REVIEW AND INTERVIEW: SIGN
Airwaves festival 2004, Guakerinn: SIGN
Ive just found the best thing here! No seriously, I mean seriously! Get up and get downstairs!
My friends sit and gape at my hysteria blankly for a second and I lose patience, run back down the stairs and fairly brutally elbow my way to the front of the stage.
Not quite the reaction I was expecting to have to SIGN. When festival PR recommend a band I usually take it with a large pinch of salt, but the lady in question had been more than on the ball with metal gods Minus so I made sure I was stood expectantly in the front when Sign appeared on stage.
To be honest, my initial reaction was a scoffing one what are they? Twelve or something? No incidentally they are not, the bands ages range from 18 to 22 years of age. On stage this is of no relevance apart from the odd moment in between songs when Zolberg (lead vocalist and guitarist) seems to become aware that people are staring at him, and to be honest why they wouldnt be staring is beyond me for theres an air of dark mischief about him.
Nor is their youth is not to be confused with inexperience or lack of professionalism however, for Zolberg put his debut solo album out at the age of eleven. Yes, ELEVEN. When I asked what kind of music it was, imagining Icelandic folk music about the hidden people or some such, the answer was sleazy. A sleazy eleven year old. The world scares me.
Anyway I digress. He joined his brother Egill, rated as one of the best drummers in Iceland, to form Sign in 2001. The bands backbone rests between the two, their late father was key in encouraging and producing the bands first two albums and the bond between the brothers is obvious. The other two members Addi G (guitar) and Silli (bass) joined fairly recently and have helped to progress Signs reinvention.
On stage the entire groups presence is phenomenal. They rip through their set leaving you in no doubt why their debut single entered the charts at number one. This is pure 1980s sunset strip metal, right there, in your face and I love it.
BRIT: Hello there boys. First of all let me say that I seriously enjoyed your set last night and that Im damn glad that I made the effort to get into the club. Now before we kick off with your plans to take over the worlda little history lesson firstI understand that you, Zolberg, have already had one or two solo albums out?
ZOLBERG: Yes, when I was eleven
BRIT: What kind of songs?
ZOLBERG: Kinda sleazy
BRIT: Sleazy? At the age of eleven?
ZOLBERG: Uh huh.
BRIT: ok then. *look of disbelief* So, when did you decide to form a band together?
EGILL: Around 2000, although we always knew we wanted to have a band together but Sign formed around then.
BRIT: Was it always going to be the kind of music you play now?
ZOLBERG: It started out more emotional
BRIT: Emo stuff?
ZOLBERG: Yeah, along with old school metal
BRIT: So when did it change into the current format? Was it when the others joined?
EGILL: This year, in the summer.
BRIT: What are you going to be doing this year?
ZOLBERG: We dont know yet, playing gigs mainly
BRIT: So you have no plans to take over the world?
EGILL: Just Reykjavk *both laugh*
BRIT: So how much have you played in Reykjavk so far?
EGILL: A lot, but not so much this last year. We were recording an album with our father and decided to have a break.
BRIT: So your father helps with the recording etc.
EGILL: He did. He passed away this summer. He released our albums previously.
ZOLBERG: He produced them as well.
BRIT: So who will you get to produce your stuff now?
EGILL: Well we still have the studio, and put our music independently through a small label. Ace, ex- guitarist from Skunk Anansie, is coming over to do some recording and producing with us.
BRIT: Who do you look towards for inspiration? Icelandic acts or mainly international ones?
EGILL: Both. The beauty of Airwaves festival is that every local band has been practicing like maniacs for the last few months, practising hard.
ZOLBERG: Everyone is sure that this year they will make it
EGILL: That everyone is going to be rich and famous. They are all trying so hard and the ambition is so great. Its really good to see, to see the local bands so intense.
BRIT: There has been a bit of a flavour for Icelandic bands in the UK, like Minus. Do you get on with those guys?
EGILL: Yeah, we actually met up with them in London this summer - down at the Crobar.
BRIT: Ha! Thats where I did my first set for SG. Well I guess if you guys are going to hang out with Minus anywhere in London the Crobar would be it. But why were you in London anyway?
ZOLBERG: We were over there mastering our fathers album at the Soundmasters.
BRIT: And how long were you in London for?
