Saturday, February 6, 2010

7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN WITH NOMO FRONTMAN ELLIOT BERGMAN

BrooklynPBJS loves to dance on tables to the beats of Ann Arbor based AfroFunk-kay band NOMO. If you haven't checked them out, they are likely to suck you into a room with their groovy soul shaking tone and make you dance until all your clothes are off! PBJS had a fun exchange with their front man Elliot Bergman who is known to craft the powerful instruments he plays. Currently on tour, read how Elliot marches to his own beat...

PBJS:
We love to rock out to NOMO- we are curious to hear who is on your iPod?

EB: I recently gave my iPod to my brother. Whoops! It was pretty good though. It was full of great Tropicalia stuff: Os Mutanes, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Tom Ze-- oh and tons of Sun Ra. So when we would put on my iPod on shuffle in the van, it was either Brazillian stuff or Sun Ra, with an occasional track from Born to Run thrown in. I'm not a huge digital media guy. I need to get into it a bit more, but mostly files just stress me out. My search function doesn't work on my computer, so things just pile up on my desktop. It's a nightmare! I love records and worked in a great record store in Ann Arbor for years- Encore Recordings. Ask me about my records...ok. So my girlfriend just bought me a bunch of Harry Bertoia's records for Christmas and I am so excited about them. I've always wanted them and in my years of searching, I have only found one. She bought five of them for me. I was speechless. I actually couldn't believe it. The artwork is so cool and minimal and they have this wonderfully complete aesthetic. I could never feel the same way about some pile of files on my hard drive.

PBJS: First thing to come to your mind- QUICK! First concert? Musical crush?

EB: I remember being at the Minnesota State Fair and sitting on my dad's shoulders while listening to a Beatles cover band. I had a beta tape of Yellow Submarine as a kid (until my dad taped a Vikings game over it) and my favorite song was "Octopus' Garden." When they (the cover band) went into their rendition of it, I was so excited and I thought it was amazing that The Beatles were playing at the Minnesota State Fair. My dad kept telling me that it wasn't the real Beatles, but I just couldn't understand the concept. They looked just like them...suits and haircuts- how could this be?

Oh and musical crush, I am going to have to go with Beyonce.

PBJS: Favorite place to play-- cough cough BROOKLYN!! and why of course?

EB:
Yeah. Zebulon (in Brooklyn) is one of my favorite spots in the world. It's a very special club. They do a great job keeping the lineup filled with interesting new stuff and it's just such a warm and friendly atmosphere. I wish there were more clubs like this. They should franchise. There is never any cover, but we more than often would make more money passing a hat around for donations than we would by charging a steep cover at one of New York's more established venues. It's always filled with musicians and very appreciative listeners.

PBJS: We read that FELA KUTI is an inspiration to NOMO, have you or the band gone to see the amazing NYC show? any new vibes NOMO is exploring?

EB: I did go to see the show, it was really fun. I know some of the guys who are playing in the band and it was great to get to see them on stage. It's quite an amazing production and the music and dancing are great. It's fun to see how Fela and African music are looming in the public consciousness lately. Lots of interesting combinations are happening right now.

I am hard at work on an album that will be centered around the instruments that I build. It's tentatively called Metal Tongues and Erik and I have been working on it for the past couple of weeks. Lots of crazy Kalimba type instruments and looping and layering on top of each other!

PBJS: E, we notice that you roll deep when you guys are on tour. Quite a family you have formed- how do rehearsals go with so many people in your band and so m any moving parts in your music? How on earth do you select who plays with NOMO as well?

EB: There are a lot of us. We've slimmed down a bit over the past few years...you know, the economy and everything. It is hard to keep a big band on the road, but everybody is very flexible and accommodating. We do have a familial vibe at this point. We try to keep rehearsals to a minimum once we have learned the songs. I'd like to think that the players in NOMO just sort of emerge when it's their time. Jamie just kind of waltzed through my front yard carrying a bass a few weeks before the first session. Erik and Justin lived in that house along with a number of former members of the band. Now, when we need a new member- we just post it on FaceBook. Just kidding!

PBJS: We think your bass player Jamie ROCKS! Jamie can really bring the funk and get us off our seats!

EB: She does rock. She's been focusing on her own project lately. Jamie Register and The Glendales is her funky soul outfit and they have been keeping her very busy, so she hasn't been able to come out on the road with us much lately. But we still get her in there when we've got a show around Michigan.

PBJS: Michigan, brrrr! How did you spend your holidays this year?

EB: I've got a great big family and we all convene outside of Chicago. Everybody is musical, so there's lots of singing and playing and Garage Band recording sessions. My sister is quite a prolific songwriter and a great singer. We're hoping to get her in some more NOMO stuff soon!

PBJS: Have to ask, we have been listening to you for years-- and in these years we've seen your many different hairstyles-- shorter, shaggier and even a potential rat-tail-- EXPLAIN PLEASE!

EB: It's hard to get a haircut on the road! I don't think I'll be rocking the long braid any time soon, but I have been getting longer and longer as of late. It's just natural. Maybe next time we are in Brooklyn, you can organize a band haircut day.

PBJS: Sounds like a plan! We love the unique beautiful instruments NOMO brings to town! E, you are a vocalist, musician, badass and a handyman- now that's the total package!

EB: Is that a question? Ha, I have been quite handy lately and I have been working on a new set of instruments. They should go up on Ubiquity's site very soon, so I'll have to send you a link. It's always really fun once the electronics are all done and you plug them in. Each one has it's own character and it's really fun to play each one before they get sent off to their new homes. In the early stages, it's pretty much dangerous machine work and very repetitive, so I need to make sure that I don't space out and amputate! Lots of sparks flying, wood chips shooting out, loud grinding noises, hot aluminum bits-- It's a dangerous world in my workshop. If you

To check out when NOMO will be in your town- check it:
http://www.myspace.com/nomomusic

and

BROOKLYN- NOMO WILL BE HERE APRIL 14TH- UNION POOL 10PM-- WE WILL BE THERE FO SHO!

To check out Elliot's latest batch of instruments- check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YwFw4ZH8F0&feature=player_embedded (See Elliot Create!)

http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/shop/products/HANDMADE-KALIMBA

Enjoy some NOMO- youtube style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOrNrLCIPug