Nové festivalové krajiny zastúpia aj skupiny Elvis Jackson (Slovinsko) a Direc-t (Turecko)

Elvis Jackson vznikli v roku 1997, medzičasom sa stali najzábavnejšou a najbláznivejšou ska-core-reggae-punkovou úderkou z neďalekého Slovinska, zároveň sú domácim lídrom tejto časti hudobnej scény. Ich sídlom je vinárske údolie neďaleko Talianska.
Skupina „fanaticky“ koncertuje, v roku 2003 odohrali viac ako 100 koncertov. Účinkovali na najprestížnejších domácich festivaloch, hrali však aj koncerty a festivaly v Španielsku, Portugalsku, Taliansku, Čechách, Francúzsku, Belgicku, Rakúsku, Švajčiarsku, ... Zatiaľ vydali tri radové albumy, ich pesničky sa objavili na kompiláciách ako No-fi Trash so skupinami ako Lag wagon, No Fun At All, ... , Global Ska 2 a pod..

Skupina je charakteristická absolútnym nasadením a mixom rôznych štýlov s najväčším vplyvom ska (v súčasnosti silný trend v celej Európe). Na našom festivale bude ma? Elvis Jackson slovenskú premiéru – zahrá v piatok 16. júla na Chio stage. Viac v anglickej mutácii ich biografie na konci článku...

Direc-t je istanbulské trio venujúce sa alternatívnej hudbe – hrajú od roku 1999. Patria k najväčším objavom tureckej alternatívnej scény, v roku 2001 vyhrali najprestížnejšiu sú?až alternatívnych skupín – Roxy music contest. Hrali na najväčšom tureckom festivale H2000 – v roku 2002 na Demo stage, o rok neskôr už na na hlavnej scéne. Predskakovali hviezdam ako David Byrne, Pulp, alebo „pohodový“ Sneaker Pimps. V súčasnosti (po rôznych „peripetiách“, ktoré stretávajú alternatívne skupiny všade na svete, Turecko nevynímajúc) nahrávajú svoj debutový album, ktorý vyjde v júni 2004.
Ich hudba je zmesou „anatólskeho“ pohľadu na grunge a „chunky indie“. Spievajú prevažne v turečtine – nesmierne sa tešíme, ako sa potešíte, keď začujete malebnú turečtinu v zaujímavom rockovom prevedení. Naozaj zážitok!

ELVIS JACKSON

Which other “boring” facts, if compared to their high energy and crazy performances, you should know about them?

Elvis Jackson sprouted from the ashes of several local bands in the wine valley at the end of 1997. The original line-up got together just two days before the first show: Buda – David Kovšca (vocal, trumpet), Slavc – Erik Makuc (bass guitar), Rado – Sašo Kotnik (drums) and Berto – Boštjan Beltram (guitar). Occasionally Antonio Zamora Caceres – Bongo joined the band on percussions (and back vocals), and in January 2004 Sergej Randjelovič – Runjoe, replaced Nenad Kostadinovski - Neno on drums. First drummer in band was Sašo which left the band in late 2003. So, at the moment, the line-up counts four members.

Debut album “Move Your Feet It’s One O’Clock” (Rock’n’Roll Rec.) is recorded after one year of non-stop playing in every imaginable club and festival in Slovenia. Album was released just for Slovenian market, but all that heard all together 17 songs and famous “Happy Days” theme couldn’t stay cold to Elvis Jackson’s hopping and reveling music! Leaving the studio, they immediately hit the road for the European tour, approximately entitled “you can’t grow that much we can smoke”. Besides Slovenia, they entertain the audience in Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and maybe some other even they can’t tell. After the tour they play on virtually every festival in Slovenia. The excellent performances are followed by a proposal to write the music for the short movie “Jezni” (“Angry”), directed by Špela Kuclar for TV Slovenia and presented on Portorož Movie Festival 2000. The band flawlessly resolves the task.

