Tag Archives: Gothenburg

WATERBOARDING SCHOOL.

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I know nothing about the music scene in Gothenburg, but if it sounds anything like Waterboarding School, then they’re all doing fine! There’s 5 of them in the band, and they’ve been around since 2017. Their newest single, In The Morning came out last month but I don’t want to focus on that- I’m going to do my best to write about how great they are.

Waterboarding School have a beautiful 60s Garage Rock feel to their sound, and they’re perfect to listen to as you do a whole load of nothing, because sometimes, it feels good to do just that. I’ve come home from a few days seeing my family and friends, and as I listen to Waterboarding School, my cat is sat in the window sunbathing. I think this band are the ideal soundtrack for her to do just that. She’s heading off into dreamland with the slick sounds of Waterboarding School playing. What a life she has!

Their debut record Back Rubs came out in 2019 and this was followed by 2023’s Bridge Reviews. Two records in, and it is fair to say that they’ve got a solid sound that you just can’t get enough of. I love how they remind me of the Count Five and The Vagrants, and July. Mix those three bands together, and you’ve got yourself Waterboarding School.  The band have this blissful style, and when you listen to them, it’s hard to have a care in the world and sometimes you just need a band that take that weight off your shoulders, y’know? They do it so well and you cannot help but fall in love with their sound.  I feel their debut record has more of the 60s Garage Rock feel, and releases after this, they’ve developed a slightly different sound. But it’s a solid sound regardless. I’m sold! Sign me up to whatever they are selling!

Trying to find anything out about this band obviously brings up things you don’t need to see or read, but when a band is this good- the music says it all. The first two releases only had 4 of them in the band, but regardless of how many there are of them- they just have a really distinctive sound that gets you hooked immediately. It always starts with the vocals, and Filip’s are bloody great! Once you’ve been hooked in this way, the rest just takes over your ears. If this is how good the music scene is in Gothenburg, then take me there now! This band should be massive. It’s criminal that they aren’t, but maybe the third record will be it. Maybe that’ll be the one that brings them over to the UK and they play a bunch of sell-out shows here, and we all fall in love with their sound. That’s fair, right? You’ve got the super relaxed sounds of Sighurd, then you’ve got the chaotic Moving On from the second record. They’re just so good, and they just make everything alright. Sometimes you need a band that make everything alright. I like the wave of comfort you get from them, especially in songs like So Tired. That’s an easy one to relate to! I think so far, my favourite may be Can’t Stand (from their debut record) but honestly, with a band like this, you can’t have favourites for too long!

The two new songs (You Got To Go and, In The Morning,) are a little heavier sound wise, and if this is the way the new record is going to go- then we are in for something truly special. They may have only formed in 2017, which actually, is a good amount of time to know your sound, but it feels like they’ve been around for longer. In The Morning feels like a proper summer Psych-Rock number, and I’m excited to hear what’s next from them. Go backwards from the two new songs when listening to them, and you’ll definitely hear a band that are well on their way- all we can do it listen and go on the ride with them.

If you’re looking for a band to listen to whilst you do nothing, then Waterboarding School are the band for you. Sometimes you need a band that you connect with in that way, and this band do it so well. Listen to them as loud as you want, and do nothing. What could be better?!

DIRTY BURGER.

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dirtyburger

 

As I slowly recover from IDLES’ show last week here in Manchester, it is time to find something new to write about. I’m not over how great IDLES were, and I never will be. Of course, I’m annoyed at myself for waiting so long to see them. There were so many times where I could have gone, but things got in the way. Not this time though. That raw emotion is still there, and fortunately I can pour it all into writing about Dirty Burger.

Dirty Burger are a three-piece Garage Rock band from Gothenburg, and they’ve only got a couple of songs up on their Bandcamp page, but it is more than enough to get me hooked on their sound. If you love bands like BIKES, TV Crime, Leather Party etc- then you’re going to love Dirty Burger. They sound like a motorbike going a stupid speed down the motorway just to get a kick out of it. The band have songs that just fill you up with adrenaline, and the urge to try make your own noise. I say this about so many bands, yet I’ve never picked an instrument up. In my head, I have. That’s probably safer to be honest. Dirty Burger have this sound that just makes you want to constantly be in the state of bliss they give you, and they really give you this idea that their live show is probably something out of this world. You can just imagine being in a cramped room jumping about to their songs and being immersed in it all. There’s nothing better and thank god we have bands like this who aren’t afraid to be loud and off the wall.

