Vini, vidi, vinci. We drank the wine, watched some videos and though about Leonardo da. The stage was set, a grey Monday evening, sleepy eyes and a few (quite a few) friends. The mighty frog machine was greased (thanks to the Eisbein) and ready to rock. Or roll. Even pop a little.
After once again breaking our backs carrying too many amps and drums we arrived at the Magnet and did one of the loudest soundchecks I've ever heard (and I've been at a few ones, believe me). The sound tech made sure no one had any hearing left afterwards... So we had to talk to each other for a while while reading the lips. Fine thing. Especially if you're eating. Or drinking. Or drunk :o)
The Magnet club was quite packed even before the first band started shortly after 8 pm. Loud drones made sure everyone was also deaf before we went onstage, so no one could notice the wrong notes we played anyway. Grounded first and Zone of Equality later turned up to eleven and then Poolstar prepared the crowd for a good night of frog'n roll. By the way, thanks again to all of them for sharing this night with us. You rocked guys!
Unusually nervous this time around (at least I was), we hit the stage and gave a pretty punky rendition of "Throwing Up The Breakfast" to start. I think it was Cecil B. DeMille who once said that a good movie should start with an earthquake and then just go on upwards. That's what we went for on Monday. And we got it.
Launching into "Lately" and "Blue Ice" only proved too well that our 4th frog Jorge did a very nice job re-learning the songs. Our second guitar player for special occasions such as this packed out his Les Paul and lent me a hand terrorizing your poor ears :o)
But the, well, how could I say this... the funniest part in the gig was playing our Britney cover "Toxic", where some, er... female attendants decided it was time to throw lingerie onstage. String tangas and bras flying through the air was a view we will not forget so easily (hey, did I already tell you how we loved it?). :o) Diana, Patricia, Ainhoa, Claudia and the rest: you rocked!
The gig was a really cool chance to meet a lot of new froggy people who had already bought the CD but never seen us live before. And to deafen them, of course. We lost our hearing somewhere between "Million Miles" and "Titanium", but that didn't stop us from breaking the sound barrier with "While You Can" and then finishing the encore with a froggy rendition of the Foo Fighters' "All My Life". That was fun, man, I can tell you.
Then the real party started in the VIP zone. Depravation, girls, booze and food, what more can we ask for? Oh, yeah, a pair of new ears if possible.
28 April 2005
22 April 2005
Aufsturz
Simply fucking fun, man... A little gig turned out to be incredibly cool. We had our friend Jorge come over from Gran Canaria to play a few gigs with us, and we weren't disappointed: he did a dammed good job and we had a lot of fun & games... Some very loyal fans from here and there turned out to be VERY loud and ready to rock, so we gave'em what they wanted and premiered a few brand new songs for the next album (Follow You Around, Into The Sea, 1976). Afterwards it was too late to even think about having another beer... but somehow we managed. No comment on that :o)
Love,
Der Stonerl
PS: Oh, and by the way, we found our brains swimming in peaches...
Love,
Der Stonerl
PS: Oh, and by the way, we found our brains swimming in peaches...
11 April 2005
"A Million Miles From Home" video shoot
It all started early. Way too early, really! 7 a.m. was the call. After having played the night before at the Kurt Cobain Tribute, the first thing I noticed was how sore my neck was from the savage headbanging delivered onstage... but no time to moan, a full day's ahead!
After meeting at Maxim's office and sipping to a fast coffee we drove to a town (?) one-hour drive north of Berlin where the filming should take place. The location was a huge piece of land with several bunkers from World War II where the goose-step-loving Nazis used to store bombs and other fine goodies. It was later used by the invading Red Army to keep other fine goodies too. And even later, the East German Army used it to store... eh, store... well, whatever they stored there, ok? (Who gives a shit anyway, it simply looked cool!).
Already there were the crew and real heroes of the day: Sebastian Pennek (director), Martin Roth (camera), Carlos (light), Harpo (2nd camera), and of course, Maxim, the one in charge for everything else, the guy who had the idea for this whole thing, who has spent countless sleepless nights trying to figure out how to get all the people together and getting their asses on motion. And last but not least, also responsible for the most important stuff at these things: FOOD AND BOOZE!!
After setting up all the stuff we started with the first takes where Timo and My Lowness are basically running through the forest trying to find Tobi. And running through the forest again. And getting out of breath! We basically spent the first half of the day with that, finding cool locations and nice-looking trees (great!... does the irony come out fine on print?). At midday we were just bloody hungry and wishing for a nice comfy bed or a warm car to rest for a while (remember we had slept about 4 hours the night before, beer not included!).
After a fantastic and mayonnaise-loaded lunch from chef Max it was time for Tobi to start shooting, now inside of the bunker. A lot of burning lights (literally!) and nice smells gave the perfect touch to the scenes, really. I felt like one of the guys at the beginning of E.T. when they keep searching for the alien spaceship with their maglites in the middle of the mist, you'll see why when the video's finished... way cool.
After shoting a little bit it was time to get the scenes with Ralph Kretschmar, who plays a part as a... ah, come on, I won't tell, otherwise the surprise will be fucked up! But it looked very cool up there on a hill with a nice blue sky behind... :o) I'm looking forward to see this finished scene, as it may be a very surprising one, trust me. Still, I prefered to get back into the car and have a short snooze...
And then, after some more inside shooting, was time for the grand finale. The scene where the frogs are cooked and smoked and burned and then laid on the plate... Without telling much of the story, I can say that this will definitely look VERY cool when ready. We're a true smokin' band, man. The "hottest" thing around town...
