The Sounds Hang Out For Six In SoCal

The Sounds, an indie rock group from Sweden, shall be gracing Observatory/OC Nov. 8, Fonda Theatre Nov. 11 & 12, Observatory/S.D. Nov. 14, The Glass House Nov. 16 before wrapping up their SoCal appearances at Pappy & Harriet’s Nov. 17.

The group will be celebrating the ten-year anniversary of their most prolific album Dying To Say This To You along with new music from the recently released EP The Tales That We Tell.

With six studio albums and tours since 1998, the band is already known for their entertaining live shows and boast a musical style best described as rock intertwined with a new wave style molded for the 21st century.

Concert Guide Live was able to catch up with the group’s drummer Fredrik Blond to get his take on playing packed houses, travelling with his bandmates, and not making future plans.

CONCERT GUIDE LIVE: What can you discuss regarding your latest album The Tales That We Tell and how does it tie in with your decision to again tour North America?
FREDRIK BLOND: We released the EP over the summer and so far it’s been very well received by our fans.

There’s always a lot of fans asking us to play in California and since we were already heading to Mexico, it seemed like a good idea.

Also, the weather is really awful here [in Sweden] in November so I didn’t need any convincing. I mean, who doesn’t like sunshine and palm trees every once in a while?

CGL: What is it like playing your music in the United States compared with your home country of Sweden?
FB: It’s a little different but not that different. I would say that people here in Sweden tend to not let loose as much when they listen to a Swedish band.

The crowd is always much better if the band or artist is foreign for some reason.

CGL: How did your group first come together and how did you enter the music industry?
FB: The band was started back in 1998 when Felix (Guitar) and Johan (Bass) who had known each other as kids, met up one night and decided that they would form a band. I was asked to join in, and Felix brought Maja (vocals) along from his school.

A year later, we found Jesper at a festival here in Sweden – he was from the same town as us – and he just happened to be really good at keyboards.

We played a lot of shows all over Sweden and after one show in Stockholm we got a publishing deal that later led to a record deal.

CGL: What are your favorite venues you enjoy playing at live at?
FB: Honestly, if the place is packed, then I don’t care. If it’s 200 or 20,000 then I know I’m gonna have a good time.

But if I have to say one place off the top of my head then I would say 9:30 Club in D.C. Great club and all the crew guys there have always been very nice to us over the years.

CGL: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
FB: Well, I probably wouldn’t. I don’t like talking about myself or what I do that much. I mean have you ever heard an artist give an accurate description of their own music?

But when people press me on it, I usually mumble something like “it’s rock music, but with keyboards added.”

CGL: What musical singers and bands have personally influenced you and your style of music?
FB: Oh, that’s a tough one. I think Nirvana was one of the bands that made me want to be in a band when I was about 15 or so, but you wouldn’t necessarily hear that in our music.

Also, The Clash’s drummer Topper [Headon] was a big influence for me.

CGL: What are some of your more memorable experiences playing your music live?
FB: I think some of the best memories are just hanging out with my band members and our crew and traveling the world together, partying, having a great time and then waking up in a new place every day.

CGL: Beyond your latest album and upcoming North American tour, what other plans does your group have in store for the future?
FB: I think that at the moment we’re in a stage of our lives when we don’t want to make big plans. I mean making plans can certainly be useful at times, but I think personally that the point of life is to live it!