Grand Cafe

The band from Indre Østfold(Norwegian county) thought they were going to end their year quietly at Grünerløkka, Oslo. But then they was asked to do a support for Deep Purple. Friday night, the band got the knowledge that december wasn´t going to be as they predicted. Their booking agent had fixed them up as a support act at Oslo Spektrum for the legendary rock band Deep Purple.

An immediate yes.
The bands guitarist and vocalist, Christer Krogh, says they were never in doubt about agreeing to play the gig.

"Of course we had to say yes, this is the biggest venue in Norway, and just for us to support Deep Purple is a huge opportunity for us. I gives the band a different value you know..." he says.

The original plan for the rock band was to calmly end the year with their annual acoustic christmas show at Grünerløkka Brygghus. But now their acoustic guitars and pub venue was changed out with monster PA and an audience of over 5000.

"We´ve had at good year with the EP release and nice reviews, and this is going to be a wonderful finalè. But we´re still playing the acoustic mini gig next week." says Krogh.

The last day before the gate opens at Oslo Spektrum Grand Cafe uses to rehears over and over again.

"We´re a little bit nervous, couse this is exiting for us. But it´s a real good vibe within the band. Some of us are a mile high right now because Deep Purple is their absolute favourite band, while some of us are just focused on doing a good job. Anyway it´s gonna be a big thing for us." says Krogh.

Gets valuable contacts
Earlier Grand Cafe has supported both Alice Cooper and Turbonegro, but december 13th is going to be their first time at Oslo Spektrum.
Christer Krogh is saying that he will use the opportunity to build their contact network, but also prepared for this to come later instead as people may know them better after the gig.

He´s still glad that he´s in touch with some of the giants in the business.

"Live Nation, the concert arranger that is, is one of the most well-known." he says.

Grand Cafe may be our counties first band to stage a scene with the size of Oslo Spektrum.

Journalist: Astrid-Helen Holm - Smaalenene Avis

The band from Indre Østfold(Norwegian county) thought they were going to end their year quietly at Grünerløkka, Oslo. But then they was asked to do a support for Deep Purple. Friday night, the band got the knowledge that december wasn´t going to be as they predicted. Their booking agent had fixed them up as a support act at Oslo Spektrum for the legendary rock band Deep Purple.

An immediate yes.
The bands guitarist and vocalist, Christer Krogh, says they were never in doubt about agreeing to play the gig.

"Of course we had to say yes, this is the biggest venue in Norway, and just for us to support Deep Purple is a huge opportunity for us. I gives the band a different value you know..." he says.

The original plan for the rock band was to calmly end the year with their annual acoustic christmas show at Grünerløkka Brygghus. But now their acoustic guitars and pub venue was changed out with monster PA and an audience of over 5000.

"We´ve had at good year with the EP release and nice reviews, and this is going to be a wonderful finalè. But we´re still playing the acoustic mini gig next week." says Krogh.

The last day before the gate opens at Oslo Spektrum Grand Cafe uses to rehears over and over again.

"We´re a little bit nervous, couse this is exiting for us. But it´s a real good vibe within the band. Some of us are a mile high right now because Deep Purple is their absolute favourite band, while some of us are just focused on doing a good job. Anyway it´s gonna be a big thing for us." says Krogh.

Gets valuable contacts
Earlier Grand Cafe has supported both Alice Cooper and Turbonegro, but december 13th is going to be their first time at Oslo Spektrum.
Christer Krogh is saying that he will use the opportunity to build their contact network, but also prepared for this to come later instead as people may know them better after the gig.

He´s still glad that he´s in touch with some of the giants in the business.

"Live Nation, the concert arranger that is, is one of the most well-known." he says.

Grand Cafe may be our counties first band to stage a scene with the size of Oslo Spektrum.

Journalist: Astrid-Helen Holm - Smaalenene Avis

self-released (2011)

Another left field entry from Imhotep’s heavier fare, the Norwegian quartet Grand Café release this 4 song EP as a set up for their second album due out in the first quarter of 2012. “Million Miles Away” contains 4 songs of straightforward independent rock n’ roll, with much in common with the older late 60’s, early 70’s Detroit scene along with artists such as The Smithereens, R.E.M. and that college sound. Vocalist/guitarist Christer Krogh has this plaintive, mystical word tapestry that he weaves seamlessly against the Hammond Organ, bass, and drum foundation for the band. “The Captain Roams” has these quieter Beatles verse elements and then rips into more electrified chorus proceedings.

