A legend stood in front of us. I went over and introduced myself while the other guys thought about what they wanted to say.
- Are you Harvey?
- Yes, I am Harvey.
- Okay. Hi! The boys here would like to talk to you but they are too shy, so they sent me instead.
I spoke a little with Harvey Williams and complimented him for You Should All Be Murdered and I'm in Love With a Girl Who Does Not Know I Exist. Then I stepped back to let the rest of the guys, the real fans, have a chat with their hero. Harvey Williams then walked away. We saw him on the scene a moment later, sitting at a synthesizer. The music was always present at Rip It Up, just as in this anecdote, but my days in Värmlandsbro instead came to be more focused on hanging around with people.
Rip It Up showed its most beautiful side on the sunny Thursday, the day before the festival officially started. The clock had just passed five in the afternoon and I was lying in the grass outside the train station in Säffle waiting for my friends. We soon met each other and turned down a black cab that was more expensive than the regular price before we got a real taxi which drove us out to the festival area in Värmlandsbro. We installed ourselves at the campsite across the stage and then went to the nearby located bird lake where we watched the sunset.
I had been told that this festival was haunted by rain. The sky opened itself as on demand just in time for Friday's first live act The Dreamers. Another two Swedish bands played after The Dreamers, but the festival began for real when Harvey Williams went on stage at 9 pm. The realization that it would not sound as good live as on the record London Weekend lowered my expectations, but many people in the audience experienced their own romanticized illusion of legendary Another Sunny Day. It was a mediocre gig that did the old songs no justice.
Days played after Harvey Williams. Everyone in the crowd may disagree with me on this, but I still think that all of Days' songs sound the same, and it is unfortunately not a compliment. I do not like Days at all, they will never become a band I like, but it would at least be hilarious if they renamed and called themselves Days of Thunder instead. The Gothenburg quartet's show was like a weak track that precedes the album's great hit. I stayed in the crowd only to be certain to get a place in the front row for the next show.
Was something at Rip It Up good? It may sound like I thought everything was terrible but I did not have much to complain about apart from the rain. The festival meant reunions with dear friends and old acquaintances. It was also nice to meet new people. Music-wise my question would be answered only a soundcheck later, but I already knew that beforehand. The Bristol band Secret Shine lights up the dark sea which is overflowed by reunited, past it, former Sarah Records bands who have realised that there is a scene in Sweden for old British pop bands which had their best times fifteen to twenty years ago. St Cristopher is by the way the worst super-annuated former Sarah Records-band as they only have recorded shit except for the 19 year old song All of a Tremble. Secret Shine is different and they still have a desire to develop their sound. Secret Shine played an intense live set with Adored and Voice of the Sea as the strongest songs before they concluded with Loveblind which by far was the best (all categories) at Rip It Up. When the next band The Ruling Class had finished their show one hour layer, I went to my tent on a camping shrouded in fog.
I understood on the Saturday afternoon that Rip It Up showed its best side in the evenings. In daytime the water in the bird lake was coloured like a disgusting shade of green mixed with gray. Gray was also the colour of the asphalt on which we sat when Darren Hanlon opened the Saturday's gigs. It would had been really nice to sit on grass instead. Now I instead came to think about how strange this place was for being a festival area. At the end of the asphalt, though, Jörgen and Renee's record store Fractiondiscs was temporarily stationed under the roof of a party tent. That made me feel at home.
The shows on Saturday were a bonus as I still was lyrical about the Friday night. Pocketbooks and Twig were good, but I felt sorry for The Clientele who got their show ruined by rain and I really longed for an indoor club when all the umbrellas stretched dangerously in every direction. I was very pleased with the Saturday, despite the extremely amateurish sound checks which destroyed The Tidy Ups' gig, when I crawled into my sleeping bag to get some sleep before returning home the following day.
Rip It Up 2008 was a cozy festival with nice people and good food. The best thing was perhaps that the arrangers had the good sense to keep the festival short. It was very great to come home to my real bed and a proper bathroom after three days in the wilderness.
Showing posts with label Concerts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Concerts. Show all posts
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sambassadeur - Malmö January 25
In order to move on, you sometimes have to accept the phrase "kill your darlings". In exceptional cases, the darlings kill themselves.
Sambassadeur's Coastal Affairs was the best EP of 2006, but now I also know that Coastal Affairs was the beginning of the end. I adored and still love Coastal Affairs, but the EP inevitably brought Sambassadeur in a new direction characterised by a luxury and orchestrated sound. Last year's album Migration was a huge disappointment and another victim of the sterile, overproduced sound landscape which Jari Haapalainen and like-minded producers, in this case Mattias Glavås, have made their own. The Sambassadeur that are on tour this spring does not have much in common with the band I once fell in love with.
Last Friday, Sambassadeur played in Malmö in front of Southern Sweden's worst crowd on a stage that was far too big for the band. Nothing could save the gig under those circumstances and I should probably give up attending concerts at the venue Kulturbolaget. When Sambassadeur played New Moon as their first song I knew that the concert would be my definite farewell to the band. In all honesty, I had not expected anything else, but I wanted to be there to be sure.
Sambassadeur is not exactly known as a strong live band, but I still can not understand why you play live when you show no interest in the audience. The songwriting core of the band, Joachim Läckberg (guitar) and Anna Persson (vocals), looked uncomfortable in the spotlight in the center of the stage. The bassist Daniel Tolegård and the other guitarist Daniel Permbo stood on either side and at least made an effort. A band must realise though that something is wrong when their guest drummer is the most interesting person to watch.
Sambassadeur will certainly have more success in the future, but I am not particulalry interested when the production has become more important than great melodies. Sambassadeur wrote fantastic songs some years ago. Sambassadeur did not play If Rain, Dead Leaves or even Between the Lines at the show. The only song that really made me shine was my song - Marie. In the end, Marie alone made it worthwhile to take a Friday trip to Malmö after all.
Four out of Ten.
Sambassadeur's Coastal Affairs was the best EP of 2006, but now I also know that Coastal Affairs was the beginning of the end. I adored and still love Coastal Affairs, but the EP inevitably brought Sambassadeur in a new direction characterised by a luxury and orchestrated sound. Last year's album Migration was a huge disappointment and another victim of the sterile, overproduced sound landscape which Jari Haapalainen and like-minded producers, in this case Mattias Glavås, have made their own. The Sambassadeur that are on tour this spring does not have much in common with the band I once fell in love with.
Last Friday, Sambassadeur played in Malmö in front of Southern Sweden's worst crowd on a stage that was far too big for the band. Nothing could save the gig under those circumstances and I should probably give up attending concerts at the venue Kulturbolaget. When Sambassadeur played New Moon as their first song I knew that the concert would be my definite farewell to the band. In all honesty, I had not expected anything else, but I wanted to be there to be sure.
Sambassadeur is not exactly known as a strong live band, but I still can not understand why you play live when you show no interest in the audience. The songwriting core of the band, Joachim Läckberg (guitar) and Anna Persson (vocals), looked uncomfortable in the spotlight in the center of the stage. The bassist Daniel Tolegård and the other guitarist Daniel Permbo stood on either side and at least made an effort. A band must realise though that something is wrong when their guest drummer is the most interesting person to watch.
Sambassadeur will certainly have more success in the future, but I am not particulalry interested when the production has become more important than great melodies. Sambassadeur wrote fantastic songs some years ago. Sambassadeur did not play If Rain, Dead Leaves or even Between the Lines at the show. The only song that really made me shine was my song - Marie. In the end, Marie alone made it worthwhile to take a Friday trip to Malmö after all.
Four out of Ten.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Setlists and pop dreams
Among all the stressfull Friday nights at Blekingska last fall, I remember one conversation very well. The band Irene were preparing the stage for sound check. In the meantime, I was speaking to Tobias and Malin of Laurel Music about which songs they were going to play. Please don't show me the setlist, I do not want to know anything before the show, I said. Why not, Malin asked. Then and there I found it difficult to give a quick answer and probably said something stupid such as it gets more exciting that way without further explaining myself. It stroke me afterwards that this conversation opened my eyes. At that moment I became aware that there are so many different ways to experience a concert.
A great deal of my experience at pop concerts is the concept of being left unknown about exactly what songs that will be played and how they are arranged, in the same way that you do not know how things are going for your favourite team in the next match. It may seem a bit silly that this could impact the experience so much, but we both forget that when the favourite band plays our song.
As a promoter, I collected setlists from most, but not all, gigs at Blekingska last fall. It may be fun to look at them in the future. For the record, I add the setlists to this post as well. The dotted line separates the ordinary concert set from the encore.
Like Honey, September 21, 2007
New York – Tiles – Old Boy – Telling Lies – Five Minute Dream – Nothing's Right
--------------------
Airport
Language of Flowers, September 21, 2007
Where You Belong - Who You're With - Cat's Miaow - You're The One - Summer's Been and Gone - If It's Not You - Songs About You - Panda Girl - I Don't Care at All - Tara Mascara
--------------------
Botanic Gardens
Secret Shine, September 28, 2007
Oblivion – Lost Memory – Sound of Light – Deep Thinker – Hate You When You Smile – Adored – Stars in the Sky – Hit the Ground – Cafe Crash – Wish Coming True – Loveblind
Friday Bridge, October 5, 2007
Introduction de la Soirée – Le Satin S’empare – The End of the Affair – Literature – The Lady Julie – Armance L’Actrcie – Shanghai Shipping – Edward the Hedgehog – The Story of Agnes – Love and Nostalgia – 24 Hour Party People – It Girl
Strange Idols, October 12, 2007
Say Anything – Old Times – He’s Out Looking for Love – She’s Gonna Let You Down Again – X-ray Vision – New song – Intensions – Blue Espers/Berlin - It’s No Fun
--------------------
Ovanite Sensation
Laurel Music, November 2, 2007
The Way Love Goes – Dreams and Lies – Disappear – Northern Light – No One Wants Forever – Into the Blue – Sirens
(in Copenhagen the following night Laurel Music added Question Mark, Karma 2 AM, and another new song to the concert set)
Irene, November 2, 2007
The Game – Little Things – Looking for Love – Stardust – Seaside – Waterfront – End of the Line – September Skies – Only You – Baby I Love Your Way – June Is Flat – Little Lovin’ – By Your Side
Lucky Soul, November 10, 2007
My Brittle Heart – One Kiss Don’t Make a Summer – Ain’t Never Been Cool – Struck Dumb – Add Your Light to Mine, Baby – The Towering Inferno – Baby, I’m Broke – Gimme Love – The Great Unwanted – Heatwave by Marta Reeves and The Vandelas – Lips Are Unhappy
--------------------
The Killing Moon by Echo and The Bunnymen
The Sunny Street, November 30, 2007
Drawings – Blackberries – Morton and Claude – Kill You – Rainy Hearts – Comedians – Cyclists – All the Way – Greasy Crisps – Pottery and Glass
In some strange way, I managed to also get a setlist from Säkert's gig at Kulturbolaget in Malmö on December 1. I post that one as well, but I will not bring home any more paper pieces from concerts in a while.