Later, at somewhere between 11 and 12 in the evening, chef-in-charge Sebastian decided that he had all he needed in the can, so we packed up our things and began the long way home to a warm shower and a nice and comfy bed to sleep long long long...
A funny experience shooting I must confess. I couldn't act to save my life (no one of us can, really), but it was certainly fun to watch and be a part of, especially with very cool people managing it all. I'm fucking thrilled to see it all finished, and you should too!
Peace, love and smoked frogs,
El Niño Stone
After meeting at Maxim's office and sipping to a fast coffee we drove to a town (?) one-hour drive north of Berlin where the filming should take place. The location was a huge piece of land with several bunkers from World War II where the goose-step-loving Nazis used to store bombs and other fine goodies. It was later used by the invading Red Army to keep other fine goodies too. And even later, the East German Army used it to store... eh, store... well, whatever they stored there, ok? (Who gives a shit anyway, it simply looked cool!).
Already there were the crew and real heroes of the day: Sebastian Pennek (director), Martin Roth (camera), Carlos (light), Harpo (2nd camera), and of course, Maxim, the one in charge for everything else, the guy who had the idea for this whole thing, who has spent countless sleepless nights trying to figure out how to get all the people together and getting their asses on motion. And last but not least, also responsible for the most important stuff at these things: FOOD AND BOOZE!!
After setting up all the stuff we started with the first takes where Timo and My Lowness are basically running through the forest trying to find Tobi. And running through the forest again. And getting out of breath! We basically spent the first half of the day with that, finding cool locations and nice-looking trees (great!... does the irony come out fine on print?). At midday we were just bloody hungry and wishing for a nice comfy bed or a warm car to rest for a while (remember we had slept about 4 hours the night before, beer not included!).
After a fantastic and mayonnaise-loaded lunch from chef Max it was time for Tobi to start shooting, now inside of the bunker. A lot of burning lights (literally!) and nice smells gave the perfect touch to the scenes, really. I felt like one of the guys at the beginning of E.T. when they keep searching for the alien spaceship with their maglites in the middle of the mist, you'll see why when the video's finished... way cool.
After shoting a little bit it was time to get the scenes with Ralph Kretschmar, who plays a part as a... ah, come on, I won't tell, otherwise the surprise will be fucked up! But it looked very cool up there on a hill with a nice blue sky behind... :o) I'm looking forward to see this finished scene, as it may be a very surprising one, trust me. Still, I prefered to get back into the car and have a short snooze...
And then, after some more inside shooting, was time for the grand finale. The scene where the frogs are cooked and smoked and burned and then laid on the plate... Without telling much of the story, I can say that this will definitely look VERY cool when ready. We're a true smokin' band, man. The "hottest" thing around town...
Later, at somewhere between 11 and 12 in the evening, chef-in-charge Sebastian decided that he had all he needed in the can, so we packed up our things and began the long way home to a warm shower and a nice and comfy bed to sleep long long long...
A funny experience shooting I must confess. I couldn't act to save my life (no one of us can, really), but it was certainly fun to watch and be a part of, especially with very cool people managing it all. I'm fucking thrilled to see it all finished, and you should too!
Peace, love and smoked frogs,
El Niño Stone
15 March 2005
ANALOG; ANALOG; ANNA LOG MICH AN!
...und so begab es sich das an einem lauen Frühlingstag, welcher auch der vierzehnte Tag des Märzens A.D.2005 genannt wurde, eine kleine Schar lustiger Musikanten und Gaukler aufbrach um ihre lieblichen Gesänge, sowie das fröhliche Spiel der Laute in der wohlfeilen und schmeichelhaften Welt des digitalen Imperiums auf geheimnisvolle kleine Scheiben, von purem Silber gemacht, zu bannen. So trafen sie alsbald erschöpft und hungrig und gar abgerissen von der weiten, staubigen Reise, welche eine Spanne umfasste welche das viertel einer vollen Stunde war, in dem Schlosse, über dem in kobaltfarbenen Lettern die lateinischen Buchstaben "SAE" stilisiert waren, ein. Dort führten sie zwei, welche ihre Seelen in einem Kontrakte dem Finden des reinen Klanges verschrieben, in die gewohnten digitalen Gemächer.....DOCH HALT!!!!!........die erstarrten Hirne der Gaukler vermochten das Grauenhafte des sich ihnen bietenden Anblicks nicht zu fassen. Die zwei, welche ihre Seelen in einem Kontrakte dem Finden des reinen Klanges verschrieben, hatten sie wohl listig durch das Tor der Zeit geleitet. Keine dual zählende Apparatur wart in der Stube gesehen, statt ihrer erhob sich surrend, blinkend und bedrohlich ein Monster im Raume, welches die Gaukler von vergilbten Photographien noch zu kennen glaubten.
Zwei Spindeln, mit einem gar wunderlichen Bande verbunden, drehten sich obenherauf. Auch bewegten sich die, auf einer großen Konsole sich befindlich seienden, verschieblichen Regelmechanismen nicht etwa wie gewöhnlich durch einen Zauber selbsttätig. Man musste diese durch pure Manneskraft in die ihnen gebürliche Lage zwingen. Auch konnte man hier nicht die fälschlichen Klänge mit einem weiteren Zauber behexen, als das sie reinlich werden. Desweiteren bedrohten die zwei, welche ihre Seele in einem Kontrakte dem Finden des reinen Klanges verschrieben, die Gaukler mit dem Verbleibe in eben dieser analogen Hölle, sollte es ihnen nicht gelingen in kürzester Zeit eine lieblich Weise auf das magnetisch tönende Band zu zelebrieren.
