Death by Unga Bunga bring the noise to the UK this November

at venues in UK

As far as Norwegian rock ‘n’ roll goes, Death by Unga Bunga are in a league of their own. Four albums in little over five years and in-your-face live shows have given them a loyal following in their homeland.

 

Now, the five lads from Moss will be showing the UK what all the fuss is about for the first time in November – playing four shows in as many days in London, Reading and Guildford. We caught up with guitarist Stian Gulbrandsen and drummer Ole Nesset ahead of the mini-tour.

“We have no idea what we’re getting into, I guess. I haven’t been in the UK for ten years, since I was a kid. I’m looking forward to this,” Stian says. Their talents won’t be wasted, playing shows in confines – London’s Lexington for Ja Ja Ja and the Shacklewell Arms in particular – that suit their status as one of Norway’s most raucous live bands.

Ole has three words that he thinks sums up their philosophy: “Loud, sweaty and…naked.” Stian quickly interjects to dampen any expectation of the sight of bare Norwegian flesh. “Not every time,” he adds. Their frontman, Sebastian Ulstad Olsen, has a tendency to get in your face. “It’s a lot of energy. We will be having a lot of fun,” Stian says. His message is clear: “If you’re not into fun, you can stay at home!”

Earlier this year the band released their fourth full-length album, Pineapple Pizza. If you think the album name sounds like it has a story behind it, then you’re right. Ole explains that the inspiration came when bass player Even ordered the fruity but divisive pizza topping during their Italian tour. “All the Italians just flipped and got real pissed off and insulted. Some laughed,” he says. “Obviously you don’t order pineapple on your pizzas in Northern Italy!” Stian adds. After all the insults, Even had to make do with a pizza without pineapple.

Ole neatly sums up the Pineapple Pizza concept – “It tastes like shit, but it sounds real good!” The work hasn’t stopped since then. In September they released a four-song EP, Fight, which was recorded in an intense period in their rehearsal space. Another new EP is due at Christmas.

Although this will be their first time in the UK, DBUB have played across Europe, the USA and in Portugal; which included perhaps their strangest show: in a shopping mall. Stian explains: “It’s daytime and you’re hungover…because they like to party. I think it’s strange to play rock ‘n’ roll in a shopping mall but every band does it in Portugal.” That said, there will always be parts of their homeland that they love to play. The far-northern arctic town of Tromsø is a favourite. “They have a really good rock ‘n’ roll pub scene. There’s always a lot of people there. A trip to Tromsø is beautiful,” Stian says.

Aside from touring the world, a bit of rock ‘n’ roll abandon still appeals to the boys from Moss, and is all part of being in one of Norway’s finest rock ‘n’ roll bands. “You kind of get away with stuff that you normally wouldn’t. People would expect you to grow up but if you’re in a band they kind of expect you not to,” Stian says. On the other hand, Ole’s favourite things about being in a band like DBUB are a little more uncouth. “Sometimes when I play I spit high up in the air and I catch the spit ball again and I swallow it. I can do that. It’s an OK trick, but I can do that in front of 200 people or 300 people and they think it’s cool,” he says.

 

When:

Nov 23, Reading
Nov 24, London
Nov 25, Guildford
Nov 26, London

 

 

 

 

Website:

deathbyungabunga.no

Where:

Nov 23: Oakford Social Club
Nov 24: The Lexington (Ja Ja Ja)
Nov 25: Boileroom
Nov 26: The Shacklewell Arms

 

Tickets:

For the Oakford Social Club.
For The Lexington.
For Boileroom.
For The Shacklewell Arms – free.

 

Norwegian Art

More from Norwegian Arts