Drunken Balordi are a relatively new band that we are itching to have on stage at Nazdrove. If you have a thirst for something that smashes Punk, Gypsy and folk together, then you need look no further. Definitely an East meets West soundclash vibe going on here!!! Read on….
Can you give us a history of the band.
(When did you form, who is in the band, how did you all meet up, international mix of members?)
I left Dublin in 2000 to go busking around Europe and settled in Bologna, Italy for 7 years. There I played in punk bands and then I moved to London to make a name for myself after that. After searching for 6 months I gave up the quest of looking for a great band to join as all the live acts I saw were boring, unenergetic and basically passionless live, so I decided I would start my own. I formed Drunken Balordi just over a year and a half ago, but 'what style of band would I form'?
Well, it all came about after I saw the film 'Everything is Illuminated', and even though it is a great film it was the Eastern European soundtrack which moved me more than anything. The music was so tragic, passionate and at the same time very lively and festive. So I thought this is the music I wanted to make and I would mix it with my punk roots.
The hard bit was finding the right players, cause when I found a few people they thought I was bonkers and that it would not work! ha ha ha
Then things got better when Clemens (Violin), found my advert on Gumtree even though he was living in Germany at the time, and had been looking for the right band to join for 5 or 6 months. So he come over for an audition, I played him some of my songs and then he moved to London! Clemens had been playing in bands that made Klezmer (Jewish) music, so he was perfect. Then one evening in the pub after rehearsal we were discussing about trying to find a drummer and this long haired hippy named Pag (Drums) overheard our conversation at the bar. He said that he could play drums so we gave him a try out and he was great. They we started looking for a bass player and I remember meeting this guy called Justin (Bass) from South Africa at a party a few months earlier who was already in a band but by the time I went looking for him he left that band and joined us. Then came the really hard part ...finding an accordion player!
Thats when kathy (Accordion) answered our advert. She said that she was just interested in a try out, and she said she would stick with us just for our first gig at the famous 100 Club in Oxford St. but she was hooked after that! ha ha ha
You've been together for such a short time and achieved quite alot on the touring front. What has been some of your favourite festivals and club nights to play at?
The 100 Club was special as it was our first gig and it's got so much punk history, and it was the first time all our friends saw us perform this music style!
Supporting Shane McGowan and The Popes at The Pogues After Party after the Pogues xmas gig in Brixton Academy. That night we hammered it and won over not only the crowd but also won the heart of The Popes manager Adrian Smith from 7 Music and shortly after he left them to manage us full time and since became a very close friend.
Playing the Eden Festival in Scotland, jesus, they went nuts for us and would not let us off the stage until we did two encores!
The Roots Festival in Norway when we played with The Levellers,..we and all our friends who came along too were treated like kings.
You also played a few dates in NYC, especially at the legendary Menhatana Bar. How was that?
Yeah, New York what can I say, they love us over there. We did a few dates in NYC, this summer to test out our music on the other side of the pond. We played the underground world party venue EastREV in Brooklyn, was great, we even caused a mini riot between the Ecuadorian homies, I think they couldn't take all the energy that we were dishing out.
And then, ... there is the Menhanata bar in Lower East Manhattan h ah ha ha. We were asked to play from 10pm till 11pm on a Saturday night but the place didn't fill up until we were half way through the set. Then all of a sudden the place got rammed packed and the people were going crazy for us, and the next thing I see ADI our manager trying to push through the crowd to tell me that the owner of the place changed his mind and said we can play as long as we want!
DJ Misto even played two of our tracks back to back 4 times in a row at the end of the night, i couldn't believe it.
It's a great bar with two floors and an Ice cage where you can drink as much vodka as you like for 10 minutes for $10!!! Have I got some stories for you about that night! h ahhaa
You've certainly been busy for a band without an album out yet. I do hear of something forthcoming from you. Can you tell us about your upcoming album and about some of your songs? (what have you got to say)
Yeah, we are almost finished making the debut album now. We are working with Andy (Ex drummer of StereoLab) from Press Play Studios. He is the engineer and producer. I have played a 5 string banjo, Nashville tuned acoustic guitar for extra depth and texture,and we also have brass and many other surprises on the album! Its sounding great! I'm not gonna say anymore, you will have to wait and listen for yourselves.
Your vocals have been compared to Joe Strummer? Is that a compliment or a misdirected comparison? (Whats influenced your vocal style)
Ahhh, the late great Joe Strummer... yep he was the man. I love it when people come up to me after a gig and say that my voice reminds them of Joe, it's happened quiet a few times. I love the Clash, so it is a great compliment!
Some bands wear their influences on their sleeves. Would you say this is the case with DB. I hear Pogues meets Gogol thrown about quite a bit in regards to your band. Is this a fair or clumsy description and what would you say has influenced DB?