Wohlan, so gingen die Gaukler ans Werk und spotteten derer die sich des Hohnes zu befleißigen wussten mit einem so süßen Gesange und einem ach fröhlichem Schlagen der Pauke und einem so wohltemperierten Spiel der Laute das sie alsbald den Zauber brachen und nun viel zu rasch diesen herrlichen Himmel des analogen Klanges verlassen mussten.
Mit verwässertem Blicke bestiegen die Gaukler ihre Kutsche, fanden heim, und im Traume noch lauschten sie dem mächtig, selig Getöse des analogen Imperiums. Und sie sahen das es gut war...............
Timo
Zwei Spindeln, mit einem gar wunderlichen Bande verbunden, drehten sich obenherauf. Auch bewegten sich die, auf einer großen Konsole sich befindlich seienden, verschieblichen Regelmechanismen nicht etwa wie gewöhnlich durch einen Zauber selbsttätig. Man musste diese durch pure Manneskraft in die ihnen gebürliche Lage zwingen. Auch konnte man hier nicht die fälschlichen Klänge mit einem weiteren Zauber behexen, als das sie reinlich werden. Desweiteren bedrohten die zwei, welche ihre Seele in einem Kontrakte dem Finden des reinen Klanges verschrieben, die Gaukler mit dem Verbleibe in eben dieser analogen Hölle, sollte es ihnen nicht gelingen in kürzester Zeit eine lieblich Weise auf das magnetisch tönende Band zu zelebrieren.
Wohlan, so gingen die Gaukler ans Werk und spotteten derer die sich des Hohnes zu befleißigen wussten mit einem so süßen Gesange und einem ach fröhlichem Schlagen der Pauke und einem so wohltemperierten Spiel der Laute das sie alsbald den Zauber brachen und nun viel zu rasch diesen herrlichen Himmel des analogen Klanges verlassen mussten.
Mit verwässertem Blicke bestiegen die Gaukler ihre Kutsche, fanden heim, und im Traume noch lauschten sie dem mächtig, selig Getöse des analogen Imperiums. Und sie sahen das es gut war...............
Timo
03 March 2005
Haare weg!
Tja, gerade die Platte rausgekommen und schon macht der Stonerl wieder Unsinn... die Haare sind weg, diese Mischung aus Dschungel und Wasserparkrutschen haben die letzten Ruhestäte auf dem Boden gefunden, wo es sich bei Haare so gehört.
Ganz komisch, so nach fast 4 Jahre, muß ich zugeben... Schon wieder alle Bandfotos veraltet! Ha!
Beaucoup d'amour,
Le Stone
Ganz komisch, so nach fast 4 Jahre, muß ich zugeben... Schon wieder alle Bandfotos veraltet! Ha!
Beaucoup d'amour,
Le Stone
27 February 2005
Into the SAE
Bonsoir madames et monsieurs,
comme stone écrit tout les temps en anglais,je voudrais essayer de parler un peut mots en francais.Trèeeees multiculturel les gens de FROGCIRCUS,hein?
Mon coupin Daniel est Étudiant à l`universitè "SAE " et le dernier mardi....ach,strengt doch zu arg an,alles auf Französisch zu schreiben.Ist nun doch ne Weile her mitm Französisch-Unterricht verdammt...
Jedenfalls waren wir letzten Dienstag in der SAE Berlin,da dort ein Freund von mir namens Daniel studiert und hoffentlich im Juni erfolgreich seine Prüfung zum "Audio Engineer" abschliesst.
Im Rahmen des Studiums müssen die Studis immer wieder Bands recorden...mal an der SSL Konsole,mal am Pro Tools System...und auf seine Anfrage hin sind wir natürlich sofort bereit gewesen,uns als Versuchskaninchen zur Verfügung zu stellen.
Recording-Sessions schaden ja nie...vor allem im Anbetracht der Lage,dass wir im April mit den "offiziellen" Aufnahmen für unsere nächste Scheibe in den Soja-Studios in Fürstenwalde beginnen.
Die Aufgabenstellung in der SAE war es jedenfalls,in 8 Stunden einen komplett fertigen Song abzuliefern,damit Daniel den Schein bekommt...das heisst inclusive Aufbau,Mikrofonierung,Einspielen,Mixen und Mastering.
Selbst für routinierte Cracks is das ziemlich knapp bemessene Zeit,egal ob man in der Regie oder im Aufnahmeraum sitzt.
Um mich kurz zu fassen-trotz Startschwierigkeiten technischer Art haben wirs tatsächlich geschafft,die Recordings mit drums,bass,gitarren und gesang innerhalb von dreienhalb Stunden zu beenden.
Herausgekommen ist dabei das erste inoffizielle Klangbeispiel unseres neuen tracks "Into the sea"...bald zu hören auf unserer Website.
Stone hat meiner Meinung nach mit dem Song mal wieder einen grossen Wurf gelandet...und ich freu mich schon,bald die "Endversion" aus meinen Lautsprechern erklingen zu hören.
Nun wissen wir jedenfalls,was passt bei dem track,was nicht...und Übung macht bekanntlich Meister.
Genauso wie aus nem geknutschten Frosch manchmal ein Prinz wird...
So long,
Der TrobelTommi
comme stone écrit tout les temps en anglais,je voudrais essayer de parler un peut mots en francais.Trèeeees multiculturel les gens de FROGCIRCUS,hein?
