Swedish band „ Langfinger” played on Fontaine Festival first day and made the audience in Fontaine Palace dancing. I met them on early Saturdays morning, but we agreed that better conversation will came about after a nap. We met us after 6 hours in the noisy lobby of Fontaine Royale. „ Langfinger” already packed and were waiting for the transport to take them to the ferry back to Sweden.
„Langfinger” is a trio from Gothenburg, formed by Kalle – guitar, backing vocals, Victor – bass, keys and lead vocals and Jesper – drums and backing vocals. It not easy to define the style the band is playing – you can hear a lot of influences. At the first moment it might sound as American stoner rock, due to the groovy down tuned bass, but now days it’s only an artistic element. Speaking the band words, you can’t always foresee where the sound is going. To make your own point of view, check „ Langfinger’s” soundcloud:
Langfinger means the middle finger. Why did you choose it for your band name? Something connected with being rebellious?
Victor: No, it is not rebel thing. Kalle dreamed about one of his favorite bands. In that dream they were called Langfinger.
Kalle: Yeah, when I woke up I realized that there is no band called Langfinger. But when we started as a band, we were just jamming.
How long do you know each other?
Jesper: Already four years. I and Kalle had another band. Our singer and bass guitarist missed the show and Victor jumped in. And that was the best show we ever had. It was five years ago.
So till now you are playing more in Sweden?
Kalle: We have played in Germany, Latvia and there are another countries coming, but we’ve been mostly touring in Sweden.
Victor: I guess, it is so because we’re recording our album. At the end of the year we’ll have two full length albums and vinyl. So I think that these things are important to us to break out of Sweden.
Are the Swedes willing to buy new bands debut records?
Victor: They do. They more like vinyl. Today people are more listening to vinyl. I don’t know, is it hype or is it going to stay, but I think it’s cool.
Kalle: The Swedes like things connected with music. When you’re listening to this kind of music like our rock’n’roll, they want whole package.
In Latvia you won’t sell records well.
Victor: A lot of downloading? I think it is so all over the world. It doesn’t really border me.
Kalle: When we release our first album a week after I heard, that it was already on pirate bay, I think it doesn’t bother anyone of us. People still buy our record, they want the real one. If they have downloaded and like it, they probably will buy it.
Viktor: I don’t think, if they like it, they will buy it. But if they liked it, they will show up to our shows. And the shows are the ones that really matters! I guess, live shows and tours are becoming more important.
Kalle: That’s what we are – we’re really a live band!
Are there thing in Swedish rock music that annoys you?
Kalle: I think it is a delicate subject, because you don’t want to badmouth anyone.
Jesper: Sometimes you get the wrong booker to work with.
Victor: Music scene differs from other branches, like IT Technologies or car selling. I don’t think there is any wrong
expressing or being in certain way, so the musicians look up to each other, because we are all in this together. It is great to have colleagues!
Kalle: I got similar question from a friend of mine who isn’t doing music. He asked me if there’s any competition between the bands. Because we want the shows, they want the shows. We want the contracts, they want the contracts. We want the fancy booker or whatever, but it’s more like you say, Victor, we look up to each other.
Victor: It might be that case that everybody thinks that their band is the best. There is not really competition.
Kalle: It’s more about helping each other.
Because what goes round…
Kalle: Yeah, what goes round comes round. If you buy me a drink I’ll buy you some dinner later. If you get on the wrong side, treating someone in bad way, it always back fires, and none will work with you!
How do you like Liepaja?
Victor: It’s a cool city! It’s a small city…
Kalle: I like the idea that something so big is happening in Fontaine.
Victor: Yeah, it’s pretty amazing – here is club, hotel, what else do you need?!
Kalle: It feels like this like this one world is a part of the town.
How do you like the audience of Fontaine palace?
Kalle: I was reality impressed. It was cool, that they were dancing and jumping, because we always do this in the band! The Swedes are different, they just stand and listen. So one of our goals is make the audience dance, but here in Liepaja you did it by yourself at the beginning of the show.
Have you heard some Latvian bands?
Victor: We heard Louie Fontaine.
Kalle: No, he is from Denmark!
Victor: He actually talked to us Danish! Norwegian, Danish people and Swedes as well are trying to converse in our own language. I don’t have the ear for that, I’m afraid. Sometimes I can tell is it Norwegian or Danish.
Kalle: I can speak with Norwegian but Danish is a lot harder!
Victor: I wanted to check the bands, but everywhere I went they were having a break.
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