BigBangFans.com

Spotify logo

Some of you might already have noticed; You can now find all Warner Music releases of Bigbang online at Spotify. The list is now updated with the early EP releases of “Girl In Oslo” (Norwegian version), “New Glow” and “Smiling For” which contains some tracks nowhere else to be found.

Most of these EPs are not available for sale anymore, so only way to get them is second hand, or by online media channels like Spotify. That means you now can listen to everything the band released except for “Poetic Terrorism”, “From Acid To Zen” and “Not A Rolling Stone EP”, which is only released on their own GrandSport label, as well as “Girl In Oslo EP” (International version).

Go here for the access: http://open.spotify.com/artist/0xcxjw5UveWGhL9Q6wurR3

I can recommend “One Of Them” from the “Smiling For EP”, a personal favourite that the band seems to have forgotten. I’ve never heard it played live.

For those who don’t know what Spotify is all about: It is a online streaming system which you can get for free if you can manage commercial breaks, or you can buy commercial free access for a pretty low fee. Read more about it at http://www.spotify.com

VG Lista @ Rådhusplassen - Photo: VGTV

If you want another shot at listening to a couple of Bigbang tracks live and for free, you have another opportunity upcoming Wednesday 1st of July. The band is scheduled to perform at another VG Lista Topp 20 live show in Bjerkstedparken / Stavanger. The show starts at 18.00 CET.

There is also a world championship in Beach Volleyball in Stavanger this week, so expect a large audience.

Artists performing includes: Paperboys, BigBang, Erik & Kriss, Alex and the Young Dudes, Donkeyboy, Pony the Pirat, ONKLP og JAAP9, Pauline, Chris Lee/Joddski/Onklp, Samsaya, Eva and the Heartmaker og Skambankt.

Norwegian TV channel NRK1 broadcasted the event live, and now you can watch the whole show in recorded stream FREE of charge. Bigbang performed “Wild Bird” and “Play Louder” in front of the soaking wet audience.

VG Lista @ Rådhusplassen - Photo: VGTV

The show also featured artists like:
A-ha, Aqua, Paperboys, Kool & The Gang, Fuentes/Lind/Nilsen/Holm, ALexander Rybak, Yohanna, Lene Marlin, Erik & Kriss, Karpe Diem, Metro Station, Quick, White Lies, Timbuktu, BigBang, The Noisettes, Jadakiss, Tone Damli Aaberge, Samsaya, Donkeyboy, Eva & The Heartmaker, OnklP/Joddski/Chris Lee.

Show can be streamed here: http://nrkp3.no/konserter/?indeks=175383 – use the links to the right to jump to what you want to see. Enjoy!

They also published this photo of Øystein from the event.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrk-p3/tags/bigbang/

The bigbangfans.com staff and members sends our best wishes :)

The following info is taken from Wikipedia:

Øystein Greni

Øystein @ Rockefeller - April '09 - Photo: Svein Gisleson / bigbangfans.com

Born: June 15, 1974 (1974-06-15) (age 35)
Origin: Oslo, Norway
Genre(s): Rock
Instrument(s): vocals, guitar
Years active: 1992—present
Label(s): Grandsport Records, Warner
Website: www.thebigbangweb.com

Øystein Greni (born June 15, 1974 in Oslo) is the singer and lead guitar player of the Norwegian rock and roll band Bigbang.

Biography
Øystein Greni is the son of Thor Sigbjørn Greni, singer and songwriter of the Undertakers Circus, a 60/70s soul band. In 1992, Greni, Erik Tresselt and Christer Engen formed Bigbang which has since established its position as one of the principal rock acts of Norway. As the only consistent member throughout the band’s history, Bigbang’s success is often attributed to Greni’s skills as a guitarist and songwriter.

Greni also works as a music producer. In 2003, he produced the EP debut of Latin performer Maria Orieta (Greni’s fiancee) Buenos Aires via the Grandsport Records indie label.

Greni is also a former skateboarding champion, having won the 1991 European Skateboard amateur championship in Antwerp.

As of 2007 Greni and the band relocated to U.S.A. The rest of the band later returned to Norway, but Øystein and Maria still live in Los Angeles.

More info about Øystein:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oystein_Greni – English
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Øystein_Greni – Norwegian
http://www.thebigbangweb.com

There was an audience of 5-6000 people attending the festival. Ando Woltman appeared on lead vocal on Going Home, originally written by his band King Midas. 100 Norwegian choir boys from Sølvguttene & St. Halvard guttene assisted the band on a special live version of Isabel. The whole show was taped on by four 35mm cameras for release on DVD sometime in November. In addition there were a full TV crew filming the event live feed for internet.

The following coverage appeared from the gig last night. The reviewers seemed overall happy, but some of them commented on the lack of surprises and lack of something extraordinary. Lack of choir sound for large parts of the audience on the Isabel 100 choir boys assisted version and an unfocused guest lead on Going Home was other comments… :

• Pictures & Review by Dagsavisen (5/6)
• Review by Aftenposten (5/6)
• Pictures & Review by Side2 (5/6)
• Local newspaper “Lokalavisen Frogner”
• Comments by NRK Lydverket
• Pictures taken by ANB
• Both VG and Dagbladet, two of the largest papers also reviewed it, but no online version available. VG gave it 4/6 and DB 5/6.