Säkert, Kulturbolaget December 1, 2007
Och Jag Grät Mig till Sömns - Rotary - Stetoskop - Någon Gång Måste Du Bli Själv - Ditt Kvarter - Det Här Är Vad Dom Säger - Min Hemstad - Faller Isär - New song - Sanningsdan - Allt Som Är Ditt - Är Du Fortfarande Arg
--------------------
Det Kommer Bara Leda till Något Ont - Vi Kommer Att Dö Samtidigt - 2006
A great deal of my experience at pop concerts is the concept of being left unknown about exactly what songs that will be played and how they are arranged, in the same way that you do not know how things are going for your favourite team in the next match. It may seem a bit silly that this could impact the experience so much, but we both forget that when the favourite band plays our song.
As a promoter, I collected setlists from most, but not all, gigs at Blekingska last fall. It may be fun to look at them in the future. For the record, I add the setlists to this post as well. The dotted line separates the ordinary concert set from the encore.
Like Honey, September 21, 2007
New York – Tiles – Old Boy – Telling Lies – Five Minute Dream – Nothing's Right
--------------------
Airport
Language of Flowers, September 21, 2007
Where You Belong - Who You're With - Cat's Miaow - You're The One - Summer's Been and Gone - If It's Not You - Songs About You - Panda Girl - I Don't Care at All - Tara Mascara
--------------------
Botanic Gardens
Secret Shine, September 28, 2007
Oblivion – Lost Memory – Sound of Light – Deep Thinker – Hate You When You Smile – Adored – Stars in the Sky – Hit the Ground – Cafe Crash – Wish Coming True – Loveblind
Friday Bridge, October 5, 2007
Introduction de la Soirée – Le Satin S’empare – The End of the Affair – Literature – The Lady Julie – Armance L’Actrcie – Shanghai Shipping – Edward the Hedgehog – The Story of Agnes – Love and Nostalgia – 24 Hour Party People – It Girl
Strange Idols, October 12, 2007
Say Anything – Old Times – He’s Out Looking for Love – She’s Gonna Let You Down Again – X-ray Vision – New song – Intensions – Blue Espers/Berlin - It’s No Fun
--------------------
Ovanite Sensation
Laurel Music, November 2, 2007
The Way Love Goes – Dreams and Lies – Disappear – Northern Light – No One Wants Forever – Into the Blue – Sirens
(in Copenhagen the following night Laurel Music added Question Mark, Karma 2 AM, and another new song to the concert set)
Irene, November 2, 2007
The Game – Little Things – Looking for Love – Stardust – Seaside – Waterfront – End of the Line – September Skies – Only You – Baby I Love Your Way – June Is Flat – Little Lovin’ – By Your Side
Lucky Soul, November 10, 2007
My Brittle Heart – One Kiss Don’t Make a Summer – Ain’t Never Been Cool – Struck Dumb – Add Your Light to Mine, Baby – The Towering Inferno – Baby, I’m Broke – Gimme Love – The Great Unwanted – Heatwave by Marta Reeves and The Vandelas – Lips Are Unhappy
--------------------
The Killing Moon by Echo and The Bunnymen
The Sunny Street, November 30, 2007
Drawings – Blackberries – Morton and Claude – Kill You – Rainy Hearts – Comedians – Cyclists – All the Way – Greasy Crisps – Pottery and Glass
In some strange way, I managed to also get a setlist from Säkert's gig at Kulturbolaget in Malmö on December 1. I post that one as well, but I will not bring home any more paper pieces from concerts in a while.
Säkert, Kulturbolaget December 1, 2007
Och Jag Grät Mig till Sömns - Rotary - Stetoskop - Någon Gång Måste Du Bli Själv - Ditt Kvarter - Det Här Är Vad Dom Säger - Min Hemstad - Faller Isär - New song - Sanningsdan - Allt Som Är Ditt - Är Du Fortfarande Arg
--------------------
Det Kommer Bara Leda till Något Ont - Vi Kommer Att Dö Samtidigt - 2006
Saturday, December 15, 2007
My 2007
Concerts
A really good concert almost always comes down to more things than the music. Sambassadeur have written my soundtrack (the tambourines are shaking but I don't hear the sound, it's my favorite song but I don't like the crowd) of many gigs that were spoiled by people who were talking during the songs. The crowd was horrible when Lucky Soul played at Debaser Medis in Stockholm on Friday, November 9. Lucky Soul played at Blekingska in Lund the following night. The office people who ran the student nation decided to overprice the tickets. I was not happy with that, but the concert was absolutely fantastic because all people who had paid an expensive ticket for the show came for the music rather than the booze. People jumped up and down crazily to the hits Lips Are Unhappy and Ain't Never Been Cool, but they were still completely silent during the quit ballad Baby I'm Broke. Wonderful!
This was very ironic since the crowd at the very same Blekingska talked constantly during Laurel Music's comeback gig only one week earlier. I saw Laurel Music in Copenhagen the following night. It was a very intimate concert with seats around tables for the audience. I had a totally clear view and everyone was quiet the whole time. Laurel Music's concert in Copenhagen will stay in my memory for life. Language of Flowers gave me another unforgettable night when I had the honor to host their last ever show.
The Magic Numbers end the concert year 2007 on Wednesday. I look forward to that gig but I do not think that it will manage to get a place on my list. The concert year has really been that good! I attended 16 concert nights this year, but I have not written any concert texts this fall. You were always on my mind, but I did not have the time to write.
1. Language of Flowers – September 21 at Blekingska, Lund
2. Lucky Soul – November 10 at Blekingska, Lund
3. Laurel Music – November 2 at Huset Magstreade, Copenhagen
4. Irene – November 2 at Blekingska, Lund
5. Au Revoir Simone – November 12 at Vega, Copenhagen
6. Strange Idols – October 12 at Blekingska, Lund
In addition to these concerts, I will particularly rembember the shows with Like Honey (at Blekingska as the support act for Language of Flowers), Air (at Vega the same night as Au Revoir Simone), and Säkert at Kulturbolaget in Mamö.
Albums
Just as I predicted a year ago this year's best album was made by a band whose name begins with "L", but I did not know that (to me) unknown Let's Go Sailing would take me by storm.
Sambassadeur's second album was clearly the disappointment of the year. The single Subtle Changes promised much, but everything I loved with Sambassadeur was lost on the long awaited album Migration. I should really appreciate the record given that Anna sings on all songs except one, but Migration fails to shine despite more than 20 listenings. Sambassadeur have changed their sound and many people will like it, but I will never ever prefer the current pop orchestra sound over the magic of If Rain. I give Migration the rating five out of ten. I have not decided the rating of The Chaos in Order and it will not be needed either. A number one on a year list is greater than a numerical rating.
1. Let's Go Sailing – The Chaos in Order
2. Lucky Soul – The Great Unwanted
3. Immaculate Machine – Fables
4. Celestial – Dream On
5. Tupelo Honeys – Salute You
6. Stars – In Our Bedroom After the War
7. Palomar – All Things, Forest
8. The Afternoon Naps – Sunbeamed
9. Friday Bridge – Intricacy
10. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
11. Säkert! – Säkert!
12. Fireflies – Goodnight Stars Goodnight Moon
13. Irene – Long Gone Since Last Summer
14. Love Dance – Result
15. The National – Boxer
Also good: Au Revoir Simone – The Bird of Music, The Loose Salute – Tuned to Love, Cats on Fire – The Province Complains, Electrelane – No Shouts No Calls, and Blonde Redhead – 23.
Songs
In the end I had to give in and admit that Bobby Wratten wrote two of the best songs this year.
1. Trembling Blue Stars – Idyllwild
2. Lucky Soul – One Kiss Don't Make a Summer
3. Stars – Bitches in Tokyo
4. Celestial – Dream On
5. Stars – Take Me to the Riot
6. Northern Fields – Never Take the Beauty
7. The Strange Idols – It's No Fun
8. Trembling Blue Stars – November Starlings
9. Tupelo Honeys – The Return of the Weeping Man
10. The School – Let It Slip
11. The Garlands – You Never Notice Me
12. Club 8 – The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming
13. Let's Go Sailing – Sideways
14. Sambassadeur – Subtle Changes
15. The Secret History – Mark and John
16. Irene – By Your Side
17. Immaculate Machine – Dear Confessor
18. The Secret History – Our Lady of Pompeii
19. Penny Century – Nothing Burns Like Bridges
20. Jonna Lee – Dried Out Eyes
21. Säkert! – Någon Gång Måste Du Bli Själv
22. Like Honey – Telling Lies
23. Palomar – You're Keeping Us Up
24. Those Dancing Days – Hitten
25. Liechtenstein – Stalking Skills
2008
Laurel Music's new album is called Cycles and will likely top my next year list. In addition, Katie Goes to Tokyo, Like Honey, and The Charade release new album. And The Secret History will hopefully come to Sweden.
