Interview with Axel Sjöberg of Graveyard (circa. 2015)

Interview by Stuart Blythe

Graveyard will return to Australia in March 2015 for Golden Plains Festival along with headline shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. We caught up with Graveyard drummer Axel Sjöberg for a chat.

Hi Axel, great to hear Graveyard are heading to Australia in 2015 for a string of headline shows (tour details here).
Having caught your shows last year in Australia I can say we’re excited to see you live again.

Thank you!

For the uninitiated, what can punters expect from your live shows?

An intense rock concert with good dynamics. People will probably drink beer and be pretty fucking stoked.

Along with your headline shows you’re also playing at Golden Plains Festival. What are you most looking forward to about the festival?

I hope to catch both Radio Birdmand and Village People! Any festival that books those two bands (First Aid Kit and us too of course) must be awesome.

Does the band have anything special planned for Golden Plains Festival in particular?

Maybe we should?? Guess we’ll have to get working on that.

What’s your favourite/least favourite festival experience?

Hmm.. The time we played Bonnaroo in the US was cool. They really spent a lot of time and energy on the visual experience of going to the festival. Skygliders dropping blinking lamps and stuff. We had a good show and buffalo springfield did a reunion gig.

The least favourites I try to repress. They often have to do with bad weather, delayed schedule, stress and no food. And idiots.

Does your show format change when playing festivals as opposed to more intimate shows?

Maybe a little bit, in regards to the set list. It depends on the slot on the festival. It takes a bit more to draw people in if you play a big (or small) stage daytime.

Have you got any pre-show routines/superstitions?

Not really. I try to warm up and maybe I’ll have a beer.

What is the most important thing you bring when your on tour?

Passport haha? Myself, so the band can play? If you forget something, it works out somehow anyway.

What does the band have planned for the rest of the year after your Australian tour dates finishes up?

Recording a new album, a spring tour with Mastodon and Clutch in the US, some summer festivals and then the release of the new album and back into the touring cycle.

Is there anything you would like to say to your fan base ahead of the tour?

I hope you will give our new bass player a warm welcome!

—– Quick Questions —–

:: What track changed your life ::

I can jive – Jerry Williams

:: Biggest influence ::

My friends

:: Name a band or artist we should checkout ::

Spiders, Hills, Spids Nogenhat, Nigh Viper

:: Favourite Quote ::

When you get to the intersection where a black cat walked by twenty minutes ago, turn right.

:: Three words to describe the last few years ::

Roller Coaster Ride

:: Three words to describe the year ahead ::

Pretty Fucking Sweet

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