Mon coupin Daniel est Étudiant à l`universitè "SAE " et le dernier mardi....ach,strengt doch zu arg an,alles auf Französisch zu schreiben.Ist nun doch ne Weile her mitm Französisch-Unterricht verdammt...
Jedenfalls waren wir letzten Dienstag in der SAE Berlin,da dort ein Freund von mir namens Daniel studiert und hoffentlich im Juni erfolgreich seine Prüfung zum "Audio Engineer" abschliesst.
Im Rahmen des Studiums müssen die Studis immer wieder Bands recorden...mal an der SSL Konsole,mal am Pro Tools System...und auf seine Anfrage hin sind wir natürlich sofort bereit gewesen,uns als Versuchskaninchen zur Verfügung zu stellen.
Recording-Sessions schaden ja nie...vor allem im Anbetracht der Lage,dass wir im April mit den "offiziellen" Aufnahmen für unsere nächste Scheibe in den Soja-Studios in Fürstenwalde beginnen.
Die Aufgabenstellung in der SAE war es jedenfalls,in 8 Stunden einen komplett fertigen Song abzuliefern,damit Daniel den Schein bekommt...das heisst inclusive Aufbau,Mikrofonierung,Einspielen,Mixen und Mastering.
Selbst für routinierte Cracks is das ziemlich knapp bemessene Zeit,egal ob man in der Regie oder im Aufnahmeraum sitzt.
Um mich kurz zu fassen-trotz Startschwierigkeiten technischer Art haben wirs tatsächlich geschafft,die Recordings mit drums,bass,gitarren und gesang innerhalb von dreienhalb Stunden zu beenden.
Herausgekommen ist dabei das erste inoffizielle Klangbeispiel unseres neuen tracks "Into the sea"...bald zu hören auf unserer Website.
Stone hat meiner Meinung nach mit dem Song mal wieder einen grossen Wurf gelandet...und ich freu mich schon,bald die "Endversion" aus meinen Lautsprechern erklingen zu hören.
Nun wissen wir jedenfalls,was passt bei dem track,was nicht...und Übung macht bekanntlich Meister.
Genauso wie aus nem geknutschten Frosch manchmal ein Prinz wird...
So long,
Der TrobelTommi
20 January 2005
New songs
Hi there, just returned from rehearsal. We're already working on new songs for the... er... next record or so. We've already got a large bunch of them finished and want to reach about 30 beore we enter the studio later this year. They ae sounding very cool, so expect something big!
love,
El Niño
www.frogcircus.de
love,
El Niño
www.frogcircus.de
11 January 2005
Back in town
Happy New Year 2005... por el culo te la hinco!
Yeah, to all of you the best for this new year. I know it's a little late by now (January 11), but as I just arrived from sunny Gran Canaria I didn't have the chance to do it sooner. Well, I actually did, but preferred to enjoy the sun, the 23 degrees, the friends, the family, the food and the booze. You would have done he same.
As it is, we're starting getting ready for the release of Allergic sometime in the next few weeks (I hope). Everything has turned up later than expected, but the waiting time is coming to an end, and you won't be disappointed with the results, fockerz! We're now dealing with distribution issues, so that everyone last of you can buy the record in the nearest store and we greedy bastards can collect the money... we wish! :o)
Anyways, love and all that...
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
Yeah, to all of you the best for this new year. I know it's a little late by now (January 11), but as I just arrived from sunny Gran Canaria I didn't have the chance to do it sooner. Well, I actually did, but preferred to enjoy the sun, the 23 degrees, the friends, the family, the food and the booze. You would have done he same.
As it is, we're starting getting ready for the release of Allergic sometime in the next few weeks (I hope). Everything has turned up later than expected, but the waiting time is coming to an end, and you won't be disappointed with the results, fockerz! We're now dealing with distribution issues, so that everyone last of you can buy the record in the nearest store and we greedy bastards can collect the money... we wish! :o)
Anyways, love and all that...
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
15 December 2004
A nice winter day
Hello... it's a very nice winter day here in Berlin today. The sky is of a perfect shade of blue, the sun is shining and it's COLD as a fuck! I'm going back home over Christmas to my beloved island of Gran Canaria, and although I'll miss playing for three weeks, I'll make it up somehow with the sun, the friends, the family, the food and the 24ºC we have there right now!! I tell you, man, it's fucking paradisiac down there...
We've been rehearsing brand new songs lately, getting ready to (check this shit out!) enter the studio again next year. Yeah, I know, Allergic isn't out yet, but will be at the beginning of the year (have you heard about marketing strategies? Well, we have lately and they seem pretty important to cause a release delay...).
We already have over 30 new songs to choose from, but we expect a few more to come by the time we actually get a recording date, as usual. Same thing everytime. Too many songs in this band, anyone needs tunes to cover? :o)
If we don't meet before, have a merry Chrimble and a frogy new year, drink a lot, eat a lot, and party 'til you drop! We'll fucking surely do!!
See you round the bars...
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
We've been rehearsing brand new songs lately, getting ready to (check this shit out!) enter the studio again next year. Yeah, I know, Allergic isn't out yet, but will be at the beginning of the year (have you heard about marketing strategies? Well, we have lately and they seem pretty important to cause a release delay...).
We already have over 30 new songs to choose from, but we expect a few more to come by the time we actually get a recording date, as usual. Same thing everytime. Too many songs in this band, anyone needs tunes to cover? :o)
If we don't meet before, have a merry Chrimble and a frogy new year, drink a lot, eat a lot, and party 'til you drop! We'll fucking surely do!!