Video feed of the whole concert you can find here, thanks to NRK:

• Option 1
• Option 2

This evenings performance from Norwegian Wood festival in the middle of Oslo will be streamed with audio and sound online, courtesy of Norwegian goverment run TV channel NRK. Details follow:

Bigbang & Jaga Jazzist @ Norwegian Wood 2000

Concert start: 21.00 CET
More info: http://www.nrk.no/musikk/festival/norwegian_wood/1.6642845
Direct stream URL: http://nrkp3.no/konserter/ or http://nrkp3.no/konserter/?klipp=503544

The stream will be accessible @ http://nrkp3.no/konserter/ sometime after the live feed is finished.

Twitter feed: @norwegianwood #nwood Øystein Greni om konsertfilmen som tas opp på N.Wood. 40 folk i sving, 4x 35mm kameraer, 24 spors analog lydbuss.

- 40 people involved in recording for the DVD
- 4 x 35mm cameras
- 24 channel analogue sound bus

If you live nearby or plan to go to Oslo tonight i recommend you visit the concert live. There are still tickets available @ the festival entrance! http://www.norwegianwood.no

Norwegian newspaper “Dagbladet” features in today’s current issue an in depth article covering Bigbang and Øysteins current daily life in L.A. The article itself is printed in the “Fredag” extra insert, but there is also a picture of it on the front cover with an excerpt stating him saying: “Marihuana is more family friendly”. As usual the tabloid press pulls stuff out of context to make people want to read, but the statement is true. If you read the article it is easier to understand of course in what relation it was mentioned.

Other stuff the article mention:

• tour life
• surfing
• drugs
• LA and the move from Norway
• family life
• breaking in the US
• skating and literature
• childhood and growing up
• band raider
• + a bunch of other stuff

Buy todays issue of “Dagbladet” @ newsstands and stores. http://www.db.no

Several Norwegian newspapers printed an article about the return of the Boston music scene. The Lemonheads and Dinosaur Jr. publishes new albums, and Pixies is playing @ Isle of Wight festival. In relation to the article they talked to Øystein about some of his old favorite music:

Øystein about Dinosaur Jr.

Dinosaur Jr. - Artwork from MySpace

Øystein mention that he first heard the Dinosaur Jr. track “Freak Scene” in a skateboard movie. “I liked the honesty and the intensity of the music. It was pop with screaming guitars and lots of agression”, he says. The albums “You’re Living All Over Me” (1987) and “Bug” (1988), as well as the EP and The Cure-cover “Just Like Heaven” is mentioned as some personal favorites.

“Dinosaur Jr. is timeless, and front figure J. Mascis is a rock in the modern guitar history. In my book he is as important as Jimi Hendrix & Neil Young.”

http://www.dinosaurjr.com
http://www.myspace.com/dinosaurjr

Øystein about Bruce Springsteen
With Bruce on tour in Norway, Norwegian newspaper “Dagbladet” asked Øystein about his relation to him:

Bruce Springsteen in Bergen, Norway 2009

“I’m a huge fan – just like my father. He was the one who showed me Springsteen. He attended one of his earliest tours. After that I was taught what “The River” is all about. American Working class poetry, the union card and that whole package. He made many crystal clear master pieces: “Born To Run”, “New York City serenade” and “Dancing In The Dark”. Radio Nowhere might have been the best song made in 2007″. The Bruce Springsteen music is real and comes from the heart. Honesty like that is rare in showbiz.”

http://www.brucespringsteen.net

Anders Haugen & Anders Rørlien - the young local organizers got to meet with Øystein - Photo: Vidar Herre

Avisa Hordaland wrote this article about last weekends concerts @ Voss.

The article is about the event and the young local organizers of the event. Øystein mentioned the lack of good rock concerts for underage kids beeing a problem when he was young, and still is these days.

As a thank you to the young local boys who initiated the event @ Voss, they got to meet and talk to their idol before the concert. The band also dedicated “Wild Bird” performance that evening to them.

Bigbang is scheduled to perform at the annual VG Lista Topp 20 program @ Rådhusplassen in Oslo, June 19th, together with a large lineup of big bands and artists. The show will as usual also be broadcasted live on Norwegian television.

VG Lista @ Rådhusplassen - Photo: VGTV

Artists include:

A-ha, Aqua, Paperboys, Kool & The Gang, Fuentes/Lind/Nilsen/Holm, ALexander Rybak, Yohanna, Lene Marlin, Erik & Kriss, Karpe Diem, Metro Station, Quick, White Lies, Timbuktu, BigBang, The Noisettes, Tone Damli Aaberge, Samsaya, Donkeyboy, Eva & The Heartmaker, OnklP/Joddski/Chris Lee

The show is free for all, and there is a expected audience of up to 100.000 people :)

Read more here: http://www.vg.no/musikk/vg-lista-topp-20/artikkel.php?artid=554205