A really good concert almost always comes down to more things than the music. Sambassadeur have written my soundtrack (the tambourines are shaking but I don't hear the sound, it's my favorite song but I don't like the crowd) of many gigs that were spoiled by people who were talking during the songs. The crowd was horrible when Lucky Soul played at Debaser Medis in Stockholm on Friday, November 9. Lucky Soul played at Blekingska in Lund the following night. The office people who ran the student nation decided to overprice the tickets. I was not happy with that, but the concert was absolutely fantastic because all people who had paid an expensive ticket for the show came for the music rather than the booze. People jumped up and down crazily to the hits Lips Are Unhappy and Ain't Never Been Cool, but they were still completely silent during the quit ballad Baby I'm Broke. Wonderful!
This was very ironic since the crowd at the very same Blekingska talked constantly during Laurel Music's comeback gig only one week earlier. I saw Laurel Music in Copenhagen the following night. It was a very intimate concert with seats around tables for the audience. I had a totally clear view and everyone was quiet the whole time. Laurel Music's concert in Copenhagen will stay in my memory for life. Language of Flowers gave me another unforgettable night when I had the honor to host their last ever show.
The Magic Numbers end the concert year 2007 on Wednesday. I look forward to that gig but I do not think that it will manage to get a place on my list. The concert year has really been that good! I attended 16 concert nights this year, but I have not written any concert texts this fall. You were always on my mind, but I did not have the time to write.
1. Language of Flowers – September 21 at Blekingska, Lund
2. Lucky Soul – November 10 at Blekingska, Lund
3. Laurel Music – November 2 at Huset Magstreade, Copenhagen
4. Irene – November 2 at Blekingska, Lund
5. Au Revoir Simone – November 12 at Vega, Copenhagen
6. Strange Idols – October 12 at Blekingska, Lund
In addition to these concerts, I will particularly rembember the shows with Like Honey (at Blekingska as the support act for Language of Flowers), Air (at Vega the same night as Au Revoir Simone), and Säkert at Kulturbolaget in Mamö.
Albums
Just as I predicted a year ago this year's best album was made by a band whose name begins with "L", but I did not know that (to me) unknown Let's Go Sailing would take me by storm.
Sambassadeur's second album was clearly the disappointment of the year. The single Subtle Changes promised much, but everything I loved with Sambassadeur was lost on the long awaited album Migration. I should really appreciate the record given that Anna sings on all songs except one, but Migration fails to shine despite more than 20 listenings. Sambassadeur have changed their sound and many people will like it, but I will never ever prefer the current pop orchestra sound over the magic of If Rain. I give Migration the rating five out of ten. I have not decided the rating of The Chaos in Order and it will not be needed either. A number one on a year list is greater than a numerical rating.
1. Let's Go Sailing – The Chaos in Order
2. Lucky Soul – The Great Unwanted
3. Immaculate Machine – Fables
4. Celestial – Dream On
5. Tupelo Honeys – Salute You
6. Stars – In Our Bedroom After the War
7. Palomar – All Things, Forest
8. The Afternoon Naps – Sunbeamed
9. Friday Bridge – Intricacy
10. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
11. Säkert! – Säkert!
12. Fireflies – Goodnight Stars Goodnight Moon
13. Irene – Long Gone Since Last Summer
14. Love Dance – Result
15. The National – Boxer
Also good: Au Revoir Simone – The Bird of Music, The Loose Salute – Tuned to Love, Cats on Fire – The Province Complains, Electrelane – No Shouts No Calls, and Blonde Redhead – 23.
Songs
In the end I had to give in and admit that Bobby Wratten wrote two of the best songs this year.
1. Trembling Blue Stars – Idyllwild
2. Lucky Soul – One Kiss Don't Make a Summer
3. Stars – Bitches in Tokyo
4. Celestial – Dream On
5. Stars – Take Me to the Riot
6. Northern Fields – Never Take the Beauty
7. The Strange Idols – It's No Fun
8. Trembling Blue Stars – November Starlings
9. Tupelo Honeys – The Return of the Weeping Man
10. The School – Let It Slip
11. The Garlands – You Never Notice Me
12. Club 8 – The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming
13. Let's Go Sailing – Sideways
14. Sambassadeur – Subtle Changes
15. The Secret History – Mark and John
16. Irene – By Your Side
17. Immaculate Machine – Dear Confessor
18. The Secret History – Our Lady of Pompeii
19. Penny Century – Nothing Burns Like Bridges
20. Jonna Lee – Dried Out Eyes
21. Säkert! – Någon Gång Måste Du Bli Själv
22. Like Honey – Telling Lies
23. Palomar – You're Keeping Us Up
24. Those Dancing Days – Hitten
25. Liechtenstein – Stalking Skills
2008
Laurel Music's new album is called Cycles and will likely top my next year list. In addition, Katie Goes to Tokyo, Like Honey, and The Charade release new album. And The Secret History will hopefully come to Sweden.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The Boy Has Gone Away
A year ago, I complained about the poor concert scence in Lund. In April this year, I nominated myself for the position as promoter at Blekingska nationen. The following lines were included in my presentation: If I am elected, I intend to make Club Indigo a unique, alternative concert scence that will give the audience happiest days of our lives-evenings this fall. I gladly listen to artist recommendations, but I am solely responsible for choosing the bands that will play at the club. It is my true opinion that a concert club will work at its best with a clear, consistent and considered band booking policy instead of eternal compromises.
I was, of course, elected and my work began after midsummer. As I am writing this almost half a year later, it is with tremendous pride that I am looking back on the fall. The mission is completed and the result speaks for itself. We were the club that exclusively set up the first concert in Sweden for Secret Shine and Strange Idols. We were honored a visit by Lucky Soul. On our inquiry, Laurel Music did a comeback gig after a year of silence. Language of Flowers played their last show ever at little Blekingska.
I would be lying if I said that all concert nights were perfect but it was amazing those nights where everything clicked. As promoter with the sole responsibility for band bookings, I was - together with sound engineers, club managers, band hosts, DJs, workers at Indigo and two hard working guys at the nation's office (thanks for this fall everyone!) - one of several people who during the fall of 2007 made Club Indigo the world's best pop club the three nights (September 21, November 2 and November 10) when everything came together perfectly.
September 7: Differnet
September 21: Language of Flowers (UK) + Like Honey
September 28: Secret Shine (UK)
October 5: Friday Bridge
October 12: Strange Idols (UK)
November 2: Irene + Laurel Music
November 10th: Lucky Soul (UK) + Napoleon
November 30: Punky's Dilemma + The Sunny Street (UK)
I was, of course, elected and my work began after midsummer. As I am writing this almost half a year later, it is with tremendous pride that I am looking back on the fall. The mission is completed and the result speaks for itself. We were the club that exclusively set up the first concert in Sweden for Secret Shine and Strange Idols. We were honored a visit by Lucky Soul. On our inquiry, Laurel Music did a comeback gig after a year of silence. Language of Flowers played their last show ever at little Blekingska.
I would be lying if I said that all concert nights were perfect but it was amazing those nights where everything clicked. As promoter with the sole responsibility for band bookings, I was - together with sound engineers, club managers, band hosts, DJs, workers at Indigo and two hard working guys at the nation's office (thanks for this fall everyone!) - one of several people who during the fall of 2007 made Club Indigo the world's best pop club the three nights (September 21, November 2 and November 10) when everything came together perfectly.
September 7: Differnet
September 21: Language of Flowers (UK) + Like Honey
September 28: Secret Shine (UK)
October 5: Friday Bridge
October 12: Strange Idols (UK)
November 2: Irene + Laurel Music
November 10th: Lucky Soul (UK) + Napoleon
November 30: Punky's Dilemma + The Sunny Street (UK)
Saturday, November 11, 2006
My 2006
Concerts
The Au Revoir Simone show on November 17 will be a nice ending to an absolutely amazing year of concerts. In total, I spent 22 nights at concerts this year. It is pretty much given that I did not attend any real festival this summer. You find my concert stories in the right column labelled as Concerts.
01 Language of Flowers - May 27 at Mejeriet, Lund
02 Hello Saferide - March 11 at Mejeriet, Lund
03 Like Honey - September 3 at Mejeriet, Lund
04 Belle and Sebastian - May 13 at Kulturbolaget, Malmö
05 Camera Obscura - October 7 at Kulturbolaget, Malmö
Songs
01 Laurel Music - Winter Slow
L A U R E L M U S I C.
Pop hearts never die! I have heard the future and it sounds wonderful. Laurel Music is worth waiting for.
02 Sambassadeur - Marie
I was convinced that Marie was the song of the year when I wrote my half year list. Marie was actually more than a song to me. Things have changed since then and Marie thus only gets an honorable second place on this list.
03 Language of Flowers - You're The One
My beloved Language of Flowers do not seem in a hurry with the sequel to Songs About You. They have a lot to live up to. With You're The One Language of Flowers show that they can still deliver spellbinding "girl meets boy"-stories. And I listen to every word.
04 Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy
I heard Lips Are Unhappy in early June and thought it was a good pop song, but it would take another month before I really fell in love. Five months later, I am a little sad that there were no promoters in southern Sweden who wanted to set up a show with Ali Howard's band but you can not have everything you want. SHAKE SHIMMY SHIMMY SHAKE SHIMMY.
05 Katie Goes to Tokyo - Alone
Katie has meant more to me than anyone else this year. She was there when I slides and she was still there when my life collapsed. I try to rebuild it, piece by piece. I no longer know what I want but I know that Katie makes it a little easier to wake up in the morning.