See you round the bars...
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
27 November 2004
Haltern
Things (NOT) TO DO while being around out of town:
- Never ask a policeman at 3 in the morning for the way to the hotel if you've had too many beers, too many joints and still have some grass left with you. It can be very intimidating, but funny.
- Be cautious with revolving doors in hotels if you're walking with a trolley. It can get quite difficult, especially with the stuff mentioned above.
- Please, always make the drummer take a spare pair of shoes with him if your current ones smell like rancid Swiss cheese and plan to spend the next 5 hours on the bus. Please. Please.
- Don't try to have a few "last beers" at the hotel bar at 3.30 am, even if it's a four star establishment, as the waiter is keen to shut the fucking place anyway and you're the last obstacle between him and his bed.
- Terrace doors are tricky. Especially if you're trying to get those smelly shoes outside.
- The best clubs always have the worst techs. And viceversa.
- Always take your MiniDisc player with you, it may come handy if you're lumped with German Autobahn radio, which literally sucks.
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
- Never ask a policeman at 3 in the morning for the way to the hotel if you've had too many beers, too many joints and still have some grass left with you. It can be very intimidating, but funny.
- Be cautious with revolving doors in hotels if you're walking with a trolley. It can get quite difficult, especially with the stuff mentioned above.
- Please, always make the drummer take a spare pair of shoes with him if your current ones smell like rancid Swiss cheese and plan to spend the next 5 hours on the bus. Please. Please.
- Don't try to have a few "last beers" at the hotel bar at 3.30 am, even if it's a four star establishment, as the waiter is keen to shut the fucking place anyway and you're the last obstacle between him and his bed.
- Terrace doors are tricky. Especially if you're trying to get those smelly shoes outside.
- The best clubs always have the worst techs. And viceversa.
- Always take your MiniDisc player with you, it may come handy if you're lumped with German Autobahn radio, which literally sucks.
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
10 November 2004
Photo session mit Maxim Matthew #3
Wednesday evening: the booking agency calls fully panicked asking us for some new band photos for some stuff no-one is really sure about, but anyway... pick up the phone and rapidly ask our favourite photographer Maxim to arrange a shooting for next Friday. "What!? This Friday?". Indeed.
After deciding that this time we wanted an outside the location, we instantly regret it as we get out of the car and it's fucking freezing!! A sudden temperature drop and we're in the middle of a Berlin courtyard in the evening wishing we were back in our hot milk-loaded bathtub again or taking pictures with candles all around.
The location itself was a cool (cold) one, in a newly renovated but old building in Friedrichshain with an illuminated tiled floor that looks almost exactly like the one on the Michael Jackson "Beat It" video (or was it "Billy Jean"? If anyone knows let me know, please). Anyway there we were freezing our asses off and still trying to stand quiet and motionless as Maxim was using some long-time shots. Needless to say, a lot of the pictures turned useless as we were laughing in hysterics and unable to stand quiet...
We got around it pretty fast for our standards and after that, back home to a hot bath (Tobi), a hot chocolate (Timo) and a hot dog (me). Anything to get the cold out of our bodies...
From a warm home... finally,
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
After deciding that this time we wanted an outside the location, we instantly regret it as we get out of the car and it's fucking freezing!! A sudden temperature drop and we're in the middle of a Berlin courtyard in the evening wishing we were back in our hot milk-loaded bathtub again or taking pictures with candles all around.
The location itself was a cool (cold) one, in a newly renovated but old building in Friedrichshain with an illuminated tiled floor that looks almost exactly like the one on the Michael Jackson "Beat It" video (or was it "Billy Jean"? If anyone knows let me know, please). Anyway there we were freezing our asses off and still trying to stand quiet and motionless as Maxim was using some long-time shots. Needless to say, a lot of the pictures turned useless as we were laughing in hysterics and unable to stand quiet...
We got around it pretty fast for our standards and after that, back home to a hot bath (Tobi), a hot chocolate (Timo) and a hot dog (me). Anything to get the cold out of our bodies...
From a warm home... finally,
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
02 November 2004
Oh Gott...Göttingen
Ja Servus mitanand`,nun also mal der erste Post des neuen Trommlers.
Mittwoch letzter Woche bestritten el Frogcircus den ersten Live-Gig in dieser Besetzung zusammen...nix aus der Dose...und sagen wir mal so-es war sogleich alles dabei,was einem zeigt,wie schön das "Musik-Biz" manchmal sein kann.
Aber von vorne:
Robben&Wientjes haben so tolle Transporter im Programm,dass wir gleich zwei davon gemietet haben...*Piiiep*....nun ja,ehrlich gesagt nicht,weil sie so toll sind,sondern weil sich beim Ersten das Getriebe selbstständig gemacht hat...nach 3 Kilometern...bereits voll beladen...zur Rushhour...im 5. Gang durch Deutschlands Metropole.Ich sag Euch-da kommt Freude auf!
Nun ja...mit dem zweiten Modell liefs dann besser...und es brachte uns sicher nach Göttingen.
Der Club "Savoy" war dann auch schnell gefunden...irgendwie coole Location...also schnell aufgebaut,Sound gecheckt und anschliessend ab ins Hotel-frisch machen.
