MorleyView: HorrorPops Interview – antiMusic.com
[ad_1]
HorrorPops
Some of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen have come from Danish rockers from Los Angeles, HorrorPops. But aside from a brief tour last year, the band took a hiatus for nearly a decade. It is therefore with very welcome ears and arms that this month I received a new live record from the band. Living at Wiltern was taken from their sold-out show at the famous LA venue in 2020. This is a wonderful package from Cleopatra Records with DVD / Blu-Ray / CD as well as a great interview taken before the show.
As with all HorrorPops shows, the energy is at its peak and the visuals abound. Singer Patricia Day takes center stage with her massive double bass. Guitarist Kim Nekroman runs side to side with overflowing confidence in every chord as the activities are anchored by Henrik Niedermeier on drums. Dancers Rita-tah and The Killing add to the craziness, making it really hard to know where to look — there is so much going on. And then there are the songs, of course. Fans will be happy to hear all the favorites from the band’s three records that make up this 68-minute show.
Live at the Wiltern Trailer
After talking to Patricia and Kim several times in the past, it was interesting to hear Henrik this time around. The interview was conducted by email as Henrik has since moved to Denmark.
antiMusic: I guess the first obvious question is, the real “horror” of the situation is that there hasn’t been any big news from HorrorPops in 13 years — 13 for records and 9 for any substantial touring. . What did you do during the interim?
Henrik: Wait … what … No way … 13 years old? Time is passing. I moved from Los Angeles to Copenhagen about 9 years ago. I met a girl, had a child, and worked as a freelance video editor and sound engineer. Kim has been busy with Nekromantix and Trish has been busy making dresses and stuff like that …
antiMusic: Did you keep your crampons / did you train as a group during the break?
Henrik: As a band we haven’t played together since the last tour (2020) and before that we hadn’t played together for 9 years. Like I said earlier, Kim plays with Nekromantix so he’s in pretty good shape. I performed and recorded with my old band Strawberry Slaughterhouse and was a replacement tour drummer for bands like The Brains and 69 Cats … Trish sang karaoke bars all over Southern California (BUAHAHAHA )
antiMusic: “Live at the Wiltern” is taken from several shows you did last year. Why did you decide to record / release this particular show?
Henrik: This is the fucking Wiltern and the biggest headlining show we’ve ever done, so why not …
antiMusic: Like many live performances, the music of some songs is a bit faster than on the disc, like “Kool Flat Top” & “Ghouls”. Was it due to the energy of the crowd or are you just amplifying the songs live?
Henrik: Well … I guess it’s my fault. I get carried away a bit and count too quickly in the song.
antiMusic: The set list is really a good representation of your three records. With a lot of fan favorites, is it a chore to put together the songs you experience or are the choices pretty obvious?
Henrik: I think it’s a mix of fan favorites and our own favorites …
antiMusic: “Julia” from the debut album kicks off the gig and is a signature HorrorPops song as good as any other. Is it a perennial opener?
Henrik: I think it’s always been … It’s the first song we’ve ever recorded together.
antiMusic: “SOB” was kind of a left turn for people who expected more psychobilly rock from the first record. This country-flavored song is a great change of scenery to show that the band is far from one-dimensional. How important is a song like this to the set list?
Henrik: We like to be sort of multi-flavored. We love everything between Motorhead and Dolly Parton and after playing 5 or 6 fast songs it feels good to turn the BPM down a bit. And I love this song and Trish sings it well I think …
antiMusic: Like “Julia” at the opening, I can’t think of a better connection than “Where They Wander”. Describe what this song means to the band in terms of importance in the set.
Henrik: It’s always good to stop with a good singing … I can’t breathe for minutes after all the damn OH OH OH OH OH OH’S.
antiMusic: One of my favorite songs is âPsychobitches Outta Hellâ. I think it was this song that triggered some little mosh pits the last time I saw you. Which songs make the beast stand out the most in a crowd? And also, the group?
Henrik: I think âKool Flat Topâ and âGhoulsâ are those, but I’ve also seen mosh pits for songs like âMissTakeâ.
antiMusic: You started playing with Patricia when she was playing guitar. Since there is usually a symbiotic relationship between bassists and drummers, was there a period of feeling when she first started playing bass in HorrorPops or did the personal connection accelerate the adjustment?
Henrik: Not a problem at all … I knew and recorded with Trish long before the HorrorPops started. We have a pretty good pocket together.
antiMusic: You are an important part of the sound during recordings, especially in the demo part of the process. How much time do you spend on the live installation? What is your background in this field?
Henrik: My background is in recording studios and film sets. I have been in the industry since I was 17 … I went to film school in Denmark, but have always been very interested in recording and mixing music … With The HorrorPops , we have a pretty simple set that turns our ear monitors. We’ve had it for years, so we hardly do any adjustments anymore. It works well!
antiMusic: Patricia said you do most of the high-pitched vocals. Is it difficult for you to combine the two for live shows?
Henrik: For me, singing is the most vital part of music. Drums and vocals are the foundation of everything.
antiMusic: You were part of Strawberry Slaughterhouse which was very successful in your native Denmark. From there you were part of Peanut Pump Gun with Patricia. What were the highlights of these groups?
Henrik: I’ve never been a part of PPG other than recording the demos that got them signed and which I think was a highlight in itself. Many of my good friends were in this group. It was pretty much the same as Strawberry Slaughterhouse was active and some of the highlights were touring Japan and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Being arrested for debauchery and making the front pages of the tabloids in Denmark. (BUAAAHAHAHAHA)
antiMusic: HorrorPops emigrated to the United States in the mid-2000s. You were first drawn to the country’s craze for music creators compared to Denmark. After living here for a decade, what are your impressions of the country today?
Henrik: I love America … The diversity of the people, the culture, everything. But I was also in shock the last time I was there, to see all the homeless in the streets all over the place … I don’t want to be in politics, but it was a little scary.
antiMusic: The band didn’t commit to new music, but some new riffs and ideas surely had to emerge during sound testing and practice. Do you expect a new HorrorPops album in the near future? (Please say yes!)
Henrik: Do I expect a new HP drive … Yes, I think so.
antiMusic: How did you end up with âNiedermeierâ as a stage name?
Henrik: I hate that name … It was a joke name StoiKopf from Strawberry Slaughterhouse gave me when we first started and has stuck with me ever since. But after many years of hardcore psychotherapy, I’ve come to terms with it.
antiMusic: Do you have a replacement for Clyde (I think that was the name of your trusty old van ???)?
Henrik: We have a huge motorhome that we and Nekromantix have been touring for a long time now.
antiMusic: I guess to finish, can I get a “Hell Yeah”?
Henrik: HELL YEAH
Morley and antiMusic thank Henrik for taking the time to do this interview.
For those interested, here is an interview I did with Kim after the release of their second album, Bring It On. Check it out here.
Get the new version live here.
Visit the official website here
[ad_2]