06 Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
07 Hello Saferide - 2006
08 Katie Goes to Tokyo - The Girl Who Ruined Your World
09 Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted
10 Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day
11 Anna Ternheim - Tribute to Linn
12 Mates of State - Beautiful Dreamer
13 The Magic Numbers - Take a Chance
14 Firefox AK - City to City
15 The Charade - My Song to You
16 Vapnet - Färjemansleden
17 Headlights - TV
18 Morrissey - You Have Killed Me
19 The Pipettes- Because It's Not Love (But It's Still a Feeling)
20 Those Transatlantics - Whiskey and Tea
21 Acid House King - Keep Your Love by The Loveninjas
22 The Essex Green - Penny and Jack
23 Like Honey - New York
24 The Positions - Back to Me
25 The Tidy Ups - Lack of Nourishment
Albums
There seem to be unspoken rules which determine that a year list shall contain 25 albums. That are just too many albums for me. It is rather pointless to list more records than you will remember when you look back on the year later. I present a top10 this year. I could have done a top15 instead, but no more records than that.
01 Katie Goes to Tokyo - Katie Goes to Tokyo
02 The Positions - Bliss!
03 Those Transatlantics - Knocked Out
04 Mates of State - Bring It Back
05 The Charade - A Real Life Drama
06 My Latest Novel - Wolves
07 Anna Ternheim - Separation Road
08 The Essex Green - Cannibal Sea
09 Marit Larsen - Under the Surface
10 The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes
Also good: The Besties - Singer, The High Violets - To Where You Are, Math and Physics Club - Math and Physics Club, Ms. John Soda - Notes and the Like, The Weepies - Say I Am You, Firefox AK - Madame Madame, Tilly and the Wall - Bottom of the Barrels.
Not evaluated: The Snow Fairies - Voila!, Friday Bridge, Tralala - Is That The Tralala.
EPs
01 Sambassadeur - Coastal Affairs
02 The Tidy Ups - Dizzy Heights
03 Hello Saferide - Would You Let Me Play This EP Ten Times A Day?
04 Gentle Touch - Gentle Touch
05 The Postal Blue - Road to Happiness
Not evaluated: Lucky Soul.
2007
Next year's best album will most likely be the the sequel to This Night and The Nex. I can not see how any other band would compete with Laurel Music. There is a good chance that all bands on the top3 album list will be sorted under the letter "L". Lucky Soul, Like Honey, and Looker all release debut albums. And although I doubt it there is a possibility that even Language of Flowers are recording a new album. Architecture in Helsinki and Sambassadeur are working on new albums. Shelflife Records returns with new releases.
There is a basis for 2007 to become the best record year of the 2000s.
The Au Revoir Simone show on November 17 will be a nice ending to an absolutely amazing year of concerts. In total, I spent 22 nights at concerts this year. It is pretty much given that I did not attend any real festival this summer. You find my concert stories in the right column labelled as Concerts.
01 Language of Flowers - May 27 at Mejeriet, Lund
02 Hello Saferide - March 11 at Mejeriet, Lund
03 Like Honey - September 3 at Mejeriet, Lund
04 Belle and Sebastian - May 13 at Kulturbolaget, Malmö
05 Camera Obscura - October 7 at Kulturbolaget, Malmö
Songs
01 Laurel Music - Winter Slow
L A U R E L M U S I C.
Pop hearts never die! I have heard the future and it sounds wonderful. Laurel Music is worth waiting for.
02 Sambassadeur - Marie
I was convinced that Marie was the song of the year when I wrote my half year list. Marie was actually more than a song to me. Things have changed since then and Marie thus only gets an honorable second place on this list.
03 Language of Flowers - You're The One
My beloved Language of Flowers do not seem in a hurry with the sequel to Songs About You. They have a lot to live up to. With You're The One Language of Flowers show that they can still deliver spellbinding "girl meets boy"-stories. And I listen to every word.
04 Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy
I heard Lips Are Unhappy in early June and thought it was a good pop song, but it would take another month before I really fell in love. Five months later, I am a little sad that there were no promoters in southern Sweden who wanted to set up a show with Ali Howard's band but you can not have everything you want. SHAKE SHIMMY SHIMMY SHAKE SHIMMY.
05 Katie Goes to Tokyo - Alone
Katie has meant more to me than anyone else this year. She was there when I slides and she was still there when my life collapsed. I try to rebuild it, piece by piece. I no longer know what I want but I know that Katie makes it a little easier to wake up in the morning.
06 Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
07 Hello Saferide - 2006
08 Katie Goes to Tokyo - The Girl Who Ruined Your World
09 Lucky Soul - The Great Unwanted
10 Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day
11 Anna Ternheim - Tribute to Linn
12 Mates of State - Beautiful Dreamer
13 The Magic Numbers - Take a Chance
14 Firefox AK - City to City
15 The Charade - My Song to You
16 Vapnet - Färjemansleden
17 Headlights - TV
18 Morrissey - You Have Killed Me
19 The Pipettes- Because It's Not Love (But It's Still a Feeling)
20 Those Transatlantics - Whiskey and Tea
21 Acid House King - Keep Your Love by The Loveninjas
22 The Essex Green - Penny and Jack
23 Like Honey - New York
24 The Positions - Back to Me
25 The Tidy Ups - Lack of Nourishment
Albums
There seem to be unspoken rules which determine that a year list shall contain 25 albums. That are just too many albums for me. It is rather pointless to list more records than you will remember when you look back on the year later. I present a top10 this year. I could have done a top15 instead, but no more records than that.
01 Katie Goes to Tokyo - Katie Goes to Tokyo
02 The Positions - Bliss!
03 Those Transatlantics - Knocked Out
04 Mates of State - Bring It Back
05 The Charade - A Real Life Drama
06 My Latest Novel - Wolves
07 Anna Ternheim - Separation Road
08 The Essex Green - Cannibal Sea
09 Marit Larsen - Under the Surface
10 The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes
Also good: The Besties - Singer, The High Violets - To Where You Are, Math and Physics Club - Math and Physics Club, Ms. John Soda - Notes and the Like, The Weepies - Say I Am You, Firefox AK - Madame Madame, Tilly and the Wall - Bottom of the Barrels.
Not evaluated: The Snow Fairies - Voila!, Friday Bridge, Tralala - Is That The Tralala.
EPs
01 Sambassadeur - Coastal Affairs
02 The Tidy Ups - Dizzy Heights
03 Hello Saferide - Would You Let Me Play This EP Ten Times A Day?
04 Gentle Touch - Gentle Touch
05 The Postal Blue - Road to Happiness
Not evaluated: Lucky Soul.
2007
Next year's best album will most likely be the the sequel to This Night and The Nex. I can not see how any other band would compete with Laurel Music. There is a good chance that all bands on the top3 album list will be sorted under the letter "L". Lucky Soul, Like Honey, and Looker all release debut albums. And although I doubt it there is a possibility that even Language of Flowers are recording a new album. Architecture in Helsinki and Sambassadeur are working on new albums. Shelflife Records returns with new releases.
There is a basis for 2007 to become the best record year of the 2000s.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Anna Ternheim - Malmö October 28
In some strange way, I had confused the service fee of 20.00 SEK with the time 20.00. I arrived at the concert house in Malmö at 19:50 and the disaster was a fact. I showed my ticket and was then lead to the right door by a young boy in stylish clothes who told me to wait outside until the applause. I entered the concert hall and temporarily sat down at the very far end of the first row. The support act consisted of a bald man. I did not care about his music but I had not come to see him anyway.
I had seen Anna Ternheim play live once before. It was a January might and I sat centrally on the second row in the City Hall in Lund. I had fallen for her debut album but only scratched the surface. Wedding Song opened the show and set the tune for the entire evening. Ternheim sang I won't let you down this time, and she lived up to it. Ternheim did absolutely everything right until she sat at a piano and finished To Be Gone in Fench. It was one of my two fondest concert memories of last year.
Yesterday, I made a single mistake, but was severly punished. The bald man finally stopped playing his songs and I was thinking good, now I can go to my real seat. I did not even get up from the chair before the evening was ruined. Instead of the natural pause between the support act and the main act, Anna Ternheim was introduced immediately. The hall got dark to the Girl Laying Down intro. Within seconds, I disappointedly walked upstairs and watched my seat on row eleven turn into a blank ticket on row twenty-something. Sure, I could have asked 30 people to stand up to make way for me, but that is not my style. Anna Ternheim's show had already started and you have to show a little respect when others also have paid much for the tickets. After all, it was not their fault that I could not read a damn ticket yesterday.
I knew in advance that Girl Laying Down would open yesterday's concert. Anything else would had been very strange. Wedding Song is in every way a better song, but this tour is built on Separation Road. I was concerned before the show and my worry would later turn out to be justified. I like Ternheim the most when she is alone on stage. Yesterday, she was the center of attention, but her band still impaired the experience. Several times. And that was Ternheim's own fault. An overly ambitious arrangement with drums smashed the finest parts of Tribute to Linn. Such things can make anyone lose hope and interest. For long times I had the thoughts elsewhere and for a while it was just the dazzling light that brought my eyes back to the scene. It was as if Ternheim and her band went at half speed and compensated with a flashy framework.
I still remember the end of Anna Ternheim's concert in the city hall in Lund in January 2005. The audience stood up and applauded after the last song. She looked genuinely surprised and she deserved all the appreciation that evening.
Yesterday's audience had a collective stroke. As expected, Halfway to Five Points concluded the regular set. Then something very strange happened. Ternheim and her band went off the stage to the audience's applause. When they were gone the crowd stood up and continued to applaud. I thought that a standing ovation was a way to show appreciation while the band and the audience still had eye contact with each other. But apparently that is not how they do it in Malmö. Idiots.