Unter der Dusche kreisen so manchem Frog mehrere Gedanken und Fragen durch den Kopf...:"Ist das ein Club oder eine Disco?Ist das nicht gar ein kleiner Dorfdisco-HipHop-Schuppen?Nein...nein...hmmm...spielen wir wirklich so laut?"Man sah beim Soundcheck so manchen Barkeeper mit schmerzverrzertem Gesicht...die Augen weit aufgerissen...fragend,ob wir immer so laut spielen...und ob wir auch Hip Hop-Sound machen...hmm,nein nein..ist sicher kein BlackMusic-Club.
Nun ja...solch` Gedanken kreisten durch so manches Hirn...und während ich mir die frischen Klamotten überzog,fragte ich mich noch kurz,wer zuständig für die Verteilung von Sternen an Hotels ist...aber dann mussten wir auch wirklich zurück in den Club...KICK SOME ASS...
Um die Story etwas zu verkürzen-Es war dann halt doch ein HipHop-Club...!
Und Frogcircus´ erster Gig in dieser Besetzung...nicht aus der Dose...dauerte ca. 21 Minuten.
Aber es waren spassige 21 Minuten...denn wie oft hat man die Möglichkeit,pubertierenden Girlies in MiniMiniRöckchen und Buffalo-Tretern Rock´n Roll aufs Ohr zu knallen?
War sicher für beide Parteien eine neue Erfahrung...und schliesslich gehts ja im Leben ums Erfahrungen sammeln.
Ich könnte Euch noch von anderen Erfahrungen berichten...zum Beispiel davon,dass man in solchen Clubs die Getränkekarten mehrfach aufladen muss,um durchzuhalten...und dass man besser nicht mehr Auto fährt....wenn man mehrfach die Getränkekarten aufladen musste...um durchzuhalten...
Aber das würde den Rahmen sprengen...und ich hab ja noch anderes zu tun.
Danke jedenfalls wie immer an die treusten Fans...schön, dass Ihr wieder da gewesen seid...wir rocken ab dieser Woche unseren neuen Proberaum in Wedding...und freuen uns schon mächtig auf Haltern am See und Oberhausen.
Keep on Rockin´,
Der TrommelTobi
www.frogcircus.de
Mittwoch letzter Woche bestritten el Frogcircus den ersten Live-Gig in dieser Besetzung zusammen...nix aus der Dose...und sagen wir mal so-es war sogleich alles dabei,was einem zeigt,wie schön das "Musik-Biz" manchmal sein kann.
Aber von vorne:
Robben&Wientjes haben so tolle Transporter im Programm,dass wir gleich zwei davon gemietet haben...*Piiiep*....nun ja,ehrlich gesagt nicht,weil sie so toll sind,sondern weil sich beim Ersten das Getriebe selbstständig gemacht hat...nach 3 Kilometern...bereits voll beladen...zur Rushhour...im 5. Gang durch Deutschlands Metropole.Ich sag Euch-da kommt Freude auf!
Nun ja...mit dem zweiten Modell liefs dann besser...und es brachte uns sicher nach Göttingen.
Der Club "Savoy" war dann auch schnell gefunden...irgendwie coole Location...also schnell aufgebaut,Sound gecheckt und anschliessend ab ins Hotel-frisch machen.
Unter der Dusche kreisen so manchem Frog mehrere Gedanken und Fragen durch den Kopf...:"Ist das ein Club oder eine Disco?Ist das nicht gar ein kleiner Dorfdisco-HipHop-Schuppen?Nein...nein...hmmm...spielen wir wirklich so laut?"Man sah beim Soundcheck so manchen Barkeeper mit schmerzverrzertem Gesicht...die Augen weit aufgerissen...fragend,ob wir immer so laut spielen...und ob wir auch Hip Hop-Sound machen...hmm,nein nein..ist sicher kein BlackMusic-Club.
Nun ja...solch` Gedanken kreisten durch so manches Hirn...und während ich mir die frischen Klamotten überzog,fragte ich mich noch kurz,wer zuständig für die Verteilung von Sternen an Hotels ist...aber dann mussten wir auch wirklich zurück in den Club...KICK SOME ASS...
Um die Story etwas zu verkürzen-Es war dann halt doch ein HipHop-Club...!
Und Frogcircus´ erster Gig in dieser Besetzung...nicht aus der Dose...dauerte ca. 21 Minuten.
Aber es waren spassige 21 Minuten...denn wie oft hat man die Möglichkeit,pubertierenden Girlies in MiniMiniRöckchen und Buffalo-Tretern Rock´n Roll aufs Ohr zu knallen?
War sicher für beide Parteien eine neue Erfahrung...und schliesslich gehts ja im Leben ums Erfahrungen sammeln.
Ich könnte Euch noch von anderen Erfahrungen berichten...zum Beispiel davon,dass man in solchen Clubs die Getränkekarten mehrfach aufladen muss,um durchzuhalten...und dass man besser nicht mehr Auto fährt....wenn man mehrfach die Getränkekarten aufladen musste...um durchzuhalten...
Aber das würde den Rahmen sprengen...und ich hab ja noch anderes zu tun.
Danke jedenfalls wie immer an die treusten Fans...schön, dass Ihr wieder da gewesen seid...wir rocken ab dieser Woche unseren neuen Proberaum in Wedding...und freuen uns schon mächtig auf Haltern am See und Oberhausen.
Keep on Rockin´,
Der TrommelTobi
www.frogcircus.de
04 October 2004
YOU Jugengmesse Berlin
Hey frogs, another bloody Monday, another gig behind us. The YOU Jugendmesse last friday was a strange gig, really. First of all, we all came there thinking we were the funny ones with our silly white shirts and ties... until we saw what all the other acts were wearing! Geez, what a nightmare wardrobe! (What can you expect from dance acts anyway?).