I am not afraid to wear my influence on my sleeve cause it's honest. Gogol were a starting point for me as The Sex Pistols were for The Clash. The Clash used The Pistols as a reference point but don't sound like The Sex Pistols, and its the same with Drunken Balordi we have similarities but we are way more punk. Eugene (Gogol) is great, he is a gypsy but I am a punk.
My main influences are The Clash for Joe's energy and drive, The Pogues for Shane's lyrics, again both frontmen were honest and lived what they sang ..and that is the big secret in a great band. Again, these frontmen would not be so great without a great band behind them.
Gypsy music is pretty trendy at the moment. What would you say to the critics who say you are jumping on the Gogol band wagon?
Honestly, I used to get pissed off, but now I just laugh cause it's like saying Megadeth jumped on the band wagon of Black Sabbath or Metallica!
Come on, there are a million bands in each genre. I think Gogol are great, don't get me wrong but we are different, it's just the critics dont know anyone else in this genre, for example there is Kultur Shock from the states (whom we supported recently at the Underworld in Camden) who are going just as long as Gogol. Then you have Leningrad who are probably my favourite. Check them out!
What has also been your favourite and worst music press description of your band?
We have not have had a bad review yet, thank god! The best review was probably by DJ Misto after we played the Mehanata bar in NYC this summer, he said great things about us.
You use the term Gypsy punk. What does it mean to you? Can you play it without being a Gypsy or is it just a form of music?
It's a phrase coined by Eugene (lead man Gogol), he used to describe his sound. I think its great, it was where we started from as we are a young band, but we have already changed the description of our music as we are already changing musically. We are World Punk now cause we are mixing alot of different music together. You can play any style of music without actually being from that background. Of course, it helps if you do come from that background.
Can there be only one Gypsy Punk band or is there a scene?
There can be many, why not. There really is a big gypsy scene happening, and it's not going to go away either. It's still quiet underground, as it is not mainstream, not yet anyway.
A lot more people are becoming aware of the scene, as like with cinema for example, people are tired of Hollywood and are opening their mind to world films and new cultures which opens the door to new music and new artists around the world. The world is getting smaller and it's not about being a big commercially marketed band anymore. It's all about.. the best band to make the best party!
Drunken Balordi are rising so fast it's scary, and I guess it's because our music creates a party no matter how big or small the stage or venue is. It's honest music with honest lyrics about most of my life's experiences, be it heartache, love or just going crazy. You can see the pattern here, there is always high emotion and energy. That is the secret!
I hear of punk, folk and festival roots within the band?
(I take it this has a big influence on DB's music and outlook? Could you explain a little about what you've brought from those scenes into DB?)
Again, it's the whole band really, Clemens for the Klezmer and Classical, Kathy for the Traditional, Justin for the Rock n Roll, Pag for his crazy Slayer meets Country and myself the punk. It's a mad mix but it works.
There has been a long history of Irish punk folk in the UK. Where does DB fit in with that. Are there other bands you recognise or tip the hat to?
I am an Irish man living in London mixing punk with folk, so it's got to be Shane McGowan and The Pogues.
But then again, you seem to hold a great fascination for Eastern Europe which people proclaim it to be the new 'wild west'? What pulls you there and what experiences have you had there?
That is a good description of it, the wild west, yeah! I have been to Sziget Festival before and loved it. I hope we get to play there next year!
Would you say the hearts and minds of these Isles are moving away from Americana to the unchartered territory of the East?
Yeah sure, you can see it even on a lot of peoples facebook or myspace pages! There is so much music, art and literature which has not been discovered in these parts. It's exciting and it's all out there for you to discover at your own leisure , without some supermarket ramming it down your throat.
Have you played Sziget festival yet? What other places would you love to play?
We want to play many many festivals, but I like the club night like Cafe Cairo nights,Stranger Than paradise and Balkan Beats London, all these guys really know how to throw a good party. When we played Balkan Beats London there were 450 people bouncing to our music like lunatics earlier this year. Check out these places. Crazy times!
What bands are you raving about within the Gypsy Balkan diaspora?
There are some great great Roma/Gypsy bands out there like Taraf de Haidouks, Fanfare Ciocarilia, Kocani Orkestar, Emir Kusturica and the no smoking orchestra, which reminds me, check out the composer Goran Bregovic he is great, check out the music he did for the film Black cat White cat, great stuff.
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Are there any bands you would like to do a project with or work with?
There are many many, where do I start, do you have to time for me to list them all?
Any bands in London that we should be looking out for?
Yeah, there is one actually, you might know them! Does the name Drunken Balordi ring any bells???
Finally let us know your plans for 2010?
Well first, finish the album early January with a bang, and then a punishing tour throughout most of 2010 and hit many festivals and places throughout Europe and also a mini tour of the east coast of the US! Watch out we are bringing the party to your town. OPA !!!
THANKS FOR THE INTERVIEW.
Thank you
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