FMA 028: Bryan Morris (Clouds & Oceans)

Bryan Morris (Clouds & Oceans)

First night out for FMA:

Bryan of CLOUDS & OCEANS was one of the first three persons I shot a video with as you will recognize by the inappropriate light situation.

No mistakes, no reflection, no progress.

Funny:

All three videos of that night are the shortest of the entire project.

Actually I can’t think back what I did differently that night. What questions did I not introduce? I guess I just hadn’t refined the core questions enough. Leaving my interview partners exposed to an open field of potential answers.

Concrete structures help everywhere.

Luckily, my questions got more precise every time I confronted another musician.

No mistakes, no reflection, no progress.

p.s.

Watch their video for "Our Voices, Our Dreams".

FMA 027: Enrico De Angelis (Los Fastidios / KOB Records)

Enrico De Angelis (Los Fastidios / KOB Records)

As I did some research for LOS FASTIDIOS I was more than surprised that they got more than 10.000 Likes, are around for over 25 years and I had NEVER even heard about them.

So LOS FASTIDIOS are definitely a heavyweight within the scene. A scene I am not part of for I am neither a Skin-, Punk- or Oi!-person, nor a respective fan.

The first person I ran into at the venue – it’s almost always the guy/gal at the merch - turned out to be Enrico who is the only founding member left in LOS FASTIDIOS and also runs KobRecords Italia.

In all the interviews I have done Enrico was the only one who repeatedly offered to re-do the video. He multiple times asked me if I was content with his words.
On the other hand I ensured him multiple times that everything was just fine and that, if you ask me, he matched the topic of this project.

p.s.

Watch their video for "Antifa Hooligans".

FMA 026: Tobias Hojka & Daryl Mevissen (Never Back Down)

Tobias Hojka & Daryl Mevissen (Never Back Down)

In the case of NEVER BACK DOWN:

Never heard of them.

The only “Never back down” I had known before was from a THROWDOWN-song, the intro of their record “Haymaker” which, to me, remains as one of my most favorite early metalcore/hardcore records.

NEVER BACK DOWN were given the chance to support the Czech headliner because they’re from the same hometown area as the promoter of that show.

After NBD agreed we sneaked near the venue’s office where we tried to brighten up the scenery with my rough-and-ready phone light.

After a chuckling start to the video it took Tobias and Daryl a couple of minutes before they really got to their core and then, once on a roll, couldn’t stop anymore. At least that’s what it felt to me standing there almost for 15 minutes holding my phone.

Although, she does not appear in the video NEVER BACK DOWN’s Carolin* was one of not even a handful of female musicians I saw on stage during this project. Frankly, I still do not know where this heavily one-sided ratio stems from... Well, does anyone?

*EDIT:
Lately, Carolin has left the band and was replaced by, quelle surprise, a male bassist.

p.s.

Watch their video for "White Rose".

FMA 025: Jan Kucera (Skywalker)

Jan Kucera (Skywalker)

After the interview Jan said that it was the most interesting interview he has ever done. Although, SKYWALKER have given quiet a lot interviews so far they are normally asked questions about…

Guess what…?!

Star Wars!

Yes, people and (volunteer) journalists seem to be THAT one-dimensional. I mean, come on! Who asks a band called SKYWALKER questions about Star Wars?

Seriously?!

Like they have NEVER EVER answered such questions before…

Burghhhh…

Furthermore, Jan told me an interesting anecdote about the Czech scene:

SKYWALKER once received an invitation to play a festival with Death Metal-bands what, most obviously, is not pretty close to the genre they see themselves in. Nonetheless, they agreed because genres don’t matter. What concerned Jan the most before the show was if he would have even the tiniest chance to eat at that festival. As a vegan he expected nothing and actually less. But surprisingly enough they had put up an entire vegan buffet – for all the bands.

Once again:

Covers and books do not always match.

BTW:

We all know Ashton Kutcher, right? ‘Kutcher’ is the Americanized version of Czech surname ‘Kuçera’.

Yep, Jan told me that while we went back to the venue.

p.s.

Being on the road is everything for Jay. And he admits that a good soundtrack is the song “Pave Paradise” by HAVE HEART. Actually the entire record “The Things We Carry” is rad.

