When punk rock initially emerged circa 1976, few could have foreseen the worldwide impact the music would have. More than three decades later, punk can be heard the world over. But few have embraced the sound quite like Norway’s Turdus Musicus, who will perform at Dream Street in Ocean Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
The hardcore rockers take a sound first crafted by the likes of West Coast pioneers Black Flag and The Descendents and add a frantic melodic edge uniquely their own.
Turdus Musicus, featuring Carl Christian Lein Størmer (vocals), Aleksander Johannessen (bass), Halvard Rundberg (guitar), Finn Fodstad (guitar) and Paulo Velasquez (drums), got its start in 1999 while still in junior high school.
“I guess most of us started out playing music in bands really early, like in elementary school,” said Størmer. “Like most kids, we listened to bands like AC/DC, Metallica and Aerosmith before we headed in different directions tastewise.”
More recently, Størmer said he has been influenced by the music in American snowboard movies in the ’90’s and bands of the era such as Helmet.
The quintet has released three albums to date and has been named “The Best Norwegian Live Rock Act Ever” in the process by Scandinavia’s press. While that title is secure in their homeland, Størmer intends for the band’s reputation for manic performances to extend stateside.
“We really just go on stage and let the music do the talking,” he said. “But here in the States we have to give our best shot every night, whether there is 10 people in the crowd or 1,000. We have to play like this because it’s our only chance to convince our newfound friends that we really are the best Norwegian live act ever.”
Though Størmer introduces most of the riffs and lyrics to the band, he considers the end result to be a group effort.
“We bring it all to our rehearsal space, jam it out and arrange the songs,” he said. “So what comes out is really a product of every individual contributing to the mix with their own unique style.”
On this first tour of the U.S., the band is taking advantage of every second. On a 90-day mission to spread the word about their music, the band has used down time between shows to record at famed Colorado studio Blasting Room and also to shoot a video in Wyoming for one of their songs, “A Shot of Inspiration,” with snowboard cinematographer Rich Goodwin. In addition, the entire journey is being filmed by Norwegian photographer Arthur Arnesen for a documentary.
If the life of a musician touring the United States can seem daunting at times, it’s even more so for international acts. Work visas, equipment logistics and travel costs all make the experience out of reach to all but the hardiest of bands. For Turdus Musicus, traffic was also a concern. The band has been traveling the country in a rented RV.
“Coming from Norway, riding the American highways was something we kind of feared before coming over,” Størmer said. So far, the only mishap has been a blown tire on a freeway in Colorado.
Upcoming plans for the band include an unexpected album.
“The recording we did at Blasting Room was initially meant to be an EP,” Størmer said. “But both the studio and ourselves were so stoked by the result that we now plan to return in the near future to complete a full-length album.”
Størmer cites touring Colorado with Underminer, a band which includes personal heroes Jeff Reese of Inch and Karl Alvarez of the Descendents as a highpoint of this visit.
But he notes his favorite part has been “seeing the smiles on people’s faces during our show and having them join us in chanting and slam-dancing.”
For now, Størmer is simply pleased the band’s initial foray into a new market has gone relatively smoothly.
“It has turned out far greater than we ever would have dared to expect,” he said. “We’re getting to do exactly what we’ve always dreamed of doing. Every night.”
Turdus Musicus is set to perform at Dream Street, 2228 Bacon St. in Ocean Beach, on Wednesday. The show is for those 21 and up.
For more information, visit dreamstreetlive.com or www.myspace.com/turdusmusicus.