
It’s Exberliner‘s 13th birthday on Friday (June 5), and we’ve invited some friends to SO36 to help us celebrate – starting with hometown garage rockers Snøffeltøffs. Their latest album, 2014’s Hokus Pokus, was recorded right in Kreuzberg, and they’ll be playing their self-described “Shit-fi Pizza Wave” from 11pm before Joy Wellboy take the stage at midnight. Don’t be late!
English speakers love your name. “Snøffeltøffs” sounds like a monster on a kids’ TV show…
Snøffeltøffs is more or less like a kids show and we’re the main actors who are bringing the show to European towns. We’re not taking ourselves too seriously, but we love our name and what we are able to accomplish with it. People who think we are a joke – we’re not! Some say Snøffeltøffs was the name of everybody’s favourite dinosaur in Rugrats, but that was Reptar.
It’s not that easy to understand your lyrics. What are your songs about?
Most of the lyrics are just popping into our heads or start to exist in the process of recording the songs. Until then we’re mostly making up stuff when playing live, mix that with lotsa reverb and it’s done.
But seriously, just like all the other rock artists around the world our lyrics contain girls, broken hearts, goin’ to the beach and trippin’ on catnip.
Why are there only two of you? Do you each play two instruments?
It was a decision we never discussed or anything like that. From day one it was Florian on drums and bass and Julian on guitar and sometimes organ. Two people means less opinions, easier arguments and faster decisions and since we have known each other for over a decade, it’s the best way for us to work.
Where do you go out on a Friday night in Berlin?
Anywhere cheap, dark and cosy. Starting from the cheap old Berlin bars of Neukölln and ending at our local hotspot and second home 8mm Bar, where we also DJ once a month.
What’s it like playing garage rock in the city of techno?
You expect us to say “pretty difficult” but Berlin is a good city for being a musician and playing live. Might be the best city in Germany for “rock/pop/garage” bands from our experiences. Techno, electro, minimal… yes this is a strong genre in Berlin due to its history, but there is no competition between musical genres in this town ’cause there are enough music lovers and clubs for everyone. Yes, we did complain about the fact that people would rather pay €20 to see a DJ than €10 for a band, but it’s just a normal process and we’re happy to play in this town.
EXBERLINER TURNS 13 AT SO36 Fri, Jun 5, 22:00 | SO36, Oranienstr. 190, Kreuzberg, U-Bhf Kottbusser Tor. TICKETS