Tim Hughes meets one of Hungary’s biggest bands, now making waves over here - The Carbonfools.

SUPERSTARS in their home country, The Carbonfools can’t walk down the road without being mobbed.

Among Budapest’s biggest bands, they effortlessly pack the city’s coolest venues and have played to tens of thousands of adoring fans at festivals and open air gigs.

So what are one of central Europe’s biggest bands doing playing to a handful of people in an intimate London venue?

“We have already made it in Hungary and are one of the top bands. Now we want to do the same in London,” says drummer Kelo in perfect English.

“To take things to the next level we have to play London. Fortunately things are going well with word spreading fast!.”

One of the first English-singing bands in Budapest, The Carbonfools set a trend followed by many new Hungarian bands. They have a string of Top 10 hits with four number ones, a back catalogue of more than 80 recorded songs, have 40,000 friends on Facebook and have nine million hits on YouTube - and that from a country of less than 10 million souls.

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The band, which Kelo describes as “hard, loud rock with a pop flavour”, was formed in 2000 when electronic music guru DJ Titusz hooked up with sitar expert Szabolcs Toth. They recruited percussionist Zsuli, bass player Zsazsa, guitarist dado and Kelo - who is also a respected promoter and one of Hungary’s best-known band managers.

The band won fans on the strength of their dynamic live performances, and their brilliantly-named debut album Poisoned Goulash (released in 2004) became an instant hit in the hipper circles of the Magyar capital with its paprika-hot mix of rock, blues, reggae, dub, disco and folk.

When Szabbolcs left the group to develop his sitar skills in India, the band focussed on production, remixing tunes from underground acts and releasing their own dance tunes.

The turning point came in the dashing shape of Balazs Feher.

A former model and world traveller, this good looking son of an opera singer joined the line-up in 2006, and became the face of the band. Voted Hungary’s sexiest man in 2013, he has helped propel The Carbonfools from cult club act to national celebrities.

“Balazs is Hungary’s most charming man,” says Kelo. “He is a nice guy and the girls, especially, like that. It also means the media are always interested in us.

“Lots of fans wait for us after shows, and ask us to sign autographs or pose for pictures. We did one concert in a park in Budapest recently for 6,000 people - and three-quaters of them were girls. They can scream too!”

The band’s second album, 2008’s Carbon Heart was a hit and marked a change of direction, confirmed by the addition of guitarist Istvan ‘Steve’ Fekete and new bass player Milan Miklos.

A live performance on Hungary’s equivalent of the X Factor, support slots for Dreadzone, and acclaimed festival sets at Volt, Balaton Sounds and Sziget, in Hungary, and Exit, in Serbia, cemented their reputation for catchy rock-fuelled pop. Their fourth album, 2012’s Carbonsweet, went gold in just four months and was followed by a sustained period of live action - which saw them playing more than 100 gigs.

This Tuesday Hungary’s hottest property shift down a gear to play the Half Moon in Putney, South West London. The gig, part of their attempt to crack the UK, is followed on Thursday by a show at The Garage, in Highbury, and, on Friday, at Hoxton’s Underbelly. They wind up their whistlestop UK tour the following week, with a date in Edinburgh - playing the city’s Voodoo Rooms on February 17.

The shows follow packed out gigs last autumn at the Dublin Castle in Camden, and The Hospital Club in Covent Garden - shows which attracted a mix of expat Hungarians, curious Londoners and scene-watchers.

And while the band undoubtedly enjoyed the experience, Kelo admitted it had come as a bit of a culture shock.

“We can’t walk down the street without being recognised at home,” he says. “It is different here. We have basically had to start from zero in another country.

“It is interesting having to wait at the bar for our own drinks,” he smiles. “At the Dublin Castle we didn’t even have a dressing room. That took some getting used to.

“We also had to put up with a few technical problems which we wouldn’t have had at home. When we played The Hospital Club there was smoke coming out of the Fender amp!

“If you want to go international, though, you have to have commitment. We know what we have to do - and are having a wonderful time doing it.”

Of course, having cult status in their home country does have advantages. “There are a lot of Hungarians over here,” he goes on. “And lots of them have been keen to see us. All it takes is for someone to put it on Facebook and they all know. We are hoping they all show up again this time too, and give some support from the old country.”

But he adds: “The gig are not really focussed on Hungarians but on Britain - we want to show people that we are here and that something is happening.”

He admits that having one of Hungary’s hottest blokes fronting the band hasn’t harmed their chances - though it has led to a few misunderstandings. “In Hungary many people think we are a boy band!” he laughs.

“We pick up new fans every time we have a hit on the radio. But we have our own audience who have grown up with us and who come to gigs all the time.”

He adds: “Our roots are in electro-rock but we have a unique style. In the beginning they didn’t know where to put us - electro or rock? But we are the Carbonfools. We play our own music and don’t follow anyone else. It has taken a long time for people to realise that. But now is our time.”

With English lyrics and a style influenced more by the likes of Kings of Leon and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers than anything authentically Hungarian, don’t expect anything too central European. Anyone hoping for gypsy fiddling will be disappointed.

“We are not trying to sell this as a Magyar thing,” he says. “We are from Budapest but don’t serve goulash all the time.

“World music is popular and everyone has heard music from Hungarian artists, but we are not focussed on that. We want to be part of the world - not just Hungary.

“Every musician has the same dream - to be a worldwide star and have international success, and we have to give it a chance. If it works, we’ll be happy. If not... well, we’ll have tried and not have the feeling that we missed something.

“Now we are looking forward to playing in London.”

And they are warming up for the gig in true style - with a bottle of Hungary’s potent national drink - Unicum - a hideous tasting concoction of bitter herbs. Titusz is particularly partial. “He loves it!” says Kelo. “It’s a great drink because, even after a few sips, it makes you feel better. Though, if you take too many, it will probably make you feel a lot worse!”

And does he have a message for anyone thinking of coming to their London shows? “Come and see us,” he smiles. “Give us a chance. We’ll show us and you’ll be impressed. And we are excited to see you too. Come and say hello!”

The Carbonfools play three show in London this coming week: