Interview: Jonas Skybakmoen (Johndoe)

MP3: Johndoe - Kjøtere

Want more exclusive content? Of course you do. Not only do I have a great interview posted today with Jonas Skybakmoen, the frontman of Norway's Johndoe, I've also got an mp3 of their brand new single "Kjøtere". The track comes from the band's forthcoming third full-length album "Dødvinkel", to be released this fall on the band's own JHND label imprint. As you can see, this is a Norwegian band that sings in their native tongue, but don't let that scare you off. One would hope that you're reading this site because you are openminded about such things. Good upbeat pop music like this has universal appeal, despite the language barrier. Highly recommended, especially if you're at all into bands like Randy, the Buzzcocks or Håkan Hellström. Think punk energy with tons of hooks. I'm really proud of the way our talk turned out, so download the song and get to reading!

Johndoe - Kjøtere

Video mix: Acid House Kings, Hello Saferide, The Hives, Meshuggah, Randy, Rough Bunnies, more...

Randy is working on booking dates in Spain and Canada.

MP3: The Vicious - It's all a lie

Got a new mp3 today from Umeå-based punk-rockers The Vicious from their latest 7" "Obsessive". If dig classic snotty singalong punk like Randy or Regulations (with whom they share a member) then you'll definitely love this too. A lot of times this sorta retro-sounding sound comes off as forced, but somehow the Scandinavian punks usually seem to pull it off. No detached irony, no snide winks; just 100% quality rock'n'roll. The other point of interest concerning The Vicious is that this is the new band of Sara Almgren from The (International) Noise Conspiracy. Sorry to those of you hoping that she'd return to her moshcore roots (she was in band Doughnuts way back when), but it looks like it ain't gonna happen. Yet. C'mon, isn't it about time someone started a Chokehold tribute band or something?

The Vicious - It's all a lie

Millencolin frontman Nikola Sarcevic will be releasing a new solo album on Burning Heart later this year, his follow-up to 2004's "Lock-Sport-Krock". In other Millencolin sideproject news, guitarist Mattias Färm is fronting a new project called Franky Lee also featuring Fredrik Granburg from Randy on drums and Magnus Hägerås from The Peepshows on guitar and bass. They'll be releasing their debut album this fall and some samples should hopefully be online soon.

Download a live video clip of Randy playing "Rockin pneumonia and the Punkrock Flu" in Hamburg: http://hem.bredband.net/fredgr/rockin.mpg

Randy's much-improved new website is finally online: http://www.randytheband.com/

Randy on tour in Europe:

04/01 - Lokomotiv, Trollhättan (GER)
05/23 - Ekko, Utrecht (NL)
05/25 - Waterfront, Rotterdam (NL)
05/26 - Tanzhalle, Hamburg (GER)
05/27 - Rocco Schalocko, Saarbrucken (GER)
05/28 - Underground, Köln (GER)
05/30 - Backstage, Munich (GER)
05/31 - Szene, Vienna (CH)
06/01 - Kaserne, Basel (CH)
06/02 - Remise, Wil (CH)
06/03 - A. Stadtbahnhof, Schweinfurt (GER)
06/04 - Trpticon, Munster (GER)
06/05 - Pfingst Open air, Essen (GER)

Randy has posted some new jams on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/randytheband

New tourdates for Randy:

03/25 - Umeå, Umeå Open (SWE)
04/01 - Trollhättan, Lokomotiv (SWE)
05/23 - Ekko, Utrecht (NL)
05/25 - Waterfront , Rotterdam (NL)
05/26 - Knust, Hamburg (GER)
05/27 - Rocco Schalocko, Saarbrucken (GER)
05/28 - Underground, Köln (GER)
05/30 - Backstage, Munchen (GER)
05/31 - Szene, Wien (AUS)
06/01 - Kaserne, Basel (CH)
06/02 - Remise, Wil (CH)
06/03 - A. Stadtbahnhof, Schweinfurt (GER)
06/04 - Trpticon, Munster (GER)
06/05 - Pfingst Open air, Essen (GER)

Photo: Henrik is updated with newish pics from Convoj and Randy.

Nominees for this year's Manifest Awards, Sweden's alternative to the Grammy:

Hip-hop/r&b/soul:
Form One - Meet Johnny Rhino
Hearin´Aid - The Boom Lucy
Jaqee – Blaqalious
Looptroop - Fort Europa
Timbuktu – Alla vill till himlen men ingen vill dö

Electronica/post-rock/synth:
Folie – Eyepennies
Midaircondo – Shopping For Images
Ola Bergman – The satellite city
Tape – Rideau
Thermostatic – Joy-Toy

Pop/Rock:
Embassy – Tacking
Jenny Wilson – Love And Youth
Blood Music – Sing a Song Fighter
El Perro Del Mar - Look! It’s El Perro Del Mar!
Lucknow Pact – A Few Drinks- A Few Laughs

Jazz:
E.S.T. - Viaticum
Jeanette Lindström – In The Middle Of This Riddle
MUSICMUSICMUSIC – What´s a good boss anyway?
Bobo Stenson trio – Goodbye
Ulf Wakenius – Notes From The Heart

Singer/songwriter:
Lars Bygdén – Trading Happiness for Songs
Frida Hyvönen – Until Death comes
Hello Saferide – Introducing: Hello Saferide
Christian Kjellvander – Faya
Billie the vision and the Dancers – The world according to Pablo

Dance/techno:
Hundarna från Söder – Troika
DK7 – Disarmed
Skugge & Stavöstrand – Humla
John Dahlbäck – Man From the Fall
Dibaba – Songs For Good Lives

Hardrock/punk:
Randy – Randy the band
Disco Volante – Blood On The Walls
Witchcraft - Firewood
Regulations - s/t
Grand Magus - Wolf’s return

Folk/world-music:
Sofia Karlsson – Svarta Ballader
Harv – Polka Raggioso
Ellika och Solo – Abraka/Tack
Svenska Akademien – Resa sig opp
Simone Moreno – Samba Makossa

Best live act:
David Sandström Overdrive
Frida Hyvönen
Jenny Wilson
Robyn
Timbuktu

Best newcomer:
The Tough Alliance – New school
Timo Räisänen - Lovers are Lonely
Frida Hyvönen – Until Death Comes
Montt Mardié – Drama
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names – #3

Best unsinged act:
She
Insert Coin
Anagoes
Intohimo
Loney, Dear

Winners will be announced on February 9.

Randy has posted the b-side to the "Razorblade" single on their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/randytheband
The band's latest album "Randy the band" comes out in the US tomorrow via Fat Wreck Chords and you can listen to a streaming preview here: http://music.aol.com/songs/new_releases_full_cds (scroll the album selector the right)
Buy it so the label brings the band over on tour. Oh and Randy were also the 'band of the day' over at spin.com recently: http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2006/01/060106_randy/

Top 10s for 2005: Navy Keophan