 

 

I honestly have no idea how long they’ve been together or how long they’ve been making music for, but when you listen to the releases they’ve put out this year, it is easy to hear that they are so sure of how they want to sound and how they want their sound to come across. There’s something really special about this band, and I’m so excited to hear more from them. Here’s to 2020 being their year!

Their newest single, Drained came out a couple of days ago and it is one to play loud. I highly recommend their song Bathroom Boogie too; it’s got a bit of a New York Dolls feel to it. The guitar reminds me a little bit of Personality Crisis by the Dolls. I can hear a bit of Johnny Thunders in their sound, and I adore that. Afterall, he was the greatest.

Dirty Burger make songs to become obsessed with, to cancel out all exterior noise and to just get lost in the world they’ve created. They give you this Trashy/Glam Rock kind of feel, and it’s something we do not get enough of, and not many delve into but Dirty Burger do it in a way that makes you feel like you’ve headed right into this world that no one else has caught onto just yet. In time, they will. I hope they will.

Daytime TV is another song to really blast out super loud. The guitar on this one is something else, and I think it may be my favourite (for now) but like I said, I’m so excited to hear more from them. Henrik has such a distinctive voice, and it goes so well with Nicke and Sebastian. They fit perfectly, and from this they have truly created a side to Garage Rock that we haven’t heard in a while.

Dirty Burger are truly a remarkable band, and with just a handful of songs they have made a lasting impression on me for sure. They just make you wish you could be at their live shows every night, and just experience their songs in different ways constantly. For a band to do this so early on is something to be impressed with, and something I really hope that they are proud with. They are 3 musicians who are brilliant what they do.

 

 

Play it loud.

SHITKID.

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Sometimes you need to listen to something that others may deem as uncomfortable. Mainly because they are far too uptight and conservative. Don’t surround yourself with those people, they’ll only try ruin you to make you like them. Before you know it, bland sounds will echo in your ear. Stick your middle finger up to them, and go about your day. A band that are perfect to do this to are Gothenburg based ShitKid.

The support band for The Vacant Lots on Sunday were ShitKid. They had the tough task of playing to only a handful of us, but I was hooked. They claimed to be hungover but that did not stop them from putting on a great show. Their sound reminds you of a band who are having fun making a wealth of noise in their cramped bedroom waiting for the world to listen. The world will listen, it just takes time for some to catch up.

https://soundcloud.com/sa-s-derquist/whyte-1?in=sa-s-derquist/sets/shitkid-1

What I adore about ShitKid is that they have this slumped sound. It is effortlessly woeful and the three of them just have this excellent Punk approach. Some bands are evidently trying too hard to capture a certain sound, but Shit Kid make it look so easy. They make you want to make your own noise and that for me, is enough. If you can get that feeling across then I reckon it is a job well done.

From their set on Sunday, I really loved their performance of Whyte and Poobrain.  I think they are one of those bands that you’ve really got to see live to get it. You get the attitude and meaning when you see them perform the songs live. I am that irritating person who has to always see the support band but I went to the show on my own on Sunday so it was fine. In this case I think I proved my idea right that you should always check out the support. I enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed The Vacant Lots.

It is really no surprise that ShitKid are on the highly influential label, PNKSLM Recordings. They are home to a lot of bands I love and Shit Kid is most definitely the perfect home for them. Their songs make you want to stay home, gaze out the window and do a whole load of nothing. It’s totally fine to have those days where you just want to waste them away. I feel like it all the time, but the doctor has told me it’s depression. Don’t go down my route, kids.

The EP was all done by  Åsa, and ShitKid is pretty much just her bar her live shows where she has 2 equally talented friends with her. You really pick up on the shyness in her voice and lyrics on the EP, and I think that makes the music so endearing and so easy to get into. I think this is the EP that was recorded on a semi broken computer and this DIY mind-set is so evident on the recordings. For me having that kind of approach to music makes a band more accessible and easy to just love.

https://soundcloud.com/sa-s-derquist/poobrain-1?in=sa-s-derquist/sets/shitkid-1

They’re playing The Old Blue Last tomorrow night (23rd) and tickets are only £5.