Prior to the encore, only A French Love was amazing. The setlist was very impressive on paper but it did not help much when the songs could had been performed so much better. After the slaughter of Tribute to Linn, Calling Love remained my hope but unfortunately also came to be wasted. I do not remember what went wrong but it just did not feel magical. Ternheim then sat down at the piano and I wondered what she would play. I thought she had played all of her piano songs, and she had indeed done that. Instead, she played Shoreline. Brother Daniel's Shoreline. Completely meaningless in Ternheim's version. I did not believe a word of what she was singing and she might as well had humming through the whole song. The audience had probably not noticed the difference anyway.
An applause later, Ternheim finally did something different. She came in alone on stage and said she would sing A Voice to Calm You Down. Someone on the front row shouted a song request. Ternheim was annoyed but still managed to joke it away in a charming way. Then she got serious and took a step to the side, away from the microphone and sang for us. No instruments, just a voice. Between verses just the fans were heard. Naked Version Deluxe. Finally I heard my favourite song from the first album. I have called A Tribute to Linn Anna Ternheim's best song, but last night I realised I was wrong. A Tribute to Linn is so fragile that it could break. My Secret in contrast resists everything. Significant enough for the show, it was hacked apart by too many instruments at the end but you can not fail with My Secret. The audience stood up and applauded. This time, even I applauded sincerely.
I want to clarify a few things. Do not believe by any means that I begrudge Anna Ternheim success. I once called her our future and although it may not be true anymore I want her no harm. I am however annoyed when people get undeserved appreciation. Ternheim was incredibly much better in the city hall in Lund one and a half year ago, and she can perform much better than last night. Everyone can have a bad day but I paid 320 SEK, and I am thus entitled to make demands. As of this writing I have read in Ternheim's guestbook and people over there speak of an "unreal night." It might be cruel to deprive people their experiences but Ternheim has been better than this. This was probably the last time I went to a concert with numbered seats. I can not be at a show where I hate the audience.
Seven out of Ten
Setlist (or at least something that will remind you of one, I do not remember everything but I will edit it if I find a real list)
Girl Laying Down
Today Is a Good Day
You Better Be
I Follow You Tonight
Feels Like Sand
Words of Love
A French Love
Such a Lonely Soul
To Be Gone
Bring Down Like I
One to Blame
Tribute to Linn
Halfway to Five Points
First encore
Calling Love
Nights in Goodville
Shoreline
Second encore
A Voice to Calm You Down
Lovers Dream
My Secret
I had seen Anna Ternheim play live once before. It was a January might and I sat centrally on the second row in the City Hall in Lund. I had fallen for her debut album but only scratched the surface. Wedding Song opened the show and set the tune for the entire evening. Ternheim sang I won't let you down this time, and she lived up to it. Ternheim did absolutely everything right until she sat at a piano and finished To Be Gone in Fench. It was one of my two fondest concert memories of last year.
Yesterday, I made a single mistake, but was severly punished. The bald man finally stopped playing his songs and I was thinking good, now I can go to my real seat. I did not even get up from the chair before the evening was ruined. Instead of the natural pause between the support act and the main act, Anna Ternheim was introduced immediately. The hall got dark to the Girl Laying Down intro. Within seconds, I disappointedly walked upstairs and watched my seat on row eleven turn into a blank ticket on row twenty-something. Sure, I could have asked 30 people to stand up to make way for me, but that is not my style. Anna Ternheim's show had already started and you have to show a little respect when others also have paid much for the tickets. After all, it was not their fault that I could not read a damn ticket yesterday.
I knew in advance that Girl Laying Down would open yesterday's concert. Anything else would had been very strange. Wedding Song is in every way a better song, but this tour is built on Separation Road. I was concerned before the show and my worry would later turn out to be justified. I like Ternheim the most when she is alone on stage. Yesterday, she was the center of attention, but her band still impaired the experience. Several times. And that was Ternheim's own fault. An overly ambitious arrangement with drums smashed the finest parts of Tribute to Linn. Such things can make anyone lose hope and interest. For long times I had the thoughts elsewhere and for a while it was just the dazzling light that brought my eyes back to the scene. It was as if Ternheim and her band went at half speed and compensated with a flashy framework.
I still remember the end of Anna Ternheim's concert in the city hall in Lund in January 2005. The audience stood up and applauded after the last song. She looked genuinely surprised and she deserved all the appreciation that evening.
Yesterday's audience had a collective stroke. As expected, Halfway to Five Points concluded the regular set. Then something very strange happened. Ternheim and her band went off the stage to the audience's applause. When they were gone the crowd stood up and continued to applaud. I thought that a standing ovation was a way to show appreciation while the band and the audience still had eye contact with each other. But apparently that is not how they do it in Malmö. Idiots.
Prior to the encore, only A French Love was amazing. The setlist was very impressive on paper but it did not help much when the songs could had been performed so much better. After the slaughter of Tribute to Linn, Calling Love remained my hope but unfortunately also came to be wasted. I do not remember what went wrong but it just did not feel magical. Ternheim then sat down at the piano and I wondered what she would play. I thought she had played all of her piano songs, and she had indeed done that. Instead, she played Shoreline. Brother Daniel's Shoreline. Completely meaningless in Ternheim's version. I did not believe a word of what she was singing and she might as well had humming through the whole song. The audience had probably not noticed the difference anyway.
An applause later, Ternheim finally did something different. She came in alone on stage and said she would sing A Voice to Calm You Down. Someone on the front row shouted a song request. Ternheim was annoyed but still managed to joke it away in a charming way. Then she got serious and took a step to the side, away from the microphone and sang for us. No instruments, just a voice. Between verses just the fans were heard. Naked Version Deluxe. Finally I heard my favourite song from the first album. I have called A Tribute to Linn Anna Ternheim's best song, but last night I realised I was wrong. A Tribute to Linn is so fragile that it could break. My Secret in contrast resists everything. Significant enough for the show, it was hacked apart by too many instruments at the end but you can not fail with My Secret. The audience stood up and applauded. This time, even I applauded sincerely.
I want to clarify a few things. Do not believe by any means that I begrudge Anna Ternheim success. I once called her our future and although it may not be true anymore I want her no harm. I am however annoyed when people get undeserved appreciation. Ternheim was incredibly much better in the city hall in Lund one and a half year ago, and she can perform much better than last night. Everyone can have a bad day but I paid 320 SEK, and I am thus entitled to make demands. As of this writing I have read in Ternheim's guestbook and people over there speak of an "unreal night." It might be cruel to deprive people their experiences but Ternheim has been better than this. This was probably the last time I went to a concert with numbered seats. I can not be at a show where I hate the audience.
Seven out of Ten
Setlist (or at least something that will remind you of one, I do not remember everything but I will edit it if I find a real list)
Girl Laying Down
Today Is a Good Day
You Better Be
I Follow You Tonight
Feels Like Sand
Words of Love
A French Love
Such a Lonely Soul
To Be Gone
Bring Down Like I
One to Blame
Tribute to Linn
Halfway to Five Points
First encore
Calling Love
Nights in Goodville
Shoreline
Second encore
A Voice to Calm You Down
Lovers Dream
My Secret
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Camera Obscura and The Essex Green - Malmö October 7
We sat on the bus and suddenly the lights in all windows extinguished simultaneously. An explosion in an electric switchboard temporarily blacked out the electricity in Malmö, and that was the most unexpected thing that happened yesterday.
When I arrived at the venue Kulturbolaget I was told that the concerts would start later because of football. I did not even know that it was a Euro qualifier night. Lagerbäck's football philosophy is very boring and I do not care about our national team. I much rather watch Arsenal, or go to Malmö to attend concerts with Camera Obscura and The Essex Green. I had not seen any of the bands before.
I ran into an acquaintance of mine. He asked me which band I looked forward too the most. I said that I wanted to see both bands although I was a bit afraid that Camera Obscura would be boring. He answered that The Essex Green is the very definition of boring. I did not believe him then.
Camera Obscura entered the scene at 9:45 pm. Kulturbolaget is probably the world's worst place for concerts. Everything is very Brandon Walsh-like at that place. I thought that Camera Obscura would be the same but I was wrong. Very wrong.
Tracy Anne was handsome, beautiful, and very charming. A guy in the audience shouted I love you and I understood him. I myself was in love with Teenager, Lloyd, and wonderful Eighties Fan. Camera Obscura left their setlist on the stage after the show. I was a bit tempted to jump up and grab it, but I noticed that another boy who was a Camera Obscura fan had the same idea so I let him get it. The DJ played The Field Mice - Emma's House at that moment and the boy who was happy to get the setlist lived up as if it was the last song of life. Ever. I actually felt the same. I did not know it then, but Emma's House proved to be the best thing of yesterday.
The Essex Green started playing exactly at 11 pm. There is a clock on one of the poles on the stage at Kulturbolaget. It is probably placed there by the club manager who counts the seconds so that no band play longer than they should. Only at Kulturbolaget. After all, I have attended pop concerts at many venues, but I have not found a clock on the stage visible to the audience at any other concert venue.
The Essex Green opened their live set with the we're not breaking any records yet-song. It started well but the rest of their show really went downhill. A guy behind me constantly shouted Great Late. Damn tiring. Penny and Jack was fine, but The Essex Green disappointed me with their other songs. The Essex Green played their super hit in the end of the show, but it felt very lifeless. I do not understand how a super song like The Late Great Cassiopia could sound so boring live. How can you throw away such a song? Mrs. Bean was beautiful though and probably the best song in the live set. Otherwise, it mostly felt that singer Sasha Bell wanted to go home and she looked more at the setlist than the audience. I was not expecting The Essex Green to be boring, but they were in fact extremely boring. A long time has passed since a band let me down that much at a concert. Yet it somehow felt that The Essex Green were very happy to play at Kulturbolaget in particular and the people at Kulturbolaget were very happy to arrange a concert with The Essex Green.
The audience clapped the band half-heartedly for the encore. People clapped, but the pace of applause never increased. The Essex Green came back on the stage and played Julia, but I felt that I wanted to go home. Kulturbolaget should had changed the order of the bands since Camera Obscura was the only band which deserved encore this evening.
