It’s that time of year again, when in the run-up to Bloodstock we endeavour to interview every band gracing the SOPHIE, New Blood and Jägermeister stages from 8th – 11th August 2019. This means you’ve got a chance to read up on all your favourite bands set to play over the weekend and decide which new ones you’ll want to check out.
As ever, we’re predicting some horrible clashes because, true to form, there are some great bands across all three stages so you should start planning who you want to see.
Our thanks to all the bands / artists for taking the time out to answer our questions!
Odd Crew – S.O.P.H.I.E Stage, Saturday
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Hi, we are Odd Crew and we are from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
How long have you been playing together as a band?
We have known each other since we were little kids. We used to ride bicycles in the hood together. We started playing as a band in the late 90s and on August 1st 1998 we formed the final line-up that hasn’t changed since then. Already more than 20 years.
Where does the name of the band come from?
We started out under another name but growing up we began playing heavier stuff and changed the band name to Odd Crew in 2008. It’s not a typical one for a metal band, but that wasn’t a consideration for us when we were choosing it. In a certain sense, Odd Crew is not just a band name – it relates to everyone who seems to be odd in ‘normal’ people’s eyes – everyone who’s rejected from the typical society manners and finds а way out through music. The music is always there, you just need to reach out and grab it.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Our music has never been limited to one style – we’ve always played what we feel at a certain point in time. That is why all our 5 albums are so different but at the same time perfectly “ours”. We’ve been together for so many years and we’ve been through countless ups and downs but never ever had to face the dilemma “should we quit or keep on doing it?”. We’ve always looked forward to what comes next and we’ve done everything just as we wanted to. We are brothers from other mothers, there’s nothing that can make us give up or separate.
What’s your live show like?
We’ve always enjoyed a strong emotional connection with the audience. You can expect a lot of headbanging, heartfelt guitar solos, precise drumming, and catchy compositions. Come and become a part of the Odd Crew, so we could sing along our anthem “I Ain’t Losing Myself” at the end of our set.
Have you been to Bloodstock before?
This is our first time playing Bloodstock and we’re really excited about it. We hope it is just the first of many more to come.
How/when did you find out that you’d be playing the SOPHIE stage?
We got an email at the beginning of the year. We were rehearsing when we received it and we felt really happy to be invited to play exactly the SOPHIE stage, it is such an honour.
What sort of setlist can we expect?
We’re gonna play some of our most energetic songs from all of the Odd Crew albums and we will eventually end up with a strong and emotional tune. If you come to see our show we assure you that you will not remain indifferent.
Which other band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?
- Vasko (guitar) – I would love to see Tesseract. A very talented band with an amazing light show.
- Bonzy (drums) – I’ll be happy to see Parkway Drive and Soulfly again, their shows are always unforgettable.
- Martin (bass) – I don’t wanna miss Children Of Bodom or Anthrax.
- Vasko (voclas) – I would love to hear some of the unsigned bands – I may find a new favourite and for sure get a clear vision of the underground sound in the UK and Central Europe.
What are you working on at the moment?
We are currently working on a new album that will sound like nothing we’ve done so far. It will be much slower, heavier, and more progressive. It should be out in 2020.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Many people bring their kids to our shows. We’ve seen kids on the shoulders of their parents literally in the middle of the mosh pit. Fortunately no one ever gets hurt, everyone is looking after the others and the best thing is that the kids love it and want more.
What drink do you throw back to get yourself fired up before going on stage?
- Vasko (vocals) – I prefer whisky or vodka.
- Martin (bass) – Whisky.
- Bonzy (drums) – We have our own brand of American Pale Ale – Odd Crew beer. I normally drink that one.
- Vasko (guitar) – I like our beer too. I prefer it rather than any other. I also enjoy drinking the traditional homemade Bulgarian rakiya.
Odd Crew: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | youtube