You, reader, stop clicking through the Internet. Go get this album and listen to it over and over again!

FMA 024: Daniel Gößmann & Jörg Schickel (Dead Kingdom)

In retrospect:

Most of the bands I had asked about an interview before I actually attended their show did not reply. DEAD KINGDOM did. 

Once I arrived at the tiny venue I once more asked myself: Should I really include them? 140-something Likes… Would they really draw the attention of anyone?
My doubts were empowered as Daniel and Jörg told me that they had actually just played their first show in this lineup on that night. I was definitely unsure if I should do this and put even more work and video editing on my shoulders…

Looking back, I am more than glad that I shot the interview as intended. DEAD KINGDOM had a TOTALLY different approach than any other band I have talked to throughout the entire project.
That made it worth it.
100%.

Daniel Gößmann & Jörg Schickel (Dead Kingdom)

Additionally, after the interview it turned out that Jörg is a kindergarten-teacher, as well. Just as I am.

Looking back, I decided wisely to do that video.

And again:

Never judge a book by its cover. I learned that lesson that night again.

FMA 023: Kieran Alder & Sammy Clifford (WSTR)

While I waited for someone to talk to and ask about a potential interview I, once again, ran into Josi of Holding.The.Moment who also was hoping for permission to shoot some pics.

WSTR agreed to do the interview after the show.

After NECK DEEP finished their headliner set, I firstly shot a video with another British band and waited afterwards for WSTR to pack up their merchandise.

Kieran Alder & Sammy Clifford (WSTR)

Following the interview I asked Kieran and Sammy about the back then upcoming match between Liverpool FC and Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Euro-League semifinals. But both are not that much into sports what ended the conversation sooner than I thought.

BTW:

To me it is somewhat still unbelievable that a band which was founded only a year ago already had the chance to support NECK DEEP on an entire EU-tour. Incredible.

p.s.

Watch WSTR's acoustic version of "South Drive".

FMA 022: Kevin Niedernhöfer & Alex Thiel (Lax Diamond)

One week before I interviewed LAX DIAMOND I shot a video with their bass player Jonas and his other band. Jonas was kind enough to tell his LAX DIAMOND-bandmates that I’d come around to do the same with them.

Kevin Niedernhöfer & Alex Thiel (Lax Diamond)

When I arrived at the venue they had already finished their set and did a live stream tour blog via Facebook for their fans. Not aware of that I totally crashed into that stream, Kevin and Alex asked me right away who I was. But luckily Jonas saved me from stuttering some obscure bullshit live on the Internet by yelling my name across the stairway and explaining that I was the interview guy.

After we had a good laugh, settled things and shook hands we sat down backstage in between sweaty underwear and gear cases.

To this day LAX DIAMOND remain one of the most warm-hearted and lovely bands I met during this project.

p.s.

Check out their “Heartbound”-trilogy consisting of “The rain”, “Ghost orchid” and “Phoenix”.

FMA 021: Jeffrey Eaton (Modern Life Is War)

Jeffrey Eaton (Modern Life Is War)

As I roamed through the backstage area of Schlachthof Wiesbaden, the place I’ve seen most shows of my life in, I suddenly ran into Matt, one guitarist of MODERN LIFE IS WAR, and explained everything to him. Immediately I offered that he could do the video. So he invited me to their backstage room where everybody was showering after their set. As we explained the topic to the other guys we rapidly felt that it would be an even better fit if Jeffrey, the vocalist, would do it.

Before we started I had expressed how honored I feel to talk to a band that emotionally touched me with their songs and lyrics more than once.

Gorilla Biscuits @ Schlachthof Wiesbaden

Firstly we wanted to do the interview in their backstage room but as we tried to improve the lighting Jeffrey unfortunately and unintentionally broke a lamp. After covering up that accident we stepped out on the floor. 

After I had expressed my gratitude once more I tried to catch GORILLA BISCUITS for an interview but I coudn't convince them. They simply felt too tired for an interview after their set. We shook hands and I left with a happy feeling just having shot a video with freakin’ MODERN LIFE IS WAR!

p.s.

Check their classic "Fever Hunting".