HGH Seb's Hotel

Listen to:
Sensory Pleasures (Hagfors/Gebhart)

Download:
Press Pic
Press Doc

Tours & Info:
Tourlist

Miracle Working Man
Trash Grass and Love Songs
Pignoise
The HomeGroan Page
In The Motorpsycho Family

Below: HGH with Erik Bye. Click for larger images

Pictures of HGH and the God Father of Norwegian Folk Singers; Mr. Erik Bye
These pictures were taken during "Festspillene i Bergen 2003". Erik Byes' band consisted of Håkon Gebhardt, Martin Hagfors, Kjetil Bjørnstad, Bjørn Torske and Martin Langlie.

HGH-SEB’S HOTEL PRESS RELEASE

You’re a tired and weary traveller along a lost highway of modern music, where alt.country” and “Americana” are quickly becoming an outlet mall of bargain bin melodies and bland 2 for 1 specials. Where “country” is but a shimmering Vegas mirage of all flash and no substance. You’re tired, you’re hungry, you’re lost. But as your eyelids droop and your head nods toward the steering wheel, suddenly salvation is at hand…next stop: SEB’S HOTEL!

The proprietors are none other than HGH, or the Hagfors-Gebhardt-Hickstars. Check in to Seb’s Hotel and settle in for a stay. Breakfast is extra (oh who ever gets up on time to make it to breakfast?) but a 12 song soundtrack is included. By the hour or by the week, each room has a colourful history and a story to tell. Seb’s Hotel is a warm and inviting place, where the duo’s songs range from hilarious opener “Me Tarzan, You Jane” to the haunting instant classic “Evil Eye”, the tender “Looking Down”, the latest wacky Gebhardt tale of complicated relationships in “Ten Times in a Row” and his dreamy tribute to “Lilly of the Valley.” All but “24 Hours”, which is described as a “cheery little death row ballad”, were recorded on the road and at sea, in a myriad of hotels and ferry bunks. Using instruments including the more traditional banjo, guitar and kazoo to household appliances and treasures unearthed at flea markets or dusty forgotten attics, Seb’s Hotel is a hymn in praise of roadtripping, friendship and making music.

Martin Hagfors, frontman of Norway’s Home Groan, joined up with his buddy and Motorpsycho drummer Haakon Gebhardt three years ago. Together with Hellbilly Lars H. Haugen they recorded the first HGH aka HagforsGebhardtHaugen album, “Pignoise”. Acclaimed by critics and appealing to a wide audience ranging from Home Groan fans to Motorpsycho devotees and Hellbillies, the band toured clubs at home and abroad, along with playing high profile festivals such as Glitterhouse and Norwegian Wood. Haugen chose another path shortly after “Pignoise” came out, which left HG. Luckily, the duo didn’t need to change their name after all; instead, they carried on as the Hagfors Gebhardt Hickstars: a couple of singers, songwriters, guitarists, banjo pickers, toy piano players, adept at all manner of bells and whistles—their musical prowess seems limitless. Soon came “Trash Grass and Love Songs,” which HGH proudly described as a sophisticated advance in recording—the album signalled a move from 1 track in a rustic cabin to 2 tracks in Gebh’s living room. Filled with likeable and instantly memorable gems, wonderfully twisted Spike Jones-style weirdness and gentle ballads, “Trash Grass” was supported by an extensive European tour, during which the pair saw the light and began to preach the word of the benevolent, omnipotent Father Seb.

Who is Father Seb? Find out when HGH soon hits the road to save lost souls and convert the unenlightened. Behold and bear witness to the glory of trash grass!

All glory to Father Seb.