In September 2002, Anders got a phone-call from the owner of a music pub south of Stockholm. This pub was specializing in rock’n’roll/rock-a-billy and other forms roots music. “Anders, I need a band this weekend. Can you put something together? I am tired of soft and half-dead music: I want something that really rocks!” Anders called up Richard and got a fast response: “Count me in”. Anders long-time drummer Jasenko also joined and another friend on bass, as well as a new –brand new- guitarist. Completely un-rehearsed, their Friday’s show was a success and they were immediately booked also for the Saturday. The rest is, so to say, history. The original lineup was Anders, Richard, Jasenko Kumric (drums), Kalle Jussilla (guitar) and “grandpa” Claes Carlberg on bass.

The band’s main attribute since day one is “rock’n’roll”; energy-filled rock’n’roll with rock-a-billy roots. Anders steady rolling piano is instrumental in the “unkool” sound, but as important for the sound is the fervent harmonica playing by Richard. Blended with guitar - it all sums up to the musical image of The Unkool Hillbillies. Anders and Richard, the front figures, are both deeply rooted in American roots music; early hillbilly, blues, swing and rock-a-billy are all essential influences – but despite the roots, the band are consistent in their approach: Rock’n’roll is as alive today as ever before, and simply copying or re-creating the sounds and music would or older heroes would not keep the music alive, rather it would keep it antiquated. Sure: they look and act 50’s– Richard for instance prefer to play 78 rpm records than anything else, drives a ’51 Chevrolet Fleetline and his home is like 50’s museum – and they know their roots and heroes, but nevertheless they strive keep the “unkool” style timeless; 50’s oriented, sure, but the band always claims that they play for present and future audience, not for antiquating purposes..

Only a few months after the first show, the band recorded their first CD Right To Rumble (2003). Anders, who wrote most of the songs on that CD, had one philosophy regarding the CD: “I want a CD that rocks hard and honestly from start to end, because that’s the kind of CD I would appreciate to buy for myself”. And it rocked! The CD was an immediate success, and the CD, released on Anders own label sold out the initial 500 copies in a couple of weeks. So the band had to order another pressing of 500. A couple of months later another one, and then one more and yet further more... Recorded completely live – the CD captured the young band’s spirits and energy, thus it remains today, eight years later, an appreciated favorite, a cherished collectors’ item and a timeless CD.

During the following years the band was one of the most active on the Swedish scene, frequently touring. In 2004 the line-up changed a bit and the band mixed in more swing into their blend of rock’n’roll and rock-a-billy – the blues songs had been included from the beginning, though not illustrated on the first CD. On their next CD Unkool & Proud! (2005), they showed that not only can they do rock-a-billy and rock’n’roll justice – the band could also play blues with feeling and honesty. The CD featured Jan Sjöberg on electric guitar and Håkan Landsberg on saxophones.

One song in particular of the Unkool and Proud CD has received some extra attention: The band’s Rap is crap became quite popular among rockers all over Europe and in Sweden in particular. To this date it’s one the bands biggest hits. The song delivered a humoristic, but thought-through, message about what was broadcasted on the commercial radio stations. Anders: “I was thinking about a man in his late 80’s that I had talked with the year before. He could not understand at all why the radio stations only played rap –sure they were not only playing rap, I’m sure there was also hip hop, modern dance music and mainstream pop – but in his ears it was all rap. I felt I just had to put his feelings into a song and when I wrote the song, I tried to feel how he was thinking. He who used to enjoy radio – why were there hardly ever any music in the radio that he could relate to? The song is really not only about rap as such; it is about how mainstream and uninteresting commercial radio is of today. I am also glad to get feed-back from rap artists claiming they actually like the song.”

The years to come the band continued to tour frequently, getting to know every part of Sweden by heart, but there was also room for a side project: Anders and Richard formed “Dubbelgänget” – mixing rock’n’roll with traditional Swedish music, and all performed in Swedish. They found the female singer Karin Johansson and they recorded one album, which sold completely out in a few months time. This received a heavy amount of airplay, and virtual praise from magazines, radio stations and fans. But above all: It also started the collaboration between Karin and The Unkool Hillbillies. And for the next unkool CD, one thing was sure: Karin should participate.

In the mean-time, the line-up changed: New guitar player Stefan Asplund joined as well as bass player Raimo Oxhammar and drummer Mats Brobäck. The new line-up was present on the next CD “Evil Times” (2009). This CD featured Karin Johansson on three songs (where among her version of You’re the One become a tremendous radio favorite – it is a terrific piece of songwriting with a clear “hit” potential but above all, Karin’s performance was superb) and also showcased some brilliant guitar work by Stefan and great guest performances by saxophone player Gustaf Hagelberg and guitar player Totte Brandt. This CD was released on the Strawberry Productions label, and also recorded in Strawberry’s own recording studio. On the same time, the band’s older CD’s was re-released to the digital world (iTunes, Spotify, etc.).

American song writer Darrin Mazzilli offered the band some songs to record, as he, when visiting Sweden, discovered the band and got impressed, not only in the music, but also through finding them more “American” than most American acts. Two songs (Dangling On A String and Jump Start My Heart are featured on the CD). The “Evil Times” CD helped to spread the band’s music further outside the Scandinavian borders and among the tracks on this CD, there are many catchy tracks, favored by DJ’s like You’re The One, Dangling On A String, Sarah and Tell Me as well as outstanding versions of the classics It Hurts Me Too (featuring Karin) and I Aint Mad At You.

2010 became one of the busiest years for the band; touring not only Scandinavia but also several European countries and USA. The USA trip started in Kansas City, then performances both in Missouri and Kansas, and ended with four shows in New York City. The USA tour started with one instrument being destroyed at the air plane, and the fact that they had to buy a new one caused the tour to be not as juicy as planned, but still a great experience, meeting new and old fans. The tour itself was a success and the band is already invited to do more shows!

This summer, the band recorded tracks for their fourth CD, scheduled to be released in the fall 2011. Some excellent guest musicians contribute, there among again Karin Johansson – and the band continues to tour!

All CD’s are available for digital download from iTunes, eMusic, Spotify, Amazon etc.

The Unkool Hillbillies are:

Anders Umegård (piano / lead vocals)

Richard Andersson (harmonica / lead vocals)

Stefan Asplund (electric guitar)

Mats Brobäck (drums)

Raimo Oxhammar (bass)

www.unkool.se

· To be uncool is cool!

(Boppin Around, Holland)

· Explosive piano led rock'n'roll
(Now Dig This, UK)

· Brilliant mix of rock and roll, Jive, rockabilly and swing (BillyBop, Belgium)

· Heart and soul to which you can dance and shout"
(Rockabilly Magazine, USA)

· Make you happy, make you dance, make you smile and move hip
(Rockabilly Bash, Holland)

· This is blues rock, boogie and rock'n'roll performed in the way we like the best
(ROCK Magazine)

· Why these six Swedes call themselves unkool is hard to get... They look sharp and sound way cool
(Blue Suede News, USA)

· It is raw and wild in high tempo, with Jerry Lee inspired piano, twanging guitar and bluesy harmonica. An entirely excellent Swedish album of hard swinging music
(Jefferson, Sweden – world’s oldest blues magazine)

· Featuring the pounding piano of Anders Umegard and the fantastic blues harp of Richard Andersson (and both sing), a mean guitar and a solid rhythm section, this 18 song (13 originals) album is a killer from start to finish.
(JumpingFrom6to6.com)