Camera Obscura: Eight out of Ten
The Essex Green: Six out of Ten
When I arrived at the venue Kulturbolaget I was told that the concerts would start later because of football. I did not even know that it was a Euro qualifier night. Lagerbäck's football philosophy is very boring and I do not care about our national team. I much rather watch Arsenal, or go to Malmö to attend concerts with Camera Obscura and The Essex Green. I had not seen any of the bands before.
I ran into an acquaintance of mine. He asked me which band I looked forward too the most. I said that I wanted to see both bands although I was a bit afraid that Camera Obscura would be boring. He answered that The Essex Green is the very definition of boring. I did not believe him then.
Camera Obscura entered the scene at 9:45 pm. Kulturbolaget is probably the world's worst place for concerts. Everything is very Brandon Walsh-like at that place. I thought that Camera Obscura would be the same but I was wrong. Very wrong.
Tracy Anne was handsome, beautiful, and very charming. A guy in the audience shouted I love you and I understood him. I myself was in love with Teenager, Lloyd, and wonderful Eighties Fan. Camera Obscura left their setlist on the stage after the show. I was a bit tempted to jump up and grab it, but I noticed that another boy who was a Camera Obscura fan had the same idea so I let him get it. The DJ played The Field Mice - Emma's House at that moment and the boy who was happy to get the setlist lived up as if it was the last song of life. Ever. I actually felt the same. I did not know it then, but Emma's House proved to be the best thing of yesterday.
The Essex Green started playing exactly at 11 pm. There is a clock on one of the poles on the stage at Kulturbolaget. It is probably placed there by the club manager who counts the seconds so that no band play longer than they should. Only at Kulturbolaget. After all, I have attended pop concerts at many venues, but I have not found a clock on the stage visible to the audience at any other concert venue.
The Essex Green opened their live set with the we're not breaking any records yet-song. It started well but the rest of their show really went downhill. A guy behind me constantly shouted Great Late. Damn tiring. Penny and Jack was fine, but The Essex Green disappointed me with their other songs. The Essex Green played their super hit in the end of the show, but it felt very lifeless. I do not understand how a super song like The Late Great Cassiopia could sound so boring live. How can you throw away such a song? Mrs. Bean was beautiful though and probably the best song in the live set. Otherwise, it mostly felt that singer Sasha Bell wanted to go home and she looked more at the setlist than the audience. I was not expecting The Essex Green to be boring, but they were in fact extremely boring. A long time has passed since a band let me down that much at a concert. Yet it somehow felt that The Essex Green were very happy to play at Kulturbolaget in particular and the people at Kulturbolaget were very happy to arrange a concert with The Essex Green.
The audience clapped the band half-heartedly for the encore. People clapped, but the pace of applause never increased. The Essex Green came back on the stage and played Julia, but I felt that I wanted to go home. Kulturbolaget should had changed the order of the bands since Camera Obscura was the only band which deserved encore this evening.
Camera Obscura: Eight out of Ten
The Essex Green: Six out of Ten
Saturday, September 30, 2006
The Tough Alliance - Lund September 29
How the hell could I stand in a queue an hour for two posers who leave the stage after four songs? I knew what to expect but was still mad at the band. The Tough Alliance were at the peak of their career and provoked us. Koka Kola Veins was a hit, the rest was shit.
A year later, The Tough Alliance visited Blekingska for the third time. I did not get to hear anyone in the queue saying "the world's worst live band" this time. I soon came to realise that more things had chanced. The DJ booth contained two boys who were doing their best to kill the evening with terrible music, but they did not succeed. The club was full of people, and I was full of alcohol when it stroke me around midnight that it would be a good idea to move to a better position before the show started. There were hoards of people and I pushed my way forward to an empty space one meter in front of the scene. In some strange way, I stood at the front of the crowd when the gig began. I looker around and noticed that many people in the audience had never been at a pop club before.
The atmosphere was full of expectations when The Tough Alliance played at Blekingska one year ago. Yesterday was strange. The audience was not particularly interested in music and The Tough Alliance themselves seemed moderately interested. A bunch of brat girls stepped up on the stage during the first song. They would not had noticed the difference between a casting for Idol, and Eric and Henning in The Tough Alliance anyway. Unfortunately, they refused to leave the scene. The gig was thus terminated after two and a half songs due to safety reasons. I do not remember which songs they played. The arrangers at Blekingska could certainly had done a lot of things differently, but they were right to stop the show. It would be idiocy to continue when they no longer could gurantee the safety of the audience. The "gig" could be summed up as a tragicomedy in one very short act.
The DJ boys started to play their music again. A girl soon asked me if Tough Alliance would go on stage again. She looked like a kind person so I did not say that they had gone out smoking only to play another hour, followed by a gig with Embassy and after party in Malmö. Instead, I said the only sensible thing there was to say - The Tough Alliance are not coming back.
And so it is. TTA is an internal joke which has grown too big. Koka Kola Veins meant a lot once but that time is long gone now. One hit wonders. Goodbye TTA, I will not miss you.
A year later, The Tough Alliance visited Blekingska for the third time. I did not get to hear anyone in the queue saying "the world's worst live band" this time. I soon came to realise that more things had chanced. The DJ booth contained two boys who were doing their best to kill the evening with terrible music, but they did not succeed. The club was full of people, and I was full of alcohol when it stroke me around midnight that it would be a good idea to move to a better position before the show started. There were hoards of people and I pushed my way forward to an empty space one meter in front of the scene. In some strange way, I stood at the front of the crowd when the gig began. I looker around and noticed that many people in the audience had never been at a pop club before.
The atmosphere was full of expectations when The Tough Alliance played at Blekingska one year ago. Yesterday was strange. The audience was not particularly interested in music and The Tough Alliance themselves seemed moderately interested. A bunch of brat girls stepped up on the stage during the first song. They would not had noticed the difference between a casting for Idol, and Eric and Henning in The Tough Alliance anyway. Unfortunately, they refused to leave the scene. The gig was thus terminated after two and a half songs due to safety reasons. I do not remember which songs they played. The arrangers at Blekingska could certainly had done a lot of things differently, but they were right to stop the show. It would be idiocy to continue when they no longer could gurantee the safety of the audience. The "gig" could be summed up as a tragicomedy in one very short act.
The DJ boys started to play their music again. A girl soon asked me if Tough Alliance would go on stage again. She looked like a kind person so I did not say that they had gone out smoking only to play another hour, followed by a gig with Embassy and after party in Malmö. Instead, I said the only sensible thing there was to say - The Tough Alliance are not coming back.
And so it is. TTA is an internal joke which has grown too big. Koka Kola Veins meant a lot once but that time is long gone now. One hit wonders. Goodbye TTA, I will not miss you.
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Like Honey and The Lucksmiths - Lund September 3
It is a new autumn. I am back at the concert venue Mejeriet. I meet an acquaintance already on my way up the porch and feel at home. I slip through the doors and wonder what the arrangers have come up with this time. The bar is on the right side, but first I have to pay the entrance. There is merchandise on another table on the left. It feels like there are tables everywhere. Moreover, there are a lot of people for being just one hour after the doors have opened. The closet is closed, I think I am late and I am worried about the order of the live acts. Tonight's DJ Kajsa is kind and lets me put my shoulder bag behind her table. I then meet my awaited friend Elisabet and everything feels better immediately. The Lucksmith's friend Fred Astereo goes on stage shortly afterward and I get happy because that is the band order I was hoping for. At first I was doubtful, but I soften eventually. The guy knows how to tell a story and it has been a while since I laughed at a concert. When he plays a few nice songs at the end of his show, it is easy to forget that he is just a support act for the support act.
A girl walks past me and says hello. I do not recognise her, and do not respond because I think she is talking to someone else. She walks toward the stage and I wake up from my day dreams. I have seen her before. Sandra Svensson plays organ and synth in one of my favourite Swedish bands. I saw Like Honey live in the summer at The Möllevångs festival (Möllevångsfestivalen) in Malmö. You may not believe me when I write this on a rainy and windy September night, but it was certainly one of the summer's finest days. It was also one of the strangest shows I have been to. It would be a shame to say that it was good. The indoor venue left a lot to be desired, the sound was bad and I wondered why the hell you put a gig at 5 pm on a Saturday night. There were about 30 people in the crowd. The arrangers served juice. I thought I was at a kids party until Like Honey started playing. It was not a good performance, but I still fell for two things - the charm and singer Johanna Cromnows' wonderful voice which always makes me listen. I went home from Malmö very confused and a little disappointed that summer day. As I think back on this show Sandra walks back to her band and I silently count to myself one, two, three, four, five persons I recognise. I have a brief chat with Johanna and Sandra before the gig. They are in a good mood, just like me. The Lucksmiths headline the advertisement for this Emma's House night, but I know that LIKE HONEY will brighten my Sunday evening. This will be a great night, I think before it is time to move to stand at the front line of the crowd.
- We will play all of our songs in chronological order tonight, Klas says. I think to myself "that is a lot of songs, but that would be so great". And although Unexpected opens the show, Like Honey do not play all their songs.
There are whispers between band members between songs and the order does not seem entirely certain. I think I realise what I was missing during Friday's concert, a little room for spontaneity. Johanna really shines when she sings Airport and the rest of the band seems to thrive equally well. The sound is very loud and I should have brought my ear plugs, but I do not want to distance myself from the scene now. I may not know much about music in technical terms, but I know I love this voice. Like Honey are playing several new songs, and it bodes well for the new album. Especially Homesick with Klas on vocals sounds really good and has both a lovely melody and a drive in the song. Like so many other songs. I do not get to hear my favourite songs For a Reason or Sad Song but I am still not the least bit sorry. It is hard to be upset when not a single song feels like a filler. It is hard to be disappointed when a Sunday evening feels like a Friday.
