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Katzenjammer
Le Pop
(Nettwerk; US: 29 Jun 2010; Norway release date: 29 Sep 2008)
Here at PopMatters, we’ve been Katzenjammer fans since well back to 2008 when Adrien Begrand had the good fortune of catching their show at by:Larm 2008 in Oslo, Norway. He was smitten with the Norwegian four-piece band, who he likened to a Scandinavian Dixie Chicks. Well, that sold me as an unrepentant Dixie Chicks lover. Begrand picked up a copy of Le Pop in Norway that year and we thought highly enough of it to place it on the 2008 edition of Slipped Discs.
Just to reiterate, here’s what Begrand had to say back then: “Loaded with sea shanties, Balkan gypsy folk music, bluegrass, blues, German cabaret, twee orchestral pop, and delivered with the reckless abandon of punk rock, there’s a lot to digest on the manic debut album by Norwegian foursome Katzenjammer, but the charisma of these four talented ladies always wins us over. With each member a lead singer and multi-instrumentalist, the band’s versatility is remarkable a live setting and especially on record, as Le Pop veers from raucous (“A Bar in Amsterdam”, “Hey Ho on the Devil’s Back”) to tender (Wading in Deeper”), each song boasting plenty of gorgeous, rich four-part vocal harmonies.”
Now, finally, in 2010, Katzenjammer is hitting US shores with Le Pop releasing 29 June on Nettwerk Records. They were here back in 2009 after David Byrne became a fan and had them play his 2009 curated stage at Bonnaroo. This year, they’re on a short US tour before hitting the circuit with the musical women on the Lilith Fair tour revival (dates after the jump).
In the meantime, we have the pleasure today of premiering this live video of “A Bar in Amsterdam” shot at the Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway. Enjoy… it’s impossible not to really.
Katzenjammer US Tour Dates
6/22: Los Angeles, CA @ The Viper Room, 8pm
6/23: Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
6/24: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge, 10pm
7/01: Chicago, IL. @ Schubas
7/03: Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
7/04: Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
7/06: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
7/08: Boston, MA @ Cafe 939, 9pm
7/09: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas
7/10: Arlington, VA @ IOTA Club & Café, 10pm
Lilith Tour Dates
8/10: West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre (Lilith Tour)
8/11: Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheatre (Lilith Tour)
8/12: Birmingham, AL @ Verizon Wireless Music Center (Lilith Tour)