EGILL: Just for the weekend, but then we went to the Leeds festival before heading back to London for a week *smiles sheepishly* to hang out at the Crobar again
BRIT: Did you go anywhere else????
BOTH: No!
ZOLBERG: Well actually thats not true, we went around the corner to Garlic and Shots in Soho
BRIT: Did you have any Bloodshots? (reader note: "bloodshot" = chilli/vodka/tomatojuice/garlic concoction which will remove your head)
EGILL: Oh yes
ZOLBERG: More than a couple!!
BRIT: So do you have any plans for a tour at all?
EGILL: Its something we are thinking about, but not right now. We are going to play here a bit more and get our act together, getting bigger, stronger and more powerful
BRIT: And then take over the world?
EGILL: Well maybe go to London *laughs*
BRIT: And the label you are on is it purely distributing or would it finance a tour?
EGILL: No its just a distribution label
BRIT: So any tour would have to be self-financed?
ZOLBERG: Well any tour here in Iceland would be very small, so you dont have to be rich to tour.
BRIT: So who would you name as your inspiration give me a top five
EGILL: God I cant do top five but Ill give you five who have inspired us I would like to see NIN in there.
ZOLBERG: Definitely Megadeath..and the Beatles
EGILL: Yes the Beatles!
BRIT: Oh thats just a safe one saying that
EGILL: Yes but its true. Hmmn, the Deftones have always been favourites of mine
ZOLBERG: Id have to say Judas Priest
EGILL: Argh! This is too hard.
BRIT: Ok, whats on your stereo now? What was the last cd you had on
BOTH James Dio, the ex singer of Rainbow
BRIT: I read on your website that you released your first single and it went straight to number 1 in the rock charts
EGILL: Yes that was from our first album
BRIT: And how much of a following have you gained from that?
EGILL: Well we were quite hip around that time *sly smile*
BRIT: What and now its all gone to shit huh?
ZOLBERG: Well we took that break and Minus came along and took over that scene but now we are back on track, and feel that now its our time and something big is going to happen
*******************************************************************
and they arent the only ones who think so.keep your eyes peeled and check www.sign.is
Airwaves festival 2004, Guakerinn: SIGN
Ive just found the best thing here! No seriously, I mean seriously! Get up and get downstairs!
My friends sit and gape at my hysteria blankly for a second and I lose patience, run back down the stairs and fairly brutally elbow my way to the front of the stage.
Not quite the reaction I was expecting to have to SIGN. When festival PR recommend a band I usually take it with a large pinch of salt, but the lady in question had been more than on the ball with metal gods Minus so I made sure I was stood expectantly in the front when Sign appeared on stage.
To be honest, my initial reaction was a scoffing one what are they? Twelve or something? No incidentally they are not, the bands ages range from 18 to 22 years of age. On stage this is of no relevance apart from the odd moment in between songs when Zolberg (lead vocalist and guitarist) seems to become aware that people are staring at him, and to be honest why they wouldnt be staring is beyond me for theres an air of dark mischief about him.
Nor is their youth is not to be confused with inexperience or lack of professionalism however, for Zolberg put his debut solo album out at the age of eleven. Yes, ELEVEN. When I asked what kind of music it was, imagining Icelandic folk music about the hidden people or some such, the answer was sleazy. A sleazy eleven year old. The world scares me.
Anyway I digress. He joined his brother Egill, rated as one of the best drummers in Iceland, to form Sign in 2001. The bands backbone rests between the two, their late father was key in encouraging and producing the bands first two albums and the bond between the brothers is obvious. The other two members Addi G (guitar) and Silli (bass) joined fairly recently and have helped to progress Signs reinvention.
On stage the entire groups presence is phenomenal. They rip through their set leaving you in no doubt why their debut single entered the charts at number one. This is pure 1980s sunset strip metal, right there, in your face and I love it.
BRIT: Hello there boys. First of all let me say that I seriously enjoyed your set last night and that Im damn glad that I made the effort to get into the club. Now before we kick off with your plans to take over the worlda little history lesson firstI understand that you, Zolberg, have already had one or two solo albums out?
ZOLBERG: Yes, when I was eleven
BRIT: What kind of songs?
ZOLBERG: Kinda sleazy
BRIT: Sleazy? At the age of eleven?
ZOLBERG: Uh huh.