The Lucksmiths enter the scene 20 minutes later. They are talented but I also think they are damn boring. You will probably hate me for this statement but after Camera-Shy was played as perhaps the tenth song, there was no reason for me to stay. I take my bag and walk out into the night with my friend. At the porch, there is a group of friends with two acquaintances of mine. I say goodbye to them and goodbye to Mejeriet for now. I turn around and know I will be back soon. This is my home.
Concert ratings:
Fred Astereo - Six out of Ten
Like Honey - Nine out of Ten
The Lucksmiths - Six out of Ten (if it is okay to rate a concert I left before it was over)
Setlist Like Honey (subject to mistakes, half the list might be wrong):
Unexpected
November
Airport
Homesick
Telling Lies
(Old song)
New York or Let It Pass
(New song Klas starts singing and Johanna ends beautifully)
I can not give you a correct setlist because I do not remember, but it is okay as the experience as a whole was greater than the individual songs. As it can only be at really nice concerts that touch the heart.
A girl walks past me and says hello. I do not recognise her, and do not respond because I think she is talking to someone else. She walks toward the stage and I wake up from my day dreams. I have seen her before. Sandra Svensson plays organ and synth in one of my favourite Swedish bands. I saw Like Honey live in the summer at The Möllevångs festival (Möllevångsfestivalen) in Malmö. You may not believe me when I write this on a rainy and windy September night, but it was certainly one of the summer's finest days. It was also one of the strangest shows I have been to. It would be a shame to say that it was good. The indoor venue left a lot to be desired, the sound was bad and I wondered why the hell you put a gig at 5 pm on a Saturday night. There were about 30 people in the crowd. The arrangers served juice. I thought I was at a kids party until Like Honey started playing. It was not a good performance, but I still fell for two things - the charm and singer Johanna Cromnows' wonderful voice which always makes me listen. I went home from Malmö very confused and a little disappointed that summer day. As I think back on this show Sandra walks back to her band and I silently count to myself one, two, three, four, five persons I recognise. I have a brief chat with Johanna and Sandra before the gig. They are in a good mood, just like me. The Lucksmiths headline the advertisement for this Emma's House night, but I know that LIKE HONEY will brighten my Sunday evening. This will be a great night, I think before it is time to move to stand at the front line of the crowd.
- We will play all of our songs in chronological order tonight, Klas says. I think to myself "that is a lot of songs, but that would be so great". And although Unexpected opens the show, Like Honey do not play all their songs.
There are whispers between band members between songs and the order does not seem entirely certain. I think I realise what I was missing during Friday's concert, a little room for spontaneity. Johanna really shines when she sings Airport and the rest of the band seems to thrive equally well. The sound is very loud and I should have brought my ear plugs, but I do not want to distance myself from the scene now. I may not know much about music in technical terms, but I know I love this voice. Like Honey are playing several new songs, and it bodes well for the new album. Especially Homesick with Klas on vocals sounds really good and has both a lovely melody and a drive in the song. Like so many other songs. I do not get to hear my favourite songs For a Reason or Sad Song but I am still not the least bit sorry. It is hard to be upset when not a single song feels like a filler. It is hard to be disappointed when a Sunday evening feels like a Friday.
The Lucksmiths enter the scene 20 minutes later. They are talented but I also think they are damn boring. You will probably hate me for this statement but after Camera-Shy was played as perhaps the tenth song, there was no reason for me to stay. I take my bag and walk out into the night with my friend. At the porch, there is a group of friends with two acquaintances of mine. I say goodbye to them and goodbye to Mejeriet for now. I turn around and know I will be back soon. This is my home.
Concert ratings:
Fred Astereo - Six out of Ten
Like Honey - Nine out of Ten
The Lucksmiths - Six out of Ten (if it is okay to rate a concert I left before it was over)
Setlist Like Honey (subject to mistakes, half the list might be wrong):
Unexpected
November
Airport
Homesick
Telling Lies
(Old song)
New York or Let It Pass
(New song Klas starts singing and Johanna ends beautifully)
I can not give you a correct setlist because I do not remember, but it is okay as the experience as a whole was greater than the individual songs. As it can only be at really nice concerts that touch the heart.
Saturday, September 2, 2006
Sambassadeur - Lund September 1
The tambourines are shaking but I don't hear the song
It's my favorite song but I don't like the crowd
I came to Blekingska, hoping to hear Marie and If Rain. The audience was, for once, quiet during the songs and it made me happy. Still, I managed to ruin yesterday's concert myself.
Sambassadeur played at Blekingska an October night two years ago. I was there, and I really hated the crowd for showing the band such poor respect. Neither sooner nor later has a concert become so destroyed by annoying, talking people who primarily were out to get drunk as hell. I can understand the need to drink booze, but it is so unnecessary to spoil the pleasure for other people.
Yesterday, most things were as usual at Blekingska. I met a lot of acquaintances, but I did not go out to experience There Is a Light That Never Goes Out. I was there for Marie and hopefully this fall's best concert. I had high expectations. I was welcomed by Red Sleeping Beauty's wonderful song Stupid Boy. The club was full of people but it was no problem to get a place at the front row. Apparently, people only care about that when the band is called Tough Alliance or Le Sport.
I got confused when I looked at the scene. I counted to a female singer and four men. I had always thought that there were only four band members in Sambassadeur. Evidently, the drum machine was replaced by a man who seemed to have a good time behind his drum kit. If Rain started the show and I should had loved it. It was the autumn's first concert and one of my favourite songs, but I still felt that I missed something. I started to get nervous about the concert, but all doubts disappeared when the crowd became silent for a moment and always waiting for something more to come opened the evening's second song. New Moon is always pleasant to hear and it was so sweet yesterday when Anna sang like i believe in you du-du du-du-du. Claudine from the latest EP Coastal Affairs completed a fantastic start of the show.
The right conditions were there, but I did an incredibly stupid mistake. The band had put out a setlist on the floor. It is of course a common thing to do, but setlists never use to be visible to the audience. I could not help but peek at the setlist. After that, it did not feel as great as it should when Anna said that they would play French pop, but in English.
Marie has been more than a song for me this summer. The lines you know we were scientists, every conversation was a test have been a support every time I doubted myself. In the recent summer, it suddenly struck me one day ay work, when I was reading the acknowledgement of an article, what Sambassadeur meant with do you have the time for me, do you still believe in Pierre and Marie. The couple Curie would had been honored. Played at Blekingska as the sixth song, Marie was not as great live as on the EP. It is probably impossible to recreate the same magic. Marie was anyhow the best song of the night and that is still a good enough mark.
Between the Lines was received very well by the audience. Ice and Snow is also a favourite song of mine, but Sambassadeur could had performed it better. Then a rather weak ending followed, but it did not ruin the show. It could had been a wonderful evening, but I do not know why it just became "nice". I did not actually recognize Anna's appearance, but she was of course the same singer of the very same band which I fell in love with a spring day two years ago. Now Sambassadeur go into the studio and it is only a matter of time before I fall again.
Seven out of Ten
Setlist
If Rain
New Moon
Claudine
In the Calm
Dead Leaves
Marie
Between the Lines
Ice and Snow
Whatever Season
Kate
One Last Remark
It's my favorite song but I don't like the crowd
I came to Blekingska, hoping to hear Marie and If Rain. The audience was, for once, quiet during the songs and it made me happy. Still, I managed to ruin yesterday's concert myself.
Sambassadeur played at Blekingska an October night two years ago. I was there, and I really hated the crowd for showing the band such poor respect. Neither sooner nor later has a concert become so destroyed by annoying, talking people who primarily were out to get drunk as hell. I can understand the need to drink booze, but it is so unnecessary to spoil the pleasure for other people.
Yesterday, most things were as usual at Blekingska. I met a lot of acquaintances, but I did not go out to experience There Is a Light That Never Goes Out. I was there for Marie and hopefully this fall's best concert. I had high expectations. I was welcomed by Red Sleeping Beauty's wonderful song Stupid Boy. The club was full of people but it was no problem to get a place at the front row. Apparently, people only care about that when the band is called Tough Alliance or Le Sport.
I got confused when I looked at the scene. I counted to a female singer and four men. I had always thought that there were only four band members in Sambassadeur. Evidently, the drum machine was replaced by a man who seemed to have a good time behind his drum kit. If Rain started the show and I should had loved it. It was the autumn's first concert and one of my favourite songs, but I still felt that I missed something. I started to get nervous about the concert, but all doubts disappeared when the crowd became silent for a moment and always waiting for something more to come opened the evening's second song. New Moon is always pleasant to hear and it was so sweet yesterday when Anna sang like i believe in you du-du du-du-du. Claudine from the latest EP Coastal Affairs completed a fantastic start of the show.
The right conditions were there, but I did an incredibly stupid mistake. The band had put out a setlist on the floor. It is of course a common thing to do, but setlists never use to be visible to the audience. I could not help but peek at the setlist. After that, it did not feel as great as it should when Anna said that they would play French pop, but in English.
Marie has been more than a song for me this summer. The lines you know we were scientists, every conversation was a test have been a support every time I doubted myself. In the recent summer, it suddenly struck me one day ay work, when I was reading the acknowledgement of an article, what Sambassadeur meant with do you have the time for me, do you still believe in Pierre and Marie. The couple Curie would had been honored. Played at Blekingska as the sixth song, Marie was not as great live as on the EP. It is probably impossible to recreate the same magic. Marie was anyhow the best song of the night and that is still a good enough mark.
Between the Lines was received very well by the audience. Ice and Snow is also a favourite song of mine, but Sambassadeur could had performed it better. Then a rather weak ending followed, but it did not ruin the show. It could had been a wonderful evening, but I do not know why it just became "nice". I did not actually recognize Anna's appearance, but she was of course the same singer of the very same band which I fell in love with a spring day two years ago. Now Sambassadeur go into the studio and it is only a matter of time before I fall again.
