS: Fortabelse
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/fasterkatt

Panter
SOUNDS LIKE: Easily fits within the paradigm of modern indie MOR, but they do it well, so who am I to say it's no good? Again, tons of potential.
HIGHLIGHTS: Every song is eminently likable, but I like the low-key "Part time queers" best
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/pantermusic