In the beginning of 2000 “Unlucky Guy” song take part on the compilation “No-fi Trash”, published by Swiss label Floppy Cow. Distributed worldwide, the album also features Lag Wagon, No Fun At All, The Get Up Kids and Hot Water Music among others. A logical step for Elvis Jackson, who have previously shared the stage with well-known bands like Toasters, Looking Up, Burning Heads, Murphy’s Law, Vice Squad, Subhumans, Edna’s Goldfish and Citizen Fish, and played a Swiss tour with Americans Goldfinger.

The debut “Move Your Feet...” is a complete success, the first print is sold out and the second, featuring new cover art and remastered recordings in meantime was re-released. Once again Elvis Jackson released new – second record “Go Home And Practice” for Slovene record label Rock’n’Roll Rec. As a bonus, the record also includes three songs from the “Angry” soundtrack and comes out in November 2000. This time Jacksons present themselves as mature musicians, upgrading fine punk-rock with reggae and ska, entwined with metal grips, all that spiced with fresh ideas and good peck of humor. Studio Kladivo carries out the visual part of the record and cover, designed by Engels (Racija). Entertaining and inventive side of the group is well depicted in two videos. Hawaiian club, directed by Ven Jemeršič in co-production with TV Slovenia and Market Sweets, directed by Boris Petković – Oli. Special guest is a truly unique local Elvis impersonator, as well as sequences from their opening show for Offspring in Ljubljana.

During the summer, Elvis Jackson took part on every important festival in Slovenia and also appeared on many stages abroad. They made thousands of kilometers cruising through Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, France, Yugoslavia and Bosnia - Herzegovina. For the delight of numerous devotees, our pranksters revealed their skills over 90 times just one year. In a while, they were helped by the fifth member - we are talking about no less than Antonio Zamora Caceres - Bongo, a charming Mexican who took over the role of percussionist, backing vocalist and dancer. He recorded new album with band and video for song You and I.

Elvis Jackson, ready to experience something new and to spend more money, enter the studio in Austria (UTT) with producer J.Kell (Tricom Music) in March 2002 and finish the recordings in late May in Propeller studio in Cologne, Germany. Mastering was done by Rupert Metnitzer in Electric Audio Studio in Dobl, Austria. This time we can enjoy in more mature sound and finest mix between catchy melodies, ska, punk and hardcore energy, on the other hand there are some special reggae tuned songs.

Album sounds even better with help of some guests. Among Bongo on percussions and back vocals, other female back vocals, brass section of Cologne reggae band called “Schaelsig Steppas”, DJ Dado /human scratch machine../ there are some other surprises to discover in time.

In the meantime Elvis Jackson are invited to take part of worldwide distributed ska compilation CD Global Ska 2 (Rebelde Discos, Spain). Besides Elvis Jackson’s hit song Morning, more than 20 other worldwide acts are featured on this very successful worldwide compilation CD series. We can mention Chickenpox (Sweden), Stubborn Allstars (USA), Skarface (France), Too Hot (U.K.), Ska Trek (Germany), Wataru Buster (Japan) and many many others..

Album “Summer Edition” is selfreleased in January 2003 and is distributed in Slovenia by Slovene record label Multimedia Rec. Meanwhile band and management are seeking for best possible deal for European and worldwide market. Elvis Jackson (they won several music prizes in Slovenia – also two prestigious Bumerang awards for best live act and this year also for the best band) performed across Europe in January and February 2003. Around 30 festivals all around Europe were booked during summer time, and they opened the show for Asian Dub Foundation in Ljubljana. Second single - video from album Summer Edition is You and I and was launched at the end of summer.
Elvis Jackson finished year 2003 successful on tour in Austria, Germany and Switzerland again (X-mas Vibes tour, organized by Moskito Promotion).
It’s time for new chapter in EJ musical career and their Summer Edition… Since, Summer Edition is about to be released in Germany by Elmo Rec (Grover Rec. sub-label) and in other EU territories. New video for song Get Up! will follow soon and full EU tour is in preparation for Sept/Oct 2004. Before that Elvis Jackson are booked for summer festival tour in several countries and will play biggest Slovene, Croatian, Slovakian (Pohoda Fest), Czech (Rock For People) and some festivals in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

We can already predict, once you see or hear them, they can impress you for ever.