BRIT: ok then. *look of disbelief* So, when did you decide to form a band together?
EGILL: Around 2000, although we always knew we wanted to have a band together but Sign formed around then.
BRIT: Was it always going to be the kind of music you play now?
ZOLBERG: It started out more emotional
BRIT: Emo stuff?
ZOLBERG: Yeah, along with old school metal
BRIT: So when did it change into the current format? Was it when the others joined?
EGILL: This year, in the summer.
BRIT: What are you going to be doing this year?
ZOLBERG: We dont know yet, playing gigs mainly
BRIT: So you have no plans to take over the world?
EGILL: Just Reykjavk *both laugh*
BRIT: So how much have you played in Reykjavk so far?
EGILL: A lot, but not so much this last year. We were recording an album with our father and decided to have a break.
BRIT: So your father helps with the recording etc.
EGILL: He did. He passed away this summer. He released our albums previously.
ZOLBERG: He produced them as well.
BRIT: So who will you get to produce your stuff now?
EGILL: Well we still have the studio, and put our music independently through a small label. Ace, ex- guitarist from Skunk Anansie, is coming over to do some recording and producing with us.
BRIT: Who do you look towards for inspiration? Icelandic acts or mainly international ones?
EGILL: Both. The beauty of Airwaves festival is that every local band has been practicing like maniacs for the last few months, practising hard.
ZOLBERG: Everyone is sure that this year they will make it
EGILL: That everyone is going to be rich and famous. They are all trying so hard and the ambition is so great. Its really good to see, to see the local bands so intense.
BRIT: There has been a bit of a flavour for Icelandic bands in the UK, like Minus. Do you get on with those guys?
EGILL: Yeah, we actually met up with them in London this summer - down at the Crobar.
BRIT: Ha! Thats where I did my first set for SG. Well I guess if you guys are going to hang out with Minus anywhere in London the Crobar would be it. But why were you in London anyway?
ZOLBERG: We were over there mastering our fathers album at the Soundmasters.
BRIT: And how long were you in London for?
EGILL: Just for the weekend, but then we went to the Leeds festival before heading back to London for a week *smiles sheepishly* to hang out at the Crobar again
BRIT: Did you go anywhere else????
BOTH: No!
ZOLBERG: Well actually thats not true, we went around the corner to Garlic and Shots in Soho
BRIT: Did you have any Bloodshots? (reader note: "bloodshot" = chilli/vodka/tomatojuice/garlic concoction which will remove your head)
EGILL: Oh yes
ZOLBERG: More than a couple!!
BRIT: So do you have any plans for a tour at all?
EGILL: Its something we are thinking about, but not right now. We are going to play here a bit more and get our act together, getting bigger, stronger and more powerful
BRIT: And then take over the world?
EGILL: Well maybe go to London *laughs*
BRIT: And the label you are on is it purely distributing or would it finance a tour?
EGILL: No its just a distribution label
BRIT: So any tour would have to be self-financed?
ZOLBERG: Well any tour here in Iceland would be very small, so you dont have to be rich to tour.
BRIT: So who would you name as your inspiration give me a top five
EGILL: God I cant do top five but Ill give you five who have inspired us I would like to see NIN in there.
ZOLBERG: Definitely Megadeath..and the Beatles
EGILL: Yes the Beatles!
BRIT: Oh thats just a safe one saying that
EGILL: Yes but its true. Hmmn, the Deftones have always been favourites of mine
ZOLBERG: Id have to say Judas Priest
EGILL: Argh! This is too hard.
BRIT: Ok, whats on your stereo now? What was the last cd you had on
BOTH James Dio, the ex singer of Rainbow
BRIT: I read on your website that you released your first single and it went straight to number 1 in the rock charts
EGILL: Yes that was from our first album
BRIT: And how much of a following have you gained from that?
EGILL: Well we were quite hip around that time *sly smile*
BRIT: What and now its all gone to shit huh?
ZOLBERG: Well we took that break and Minus came along and took over that scene but now we are back on track, and feel that now its our time and something big is going to happen
*******************************************************************
and they arent the only ones who think so.keep your eyes peeled and check www.sign.is
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
polarbear:
How did I go this long and not see this entry?SORRY!! Yet again,great job! 
luca_eremo:
my crush isn't a secret