(Original on adressa.no)
Norway's most popular rock band of the last years, Kaizers Orchestra, is the headliner at the Storåsfestival. Tonight they will howl at the moon and bring out the Neanderthals in us all.- A quarter to two, you say? What the heck... This will be ?!?. Let's hope there's enough coffee around. Both for us and for the audience.
Guitar player Geir Zahl is a little angry about this somehow special playing time at the Storåsfestival. However, bit by bit he starts to like the thought.
- This will surely be spectacular. We have never been a better live band than we are now, I can promise you that. We have gotten some really praiseful live-reviews in the last time, both in Europe and here at home. After the Pink Pop festival in the Netherlands we were even chosen as best band of the festival. And that is surely cool.
Geir Zahl, aka Geir Kaizer, is very confident about the Storås gig. And he also has every reason for that. Lately, after a Kaizers concert in Folken (Stavanger), Stavanger Aftenblad had to admit that they have never seen Kaizers better - even though the Jærbuers messed with Tore Tang and were generally contrary on the Siddisens' expense. The dice was rolled and showed six.
Controll over the continent
In the last two years, Kaizers have attacked the continent with constantly increasing power. A fantastic concert at the Roskilde festival in 2002 opened many doors, and since then, they have toured in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands and have sold 35000 records in Norwegian language altogether. Outside of Norway.- It hasn't been any problem that the audience doesn't know the lyrics. We have so many other entertaining aspects that the people get caught anyway. Apart from that, we have some la-la-parts where they can roar along like crazy.
For two years, Kaizers have built themselves up bit by bit to a semi-big band in the European market. This summer they had several propitious festival performances and played for between 5 and 10000 people. Lately, they were the "special act" at Rock am Ring in Germany - one of the world's biggest rock festivals. However, Geir Zahl is not intimidated by the level the band has on the continent.
- After having been around on many festivals and having time to experience other bands, I start to know why we are so popular. Most of the other bands are actually really boring.
After an unfortunate quarrel with the record company Farmen, Kaizers Orchestra is on the hunt for a record company for their third release. 20 songs have already been recorded as demo version and Zahl is very enthusiastic about the new material.
- There will be a serious change in the music. We feel that the East-European tracks are followed to the end and that we are done with tough rock songs. The next record will be more humorous and up-tempo.
- Do we get to hear some of the new songs tonight?
- Yes, we have two new songs in the set, Ditt Skift and Medisin & Psykiatri, but they are basically not representative for the new material. We can't give away all the secrets so long before the new record comes out, concludes Geir Zahl.