high fidelity

9.2.24 – NWF Bergen Pro Wrestling @ Kvarteret, Bergen

Kitsch, dramatic and absurd; and that is modern society. Great event, the pain and physical exertion is real. People need stereotypes, they need heroes and villains. Is a sport any less worthy if the working classes enjoy it? Brash and lewd, like US politics. 10/10

26.5.24 – A Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites Illuminated @ Ole Bull Scene, Bergen

I don´t think they were allowed to mention John Williams´name, but they played an equal amount of his repertoire. A brilliant night, lots of emotional strings. They didn´t do the true romance theme, but I felt like jumping up and dancing with the Indiana Jones one, so perhaps best not. Films would not be films without their distinctive soundtracks. They can make a film with good cinematography lack an identity if the score is boring, or a film lacking in decent cinematography, iconic, through it´s use of popular music to describe a scene. 10/10

29.08.24 – Chris Holmes of W.A.S.P @ Hulen, Bergen

Unique venues such as this should be preserved and invested in. Fun gig, not technically W.A.S.P but noone cared. Linn Achre Tveit of Bergen got up on stage to sing a few with the band. I´ve seen her around but I didn´t realise she had such a good voice. Chris Holmes in good health. Support from a good time Trøndelag band which you would expect, middle-aged fairly good dadrock. 7/10

30-31.08.24 – Høydenfestivalen @ Nygårdsparken, Bergen

9 Grader Nord were unexpectedly different and energetic. I really think you should check them out. There was a Kvinner i Musikk Panel which proved interesting and Kaja Guneffsen is not what I would usually enjoy but she is clearly very talented, and not many can command the stage alone. The students did an excellent job with this festival, Nygårdsparken dressed up for a right Instahunsesh . 8/10

4.9.24 – Piano Recital @ Trollhaugen

Marina Matsouka, a promising student of the Grieg Academy, performed her favourite hits of Grieg at his house. The performance had sunshine and rain and it just so happened that he died on this day in 1907. 10/10

6-7.9.24 – HOT!HOT!HOT! @ USF, Bergen

Tacobitch were insane. I am not even sure if they would be considered industrial or so much more. You need to check them out. A surprise gig Saturday by Girson and Foggy Martin, and another NMG man and support from Mr. DJ Teebee, doing what they usually do, with the rapping and the walking around on stage. Perhaps they would make better music if they dedicated less time to being cunts. 8/10

10.9.24 – The The @ Rockefeller, Oslo

I had brought the rain from Bergen for the evening. I looked around and felt very lucky to be here at this sold out gig, the first of two in the capital. I liked the design of the venue. I loved the band. Most of the more original lineup remains, Matt Johnson still has his lovely voice, but not his hair, but this doesn´t matter. Really talented. And working class roots. 10/10

14.09.24 – Kakkmaddafakka @ USF, Bergen

All of the guitarists can sing. I have not been to a gig in a long time where everyone knows most of the lyrics and sings along. Like a more talented Norwegian version of a British band you would hear the main song of at an indie disco in 2010. 9/10

21.09.24 – Nea & the Regulars @ Hulen, Bergen

Coming back late from some heavy hiking in Hardanger; sun fried and pathetically achey, so I was not going to come, but glad I did. Nea is in the same vein as Amy Winehouse, albeit with her life much more together. Her band play a sort of funk? It is a shame that genuinely talented bands such as this have so few people seeing them, although the band and audience filled Hulen with their heart. 9/10

27.09.24 – Dunbarrow @ Hulen

Finally the big coat comes out, and for some reason I was expecting some sort of farmy Mumford and Sons Bollocks. But I saw the guy who looks like Bergen´s 70s version of Thys Van Leer in the audience and the Orange Amps and knew it would be okay. They are much more talented and heavy than they look. Very much worth watching. 9/10

10.10.24 – Giddygang @ USF

A Norwegian version of the Fugees. I really enjoyed this. 9/10

26.10.24 – Shining @ Hulen

A bit like what you imagine it would be like to be in the club in Lost Highway with the mental saxophone. The bassist is more talented and looks like he would play piano very well also. 9/10

15.11.24 – IRABAGON / SKEIDSVOLL / DRØNEN / HÅKER FLATEN @ USF

I understood about half of it, and I am still trying to interpret the rest! It was as confusing to me as society. 8/10

11.01.25 – HJERTESLAG @ USF

A lovely man and even though the music was not overly mine, I can see that he really means what he says and that people really care; my interview with Robert will be played on the next HIGH FIDELITY – 8.2.25. 9/10

23.01.25-25.01.25 – JUNGELENFEST

Roland 303, much sober shoulder dancing and making peace with my phantom of the opera. I think it was pretty obvious apart from to you that when we hung around, that this is not (was actually) a love song, for you, you stupid man. 10/10

20.02.25 – Thomas Seltzer @ USF

Another paramilitary group has stolen actual fashion yet again.  Now, no one can be Clarence Worely for Halloween. Thomas Seltzer took to the stage to do a sort of lecture, in paisley.  Not many rockstars can do an actual Louis Theroux, it is a good interviewing technique to disarm mental nazis and swingers and boer separatists and cult leaders.  Perhaps NRK can expand the concept further. Let’s hope the patriots do not steal cowprint miniskirts next. They be thinking that it be whiteboy day. 8/10

24.06.25 – John Maus @ Landmark

A very unique man, I´ve not seen a man exit sidestage growling manically before. 10/10

30.08.25 – Knee High Spin Kick / The Franklins

A very energetic gig from one of Vers Libre´s other presenters and others. Very good fashion sense. 9/10