We played about quarter past four to a selected audience of quite young people and some (exactly two) known fans who had just come to see us (thank you girls!!), as well as Messalina, our new booking agent who came all the way to Berlin to meet us in person (probably she's still shocked by our punctuality!).
As said, we took the stage and did exactly three songs from the new record (the main singles, if you like: Titanium, Million Miles & WhileYouCan). I believe we shocked some of the younger members of the audience with the music... and the volume. hey probably went home with ringing ears, haha!
It was also Tobi's first appearance with us, and he did a pretty good job if you ask me! (especially taking into account his new shoes giving him hell)
After the show we all (us plus managers Ricardo & Serena) went to a very cool Indian restaurant in Mitte (the Tagore, may I get now some free food for the advertising?) and jumped over a well-deserved food. After that, sleep tight my friends (right Tobi?).
See you round the bars!
El Niño desde El Otro Lado
www.frogcircus.de
We played about quarter past four to a selected audience of quite young people and some (exactly two) known fans who had just come to see us (thank you girls!!), as well as Messalina, our new booking agent who came all the way to Berlin to meet us in person (probably she's still shocked by our punctuality!).
As said, we took the stage and did exactly three songs from the new record (the main singles, if you like: Titanium, Million Miles & WhileYouCan). I believe we shocked some of the younger members of the audience with the music... and the volume. hey probably went home with ringing ears, haha!
It was also Tobi's first appearance with us, and he did a pretty good job if you ask me! (especially taking into account his new shoes giving him hell)
After the show we all (us plus managers Ricardo & Serena) went to a very cool Indian restaurant in Mitte (the Tagore, may I get now some free food for the advertising?) and jumped over a well-deserved food. After that, sleep tight my friends (right Tobi?).
See you round the bars!
El Niño desde El Otro Lado
www.frogcircus.de
25 September 2004
Spinal Tap
Gestern Abend haben wir zusammen den besten Film aller Zeiten angekuckt: This Is Spinal Tap. Falls einer das nicht kennt, bitte schnell sehen, das Leben ist weniger schön (und lustig) ohne diesen Film. Tschechisches Bier und spanische Tortillas und Lomo haben alles abgerundet...
Aber trotzdem regnet es heute schon wieder...
El Niño auf deutsch heute...
www.frogcircus.de
Aber trotzdem regnet es heute schon wieder...
El Niño auf deutsch heute...
www.frogcircus.de
21 September 2004
Summer is gone...
The days are getting shorter, it's somehow darker in the mornings and colder. Geez, I wish I was back home in Gran Canaria enjoying some bits of sunlight and warmth.
It's becoming time to stay at home, revamp the website, watch telly, write songs and all that you do in winter...
"One day you'll get the shivers
Winter's getting nearer
So feel the summer while you can
While you can"
Love from The Otherside
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
It's becoming time to stay at home, revamp the website, watch telly, write songs and all that you do in winter...
"One day you'll get the shivers
Winter's getting nearer
So feel the summer while you can
While you can"
Love from The Otherside
El Niño Stone
www.frogcircus.de
17 September 2004
It's coming up
As you might/migh not be aware of (who cares anyway?), we've got a new drummer boy entitled by the name of Tobias Fröhlich, who really kicks the shit out of you when hitting the drums. We had to part ways with our previous and short-lasting Paroli due to "musical and personal reasons", which is a very standard phrase meaning everything and nothing at the same time. Sometimes a zeppelin has to throw away its weight if it wants to go up again, right? You get the message.
Nuff said, the band is sounding really cool with Tobey in and we got a couple of gigs coming up in Oberhausen, Cologne and somewhere else I can't remember right now. And oh, yes, we are playing at the YOU Jugendmesse (a youth fair) in Berlin on October 1st. Seems like playback or something like that, TV stuff. With us will be great bands such as BroSis and shit like that... excuse, gotta puke, be right back (...) OK, I'm back, nothing left. But that's the thing about a television show with a lot of different music. I'm already thinking about something to say in between songs to annoy someone, hihi.
Alrite, gotta do something else. It's good to share a few thoughts with you and tell ya this band is right here, right now!!
Nuff said, the band is sounding really cool with Tobey in and we got a couple of gigs coming up in Oberhausen, Cologne and somewhere else I can't remember right now. And oh, yes, we are playing at the YOU Jugendmesse (a youth fair) in Berlin on October 1st. Seems like playback or something like that, TV stuff. With us will be great bands such as BroSis and shit like that... excuse, gotta puke, be right back (...) OK, I'm back, nothing left. But that's the thing about a television show with a lot of different music. I'm already thinking about something to say in between songs to annoy someone, hihi.
Alrite, gotta do something else. It's good to share a few thoughts with you and tell ya this band is right here, right now!!
20 August 2004
1976
I have just finished recording a demo of a relatively new song, "1976", which maybe one of you has heard live lately. It's a fucking awesome tune, man, I'm proud as a Spaniard, although I'm not really supposed to say it.
I forgot my mic at the rehearsal room, so there are no vocals yet, but still kicks some serious ass. I guess this is the countdown for the new, sorry, "newer" record after Allergic comes out. I'm starting preparing songs for the studio somewhere next year.
I know I'm supposed to concentrate on Allergic coming out now and all that, but you see, I'm too desperate to record more songs, share them, play them, get bored of them and tsart doing new ones. Timo feels the same way about that, "what's on tape is finished, now let's move to something else". Fine words by a fine bassist.
