Hell-o to everyone,
we guess it is time to clear some things up ... first of all we would like to introduce ourselves:
Our names are Anja & Angie. We already have some accounts here on MySpace - our own ones ( Anja MySpace & Angie MySpace ) and one account made for fanpage-purposes and in dedication to one of the greatest band on earth: End of Green ( All about nothing MySpace , the URL to the fanpage is http://www.all-about-nothing.ag.vu ) - feel free to add us :)
We have decided to open up an account for Bay Laurel because
- we really love and appreciate their music & lyrics
- it was time to recall a band which unfortunately has already broken up
- Rikard Löfgren feels really happy about it :)
And some more reasons we will not post here because further information will anyway follow.
The MySpace Account is still in progress and everything will soon be filled out - with loads of information, pictures and everything your Bay Laurel heart longs for :)
Angie is in contact with Rikard Löfgren (the singer of Bay Laurel) and is still waiting for the stuff he wanted to send, so it might take some time till we've finished this site.
The page is a dedication and kind of a memory, a little help to keep the band and the music alive and in mind.
Do not hesitate to leave a comment if you want to critizise, to say something nice or whatever... but keep in mind that it pays to be polite. The band should feel proud of their fans - and not the other way 'round. Every nasty message will be deleted.
So long, take care.
ps.: Thanks to all who already added us.
Biographie of Bay Laurel
Bay Laurel was formed during the summer of -93.
The musical influenses were classic goth bands such as Sisters of Mercy and Fields of the Nephilim.
During that summer the band wrote songs and in September -93 the demo-cassette "Into the Mist" was recorded.
Three different record companies wanted to give the group a contract and in the summer of -94 Bay Laurel signed for Noxious Records / House of Kicks.
By this time a drummer was recruited ( Into the mist is recorded with a drum machine ) and a keyboardplayer.
The first album "Under a clouded sky" was recorded in October of -94 under extreme pressure of time.
This is what the papers wrote about the album:
"A band from Karlstad with a fresh record deal has shown up with their first album. This is a record in a classic gothic manner, pretty much like other bands such as Mission and Love like Blood. When compared to others Bay Laurel doesn´t need to be ashamed. This record has class and above all it´s great to hear the fine production".
Another paper wrote:
"-A masterpiece in it´s true meaning. Tight, well played and simply the best! Buy now, you won..t regret it!!!"
Expressen wrote:
"Black candles, bleeding tears. The emptiness doesn´t get more depressing than the Bay Laurel from Karlstad. A melodic Paradise Lost weeps together with Sisters of Mercy on a funeral. Delicate."
Then there were less lyrical reviews as one written by Janne Stark:
"I find it hard to like the deep vocals and the songs don´t really tickle me at all. It feels in a way uninspired and it just flows on without any kind of variation. It´s actually a tedious record all together."
Photo: Peter Wallgren
Set-up: "Under a clouded sky". Left to right:
Anders Karlsson-guitar, Johan Carlsson-keyboard, Petter Miller-guitar, Mattias Jonsson-bass, Rikard Löfgren-vocals, Tobias Gustafsson-drums.
After playing a few conserts during spring and summer of -95 the drummer Tobias Gustafsson left the band after a performance at the Arvika festival.
Shortly after the keyboard player Johan Carlsson also left the band.
It was hard to find replacements but eventually they found Dan Borg ( keyboard ) and Andreas Nyrén ( drums ).
After a few months the guitar player Petter Miller quit the band and the vocalist Rikard Löfgren took the part of playing guitar.
A new album ( Days of Joy ) was recorded in spring -96 and the single "Lost in black love" was released in the fall of -96. The full lenght album was released in the beginning of 1997 and it got great reviews.
Aftonbladet (biggest swedish eveningpaper) for instance gave the album 4+ and wrote:
"If this is what Bay Laurel sounds like when they´re describing their days of joy I most certainly don´t want to hear them when they´re miserable!! The band play high quality goth rock and they have matured since their first album. The best thing about this album is that Bay Laurel shows that they´ve found their own sound and the unavoidable comparison to sisters of mecy feels unnecessary. Bay Laurel has found different sources of inspiration but the compulsory sadness and anguish is of course still there!".
The magazine Release graded the album 8 out of 10 and wrote:
"-I am truly impressed by the content of "Days of Joy". Bay Laurel has captured the perfect sound that fits the imagery and gives prominence to the melodies in the heave music. They´ve written a heep of brilliant tracks and performed them absolutely flawless".
Photo: Anna Wånggre
Set-up: "Danys of Joy". Left to right:
Mattias Jonsson-bass, Anders Karlsson-guitar, Rikard Löfgren-vocals/guitar,
Andreas Nyrén-drums, Dan Borg-keyboard.
Prior to the release of "Days of Joy" the bassplayer Mattias Jonsson was layed off and the keyboard player Dan Borg took his place.
Now the band needed a new keyboard player and also a new guitar player since Rikard wanted to concentrate on the vocals.
Pretty soon Per Tilkku ( keyboard ) and Stefan Gustafsson ( guitar ) joined the band.
A few concerts were performed in Stockholm, Eskilstuna, Arvika, Hultsfred, Falkenberg and Karlstad.
The new Bay Laurel spent the summer of -97 recording a cover -ep called "Bitter Intoxins" and it was released in January -98.
They also released a video to the Leonard Cohen cover "First we take Manhattan" and it was to be seen on Z-TV ( swedish music channel ) but it was totally ignored by MTV.
The songs on the -ep are: First we take Manhattan ( Leonard Cohen ), Heroes ( David Bowie ), Shine On ( House of Love ), To have and to hold ( Depeche Mode ).
Photo:Johan Eklund
Set-up: "Bitter Intoxins". Left to right:
Stefan Gustafsson-guitar, Per Tilkku-keyboard, Andreas Nyrén-drums,
Rikard Löfgren-vocals, Anders Karlsson-guitar, Dan Borg-bass.
13 new songs were recorded in fall of 1997. 12 of these songs were to be the third album entitled "...and sandman came with a handful of sleeping pills..." This album was never released when both the band and the record company agreed on that it it could be done better.
Instead of recording the songs once again Bay Laurel decided to write new material.
Rikard and Anders went out travelling for three months after the release of "Bitter Intoxins". When they came home again the band decided on firing the drummer Andreas Nyrén and the guitarist Stefan Gustafsson.
Shortly after that was accomplished the keyboard player Per Tilkku quit the band. A new drummer by the name of Chris Montgomery joined in and Rikard once again took control over the guitar.
A stand in keyboard player might join in on live appearances. The four Bay Laurel members has recorded the Sisters of Mercy song "Poison Door" which will appear on "Tribute Records" tribute to Sisters of Mercy. During Aug/Sep -99 it was time record a follow up to "Days of joy".
10 song were recorded and the sound is darker compared to previous albums. The album (where pain comes to die) is produced by Ola Sonmark and Rikard Löfgren.
Photo: Per Tilkku
Today´s set-up: Left to right:
Anders Karlsson-guitar, Rikard Löfgren-vocals/guitar,
Dan Borg-bass, Chris Montgomery-drums
Bay Laurel - First we take Manhattan Cover (videoclip)