To the point with no fluff, within 13:33 you’ll discover some addictive, straightforward rock that harkens back to yesteryear. Grand Café should gain a fervent following in many college markets, especially in the UK and North America where they appreciate these throwback musical qualities.

www.grandcafe.cc
www.myspace.com/grandcafeband

Rating: 4 / 6

Composed by Matt Coe - Imhotep

self-released (2011)

Another left field entry from Imhotep’s heavier fare, the Norwegian quartet Grand Café release this 4 song EP as a set up for their second album due out in the first quarter of 2012. “Million Miles Away” contains 4 songs of straightforward independent rock n’ roll, with much in common with the older late 60’s, early 70’s Detroit scene along with artists such as The Smithereens, R.E.M. and that college sound. Vocalist/guitarist Christer Krogh has this plaintive, mystical word tapestry that he weaves seamlessly against the Hammond Organ, bass, and drum foundation for the band. “The Captain Roams” has these quieter Beatles verse elements and then rips into more electrified chorus proceedings.

To the point with no fluff, within 13:33 you’ll discover some addictive, straightforward rock that harkens back to yesteryear. Grand Café should gain a fervent following in many college markets, especially in the UK and North America where they appreciate these throwback musical qualities.

www.grandcafe.cc
www.myspace.com/grandcafeband

Rating: 4 / 6

Composed by Matt Coe - Imhotep

So, a few days ago I received an email from a guy with an excellent name – he’s also called Chris – asking me to have a listen to his band’s album. I was of course more than happy to oblige. That band is Grand Café and the album is ‘Elm Tree Gardens’, released on April 26th this year. Drawing heavy influence from the Detroit rock scene of the sixties, ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ is a hugely dynamic record, effortlessly alternating between raw rock muscle a gentler instrumentation. It’s a fiercely inventive record too and makes no apologies for it. This is the band’s sophomore release, following 2008’s ‘Put A Little Grease On My Axe’ (now there’s a euphemism if ever I heard one), and by all accounts they haven’t done things by halves, electing to enlist Taking Back Sunday and Turbonegro producer Lars Voldsal to helm the sessions.

’26 Days’ kicks off proceedings, and it’s a compelling album opener. The mood here is both contemplative and slightly creepy, in the same sense that Sting’s ode to the joys of stalking ‘I’ll Be Missing You’ is; although frontman Christer Krogh seems to be a little more aware of himself than The Police frontman ever was when he describes spending “26 days on your bedroom floor, I spent days and nights just to a little get closer to you, in my mind where I’m ruined, just because of you”. An eerie, repeated guitar pattern and skittering yet relentless drums draw the song towards a cataclysmic, discordant chorus. Superb.

‘A Hole In Your Soul’ is next, opening with wave after wave of clashing drums against the shore that is the listener’s ears and stabs on a Hammond organ, and Krogh, who informs an unseen antagonist that he’ll “follow your lead like a dog”. First single ‘Million Miles Away’ veers further towards indie sounding not unlike ‘Antics’ era Interpol, intricately weaving piano and guitar whilst leaving room for Krogh’s superbly emotive voice. You can see the inventive side of the album clearly here too as the Hammond organ makes an appearance again here too, and it works incredibly well when it perhaps should not. Slow burner ‘No Bridge Unknown’ opens with a classic eighties power ballad lead guitar and builds to an almighty chorus. Lyrically the song is a lament for one of those broken souls we all encounter from time to time; those whose lives have burned out in a blaze of chaos.

Title track ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ loosely continues this theme; a discordant tale of a man “walking round in the wind and the rain in the Elm Tree Gardens” who is a “shame a disgrace and he’s locked in his mind” all accompanied by military drums and crystal clean guitars. ‘Lust’ talks of a (possibly autobiographical) one night stand ending in unrequited love; “you came out of lust, as I wanted you to – as you wanted me to. You came with your heart, you held it up high but I was too blind to see”, Melody on ‘Lust’ comes from a mournful flute, immaculately underpinning Krogh’s unfortunate tale with delicate majesty. It has to be said at this point that the aforementioned experimental instrumentation on this album is superbly executed and utterly fearless. Experimentalism in music is something that in the wrong hands can completely destroy and album, but on ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ Grand Café have got it spot on.

‘The Captain Roams’ is a bombastic rock track, rammed fuller than Kerry Katona with driving rhythms, insistent guitars and a superbly sleazy bassline, and the declaration that “these chains are yours to own”. Kinky. ‘Headsman’ is the clearest example of the band’s sixties influences, sounding like a fuzzed up homage to Led Zeppelin (yes, I know they weren’t a sixties band!) – and it’s utterly awesome. The thing I love most about ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ is that no two tracks are the same; and ‘Murdergame’ is no exception. A moody, churning number about addiction to murder that features the startling revelation “my medicine is death, that’s why I’m sane”. One of the most addictive (and in turn, ironic) tracks on the album. ‘Killer Bee’ is a chorus drenched musical family tree, with some of the finest guitar work I have heard on an album in a while, and ‘A Sign Of Love’ – it may not surprise you to know – is a piano led love song, with Krogh urging the subject of his affections to “open your eyes and let me be with you, let me just take your hand and we’ll walk together”. It may not be Shakespeare, but it’s still beautiful.