I gotta eat something, been recording the whole day and my stomach is starting to make some funny noises between a flanger and a metal distortion pedal.
Up to eleven,
frog#1
I forgot my mic at the rehearsal room, so there are no vocals yet, but still kicks some serious ass. I guess this is the countdown for the new, sorry, "newer" record after Allergic comes out. I'm starting preparing songs for the studio somewhere next year.
I know I'm supposed to concentrate on Allergic coming out now and all that, but you see, I'm too desperate to record more songs, share them, play them, get bored of them and tsart doing new ones. Timo feels the same way about that, "what's on tape is finished, now let's move to something else". Fine words by a fine bassist.
I gotta eat something, been recording the whole day and my stomach is starting to make some funny noises between a flanger and a metal distortion pedal.
Up to eleven,
frog#1
24 July 2004
New label
Well, labels are a necessary evil in this business, so we signed yesterday to release Allergic under Soja Music Ltd. a fine new label located in Birmingham and in Berlin.
Let's hope it turns OK with the record and in a few months we become coke-snorting, limousine-riding, top model-dating, spoiled rock stars. Or so... :o)
We did have a few beers afterwards, so today I'm feeling a little dizzy, the heat you know. And tonight we're going to a party... Mmmm, it's going to be tough.
From a sunny Berlin city on a lovely Saturday afternoon,
El Niño Stone
Let's hope it turns OK with the record and in a few months we become coke-snorting, limousine-riding, top model-dating, spoiled rock stars. Or so... :o)
We did have a few beers afterwards, so today I'm feeling a little dizzy, the heat you know. And tonight we're going to a party... Mmmm, it's going to be tough.
From a sunny Berlin city on a lovely Saturday afternoon,
El Niño Stone
19 July 2004
Explorer
Today I brought out the Explorer. Man, what an amazing little guitar that is! It had been a while since last played it (Kurt Cobain Tribute in April) and it just feels SO right... not too heavy, right balance, it's no wonder you start riffing like a madman and come up with a few new ideas for songs on the spot.
Otherwise I've been experimenting with a capo for the acoustic guitar. I did some songs live with the acoustic a few weeks ago and it just gave the tone such a cool chimey sound. I probably suffer under the GAS (gear acquisition syndrome), but I seem I can't stop getting cool stuff lately on my hands... the Orange 2x12 box, the pedalboard. the capo... IÄm gonna get broke if I go on like that, man.
I'm catching up with the last two weeks of guitar retirement, as I had positively no time at all to play with my family here, but it was fun anyway. Family always is. Sometimes, of course.
Stone
Otherwise I've been experimenting with a capo for the acoustic guitar. I did some songs live with the acoustic a few weeks ago and it just gave the tone such a cool chimey sound. I probably suffer under the GAS (gear acquisition syndrome), but I seem I can't stop getting cool stuff lately on my hands... the Orange 2x12 box, the pedalboard. the capo... IÄm gonna get broke if I go on like that, man.
I'm catching up with the last two weeks of guitar retirement, as I had positively no time at all to play with my family here, but it was fun anyway. Family always is. Sometimes, of course.
Stone
16 July 2004
New web presence www.frogcircus.de
Well, it seems we're back. Back from where? you might/might not ask. Back in the universal digital faceless world wide web. Yep, from now on, www.frogcircus.de is the door that opens to the froggy world.
Our old address is no longer valid, as it's the current subject of dispute with our old label, which didn't take the news of our "no" to further work with them very happily. Indeed, they were not quite amused, so we had to change the domain (long story, but it's lawyers stuff right now if you want to know).
Anyway, www.frogcircus.de is now the place to be. At the moment our webdesigner/photographer/video director/Belgian-beer-drinking friend Maxim Matthew is revamping the website, and it might take a few days to be online. But hey, we're using the occasion to add more useless stuff, more videos, more songs, more pictures, more of that you never asked for: it's gonna be there, buddy.
In the meantime... well, Jens has been finishing his presentation at school (finally!), Timo is getting his new home finished in time for the monsoon season, and me... well, I've been busy with business shit like old label, negotiating the new record deal, nerving the management, taking care of the visiting family... usual stuff really.
Did I already say that www.frogcircus.de is our new web address? You know I'm repeating it (www.frogcircus.de) so it goes up in Google :o) So here again... www.frogcircus.de
Thanks for the bread.
El Niño Stone
Our old address is no longer valid, as it's the current subject of dispute with our old label, which didn't take the news of our "no" to further work with them very happily. Indeed, they were not quite amused, so we had to change the domain (long story, but it's lawyers stuff right now if you want to know).
Anyway, www.frogcircus.de is now the place to be. At the moment our webdesigner/photographer/video director/Belgian-beer-drinking friend Maxim Matthew is revamping the website, and it might take a few days to be online. But hey, we're using the occasion to add more useless stuff, more videos, more songs, more pictures, more of that you never asked for: it's gonna be there, buddy.
In the meantime... well, Jens has been finishing his presentation at school (finally!), Timo is getting his new home finished in time for the monsoon season, and me... well, I've been busy with business shit like old label, negotiating the new record deal, nerving the management, taking care of the visiting family... usual stuff really.
Did I already say that www.frogcircus.de is our new web address? You know I'm repeating it (www.frogcircus.de) so it goes up in Google :o) So here again... www.frogcircus.de
Thanks for the bread.
El Niño Stone
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