I first saw Mauskovic Dance band in Amsterdam in August of 2018. It was a cold and rainy, Tuesday night and the city felt quite sleepy. They were playing on the second stage of a month long theatre festival that travelled around the Netherlands throughout the year. My Uber driver was a 15 year old looking girl with tattoos on her face who sped around the city in a brand new Audi R8. We talked for a bit about Australia. The usual thing's people say when they are from a different country - Oh my cousin has been to Melbourne she said, as we took a corner as though she was evading the police. Everyone's cousin ghas been to melbourne - I thought. The streets were unusually quiet. So why are you out tonight? I would rather be at home warm. We are going to see a band we love. Who - she asked almost agressively. I knew she was ready to make some serious judgment on who I said. Mauskovic Dance Band, I replied. She smiled. They are one of my favourites. When we arrived at the eccentric festival the rain continued to fall. We found cover under a small roof and drank beers whilst festival troupes skipped around in the rain singing and telling people to come to their shows which would start soon. The setting was beautiful, though the weather was taking its toll on the mood. That was when four friends (three of them brothers) took to the stage. We moved forward. So did about 20 others, close friends and girlfriends I assumed. The band were dressed in outfits that teetered on the edge of being eccentric but somehow found themselves appearing to be effortlessly normal, setting a new standard for chill nightwear. As though they had found a suitcase of clothes from some 70's artists and just thrown them on backstage. Before the first note was played - they had maintained a sort of hold on the audience. And then came the music. Rhythmic, each instrument and note slotting into the empty space that the others created. There was a connection between the musicians that could only come through years of playing together. By the second song the tent had filled up to about 200. It seemed all at the festival had felt the electricity, even the bar staff had stopped working and were caught up in the rhythm. Collectively these four dudes had put a spell on a cold grey night and filled it with a colour and energy I had never experienced before. Old and young, drunk and sober, serious and silly - were brought together by the Mauskovic Dance Band.
How are things in Amsterdam?
Very nice, We have a nice space now to work on music and record our own stuff. Also many things to do if you like late night smokey dancing club nights and good movies! Still, moving to a place more warm and tropical is always on my mind.
I noticed you guys spent some time in South Africa recently. What was playing over there like?
This was great, definitely one of the most beautiful countries I have been to in terms of nature and landscape. Still, you can feel a lot of tension between the different groups of people living there. Also, the gap between poor and rich seems very big. Our club show in Cape town was super cool and a nice audience.
Can you give us a quick catch up on how you guys all came to play together as a band?
We as three Mauskovic family members were trying a lot of things recording in our Bedrooms and wanted to do this live so sent some demo’s around. This caught the ear of Juan Hundred ,a percussion player of the Cumbia scene in Amsterdam, and he joined the band. From there we started playing a lot of shows pretty quickly.
Your live shows are infectious and you seem to really be able to turn even the most serious chin stroker into someone who can’t help but shake their hips. What lead to you guys wanting to create such lively shows?
We like groovin ourselves, which helps. Also, the shows are super rhythmic and percussive so this makes people move pretty quickly in general. depends also a bit on which country we play, Some cultures are less used to dancing on this tempo haha
You drop a jar of pickles in the shops and it smashes everywhere. No one is around. Do you tell the shop assistant or walk away?
I will eat some of the pickles of the floor and then tell the shop assistant.
Who are some of your favourite dance bands?
La Banda Fantastica Abelardo Carbono ESG 7.
You can only eat one food for the rest of your life?
Popcorn
When are you coming to Australia? We will throw you a wild gig when you get here if you like. It could be extremely fun.
Would be very nice! never been in Australia and I think nobody of the band has. So let’s set something up! .