So, thanks to Chris for sending me ‘Elm Tree Gardens’. Grand Café are a band that at the time of writing have had very little recognition in the UK, and this is a crying shame – however, on the strength of the wonderful ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ this will hopefully become a thing of the past.

4/5. - sunspotsinpeacetime

So, a few days ago I received an email from a guy with an excellent name – he’s also called Chris – asking me to have a listen to his band’s album. I was of course more than happy to oblige. That band is Grand Café and the album is ‘Elm Tree Gardens’, released on April 26th this year. Drawing heavy influence from the Detroit rock scene of the sixties, ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ is a hugely dynamic record, effortlessly alternating between raw rock muscle a gentler instrumentation. It’s a fiercely inventive record too and makes no apologies for it. This is the band’s sophomore release, following 2008’s ‘Put A Little Grease On My Axe’ (now there’s a euphemism if ever I heard one), and by all accounts they haven’t done things by halves, electing to enlist Taking Back Sunday and Turbonegro producer Lars Voldsal to helm the sessions.

’26 Days’ kicks off proceedings, and it’s a compelling album opener. The mood here is both contemplative and slightly creepy, in the same sense that Sting’s ode to the joys of stalking ‘I’ll Be Missing You’ is; although frontman Christer Krogh seems to be a little more aware of himself than The Police frontman ever was when he describes spending “26 days on your bedroom floor, I spent days and nights just to a little get closer to you, in my mind where I’m ruined, just because of you”. An eerie, repeated guitar pattern and skittering yet relentless drums draw the song towards a cataclysmic, discordant chorus. Superb.

‘A Hole In Your Soul’ is next, opening with wave after wave of clashing drums against the shore that is the listener’s ears and stabs on a Hammond organ, and Krogh, who informs an unseen antagonist that he’ll “follow your lead like a dog”. First single ‘Million Miles Away’ veers further towards indie sounding not unlike ‘Antics’ era Interpol, intricately weaving piano and guitar whilst leaving room for Krogh’s superbly emotive voice. You can see the inventive side of the album clearly here too as the Hammond organ makes an appearance again here too, and it works incredibly well when it perhaps should not. Slow burner ‘No Bridge Unknown’ opens with a classic eighties power ballad lead guitar and builds to an almighty chorus. Lyrically the song is a lament for one of those broken souls we all encounter from time to time; those whose lives have burned out in a blaze of chaos.

Title track ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ loosely continues this theme; a discordant tale of a man “walking round in the wind and the rain in the Elm Tree Gardens” who is a “shame a disgrace and he’s locked in his mind” all accompanied by military drums and crystal clean guitars. ‘Lust’ talks of a (possibly autobiographical) one night stand ending in unrequited love; “you came out of lust, as I wanted you to – as you wanted me to. You came with your heart, you held it up high but I was too blind to see”, Melody on ‘Lust’ comes from a mournful flute, immaculately underpinning Krogh’s unfortunate tale with delicate majesty. It has to be said at this point that the aforementioned experimental instrumentation on this album is superbly executed and utterly fearless. Experimentalism in music is something that in the wrong hands can completely destroy and album, but on ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ Grand Café have got it spot on.

‘The Captain Roams’ is a bombastic rock track, rammed fuller than Kerry Katona with driving rhythms, insistent guitars and a superbly sleazy bassline, and the declaration that “these chains are yours to own”. Kinky. ‘Headsman’ is the clearest example of the band’s sixties influences, sounding like a fuzzed up homage to Led Zeppelin (yes, I know they weren’t a sixties band!) – and it’s utterly awesome. The thing I love most about ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ is that no two tracks are the same; and ‘Murdergame’ is no exception. A moody, churning number about addiction to murder that features the startling revelation “my medicine is death, that’s why I’m sane”. One of the most addictive (and in turn, ironic) tracks on the album. ‘Killer Bee’ is a chorus drenched musical family tree, with some of the finest guitar work I have heard on an album in a while, and ‘A Sign Of Love’ – it may not surprise you to know – is a piano led love song, with Krogh urging the subject of his affections to “open your eyes and let me be with you, let me just take your hand and we’ll walk together”. It may not be Shakespeare, but it’s still beautiful.

So, thanks to Chris for sending me ‘Elm Tree Gardens’. Grand Café are a band that at the time of writing have had very little recognition in the UK, and this is a crying shame – however, on the strength of the wonderful ‘Elm Tree Gardens’ this will hopefully become a thing of the past.

4/5. - sunspotsinpeacetime

Grand Cafe' opened Alice Coopers show in front of 1800 people(sold out)
Due to some trouble with the promoter
they did a show with all the lights on.
But hell yeah they did a great job.
six on the dice. - VG-Norway (National Newspaper)

Grand Cafe' opened Alice Coopers show in front of 1800 people(sold out)
Due to some trouble with the promoter
they did a show with all the lights on.
But hell yeah they did a great job.
six on the dice. - VG-Norway (National Newspaper)