Seven out of Ten
Setlist
If Rain
New Moon
Claudine
In the Calm
Dead Leaves
Marie
Between the Lines
Ice and Snow
Whatever Season
Kate
One Last Remark
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Language of Flowers - Lund May 27
I haven’t felt this way for a long time
how long will you stay tonight?
Language of Flowers open with the beautiful intro of Where You Belong and I have not felt this strongly for a band for a long time. I am not the only one. When Tara Simpson sings the first two lines for us, it is just as much we in the audience who ask how long her band will stay tonight.
I have been waiting for this moment. I think back and try to understand. It all started a day in September 2005. I thought I was tired of music. I was convinced I could no longer admire a band in the same way as I had loved Pulp, Oasis, and David Bowie in my teenage years. That naive adoration felt like a relict from a lost age. By chance I happened to hear the song Le Monster by My Favorite. After a week of listening, there was only one band in my life. My Favorite disbanded ten days after I discovered them. My Favorite had existed for fifteen years and I never got to see them live. It only happens a few times each decade, but sometimes a band can change everything. My Favorite was such a band. I became bitter.
It was so obvious that I needed a new band to adore. Language of Flowers came out of nowhere. Their debut album Songs About You was released in late 2004 but I heard Language of Flowers for the first time as recently as February this year. After a few months with Songs About You, I had fallen in love with all songs except Christmas. Songs About You is still the best album I have heard and my love for pop music as strong now as ever. Outside it had become dark. This concert evening had started two hours earlier.
Emma's House at the venue Mejeriet is not empty. Instead, it is warm and welcoming. It feels unreal, and my expectations for the evening are so high. The audience is interested in music, the atmosphere very good, the"everyone is there"-feeling comes even before the support band starts to play. The Budgies are a quartet from Lund and thus play in their hometown tonight. Their super-fast twee with 1:40-songs charms the audience. It would be wrong to say that their sound is unique, but it strikes me that I never hear this kind of music live. The band plays so fast on the instruments that the drums and guitars would probably break if it were not for the music being soft and kind.
Merz then comes in and performs his more electronic songs. He says that the stage is bizarre and he certainly got a point. The concerts are held at the small room at Mejeriet. That is a wise choice, but it is still absurd to have a stage two meter above the floor in a rather small room. Merz seems to be a nice guy but he does not play my kind of music. I try to be discreet when I look at the watch.
Tara along with the four boys of her band enter the stage sometime after eleven pm and we are back where this text started. Where You Belong sounds like a dream until it stops and Tara says "We are Language of Flowers...from Belfast". As the second song, the drummer starts to play the great intro of If It's Not You. "Their best song", I think before they change their minds, instead playing Who You're With. I close my eyes and hear Tara sing won't you come back to me, because i wanna be the one who you're with. The big pop dream is then realised. Many of us have been waiting for If It's Not You. There are no lyrics to this song on the website but the pop kids know the song text anyway. The sound during the show is very high, at our loudest we in the audience almost outsing Tara. There is spontaneous dance and sing along to my favourite song. It is so easy to love tonight's audience. If It's Not You is the best song in the set and I am satisfied. They can play anything afterwards. We get to hear three new songs. The last is the best one.
Tara picks up a guitar after that. Someone behind me whispers "big guitar for a little girl" and I can not help but smile. "Songs About You" is added by another boy who apparently has seen the band before. Langauge of Flowers then end the concert with Tara Mascara. A boy and a girl on my left sing along throughout the whole song and it is so beautiful. I like them.
Language of Flowers have written so many perfect songs for their debut album. Some of them are left out of the live set. Many people get sad because the concert does not last longer, but the band is applauded back to the scene where they play the happy Botanic Gardens as the encore. I miss I Don't Care at All, but it does not matter. The Popaganda festival got to hear seven songs by Language of Flowers. We got nine and I heard my two favourite songs Where You Belong and If It's Not You.
After the concert, I see Tara in front of the stage. I walk to her and thank her for a wonderful concert before she goes to the interview with the student radio indie program Tandem Pop. I can not describe how happy If It's Not You made me.
Three days later, I realise that Language of Flowers' show at Mejeriet on Saturday May 27 was much more than the finest concert of my life.
Ten out of Ten
Setlist:
(Originally published on May 30, 2006)
how long will you stay tonight?
Language of Flowers open with the beautiful intro of Where You Belong and I have not felt this strongly for a band for a long time. I am not the only one. When Tara Simpson sings the first two lines for us, it is just as much we in the audience who ask how long her band will stay tonight.
I have been waiting for this moment. I think back and try to understand. It all started a day in September 2005. I thought I was tired of music. I was convinced I could no longer admire a band in the same way as I had loved Pulp, Oasis, and David Bowie in my teenage years. That naive adoration felt like a relict from a lost age. By chance I happened to hear the song Le Monster by My Favorite. After a week of listening, there was only one band in my life. My Favorite disbanded ten days after I discovered them. My Favorite had existed for fifteen years and I never got to see them live. It only happens a few times each decade, but sometimes a band can change everything. My Favorite was such a band. I became bitter.
It was so obvious that I needed a new band to adore. Language of Flowers came out of nowhere. Their debut album Songs About You was released in late 2004 but I heard Language of Flowers for the first time as recently as February this year. After a few months with Songs About You, I had fallen in love with all songs except Christmas. Songs About You is still the best album I have heard and my love for pop music as strong now as ever. Outside it had become dark. This concert evening had started two hours earlier.
Emma's House at the venue Mejeriet is not empty. Instead, it is warm and welcoming. It feels unreal, and my expectations for the evening are so high. The audience is interested in music, the atmosphere very good, the"everyone is there"-feeling comes even before the support band starts to play. The Budgies are a quartet from Lund and thus play in their hometown tonight. Their super-fast twee with 1:40-songs charms the audience. It would be wrong to say that their sound is unique, but it strikes me that I never hear this kind of music live. The band plays so fast on the instruments that the drums and guitars would probably break if it were not for the music being soft and kind.
Merz then comes in and performs his more electronic songs. He says that the stage is bizarre and he certainly got a point. The concerts are held at the small room at Mejeriet. That is a wise choice, but it is still absurd to have a stage two meter above the floor in a rather small room. Merz seems to be a nice guy but he does not play my kind of music. I try to be discreet when I look at the watch.
Tara along with the four boys of her band enter the stage sometime after eleven pm and we are back where this text started. Where You Belong sounds like a dream until it stops and Tara says "We are Language of Flowers...from Belfast". As the second song, the drummer starts to play the great intro of If It's Not You. "Their best song", I think before they change their minds, instead playing Who You're With. I close my eyes and hear Tara sing won't you come back to me, because i wanna be the one who you're with. The big pop dream is then realised. Many of us have been waiting for If It's Not You. There are no lyrics to this song on the website but the pop kids know the song text anyway. The sound during the show is very high, at our loudest we in the audience almost outsing Tara. There is spontaneous dance and sing along to my favourite song. It is so easy to love tonight's audience. If It's Not You is the best song in the set and I am satisfied. They can play anything afterwards. We get to hear three new songs. The last is the best one.
Tara picks up a guitar after that. Someone behind me whispers "big guitar for a little girl" and I can not help but smile. "Songs About You" is added by another boy who apparently has seen the band before. Langauge of Flowers then end the concert with Tara Mascara. A boy and a girl on my left sing along throughout the whole song and it is so beautiful. I like them.
Language of Flowers have written so many perfect songs for their debut album. Some of them are left out of the live set. Many people get sad because the concert does not last longer, but the band is applauded back to the scene where they play the happy Botanic Gardens as the encore. I miss I Don't Care at All, but it does not matter. The Popaganda festival got to hear seven songs by Language of Flowers. We got nine and I heard my two favourite songs Where You Belong and If It's Not You.
After the concert, I see Tara in front of the stage. I walk to her and thank her for a wonderful concert before she goes to the interview with the student radio indie program Tandem Pop. I can not describe how happy If It's Not You made me.
Three days later, I realise that Language of Flowers' show at Mejeriet on Saturday May 27 was much more than the finest concert of my life.
Ten out of Ten
Setlist:
(Originally published on May 30, 2006)
Isobel Campbell - Lund May 24
Yesterday I only had to look at the audience to understand that things change. The staff at the venue Mejeriet had set up round tables with lighted candles to create a more intimate atmosphere. Unfortunately, it rather felt like I attended an awkward after work. It is not intimate when the closest table is placed ten meters away from the stage. The venue felt empty, there were at most eighty people in the crowd.
Isobel played mostly songs from her latest album The Ballad of Broken Seas. In other words duets. Luckily, we were spared Mark Langegan. Instead Eugene Kelly of The Vaselines stood next to Isobel. Eugenie looked a bit like Morrissey and they both probably had their best years at the same time - in the 80's.
Time Is Just the Same was the only greatly performed song in the regular set. Fortunately, there was an encore. For once it did not consist of hits saved for the end of the concert. Isobel told us to sing along and then sat down in her chair while picking up her cello. Apparently it was a song in Swedish. Isobel performed the Finnish-Swedish traditional folk song Who Can Sail Without Wind (Vem kan segla förutan vind) with a pronunciation very similar to Finnish, and for the first time in the evening it felt really charming.
Before the final song, Isobel said that people at her concerts usually do not know who Eugene is. I suspected what was going to happen. As expected, The Vaseline's old pop hit Son of a Gun was played, and it sounded really good. Isobel's voice can lift any song.
Six out of Ten
(Originally published on May 25, 2006)
Belle and Sebastian - Malmö May 13
At the final moment I cried
I always cry at endings
Everything that has a beginning also has an end. This is not a concert review. These are the words which conclude the most wonderful of fairy tales. But let us by all means begin with the first chapter.
The Stars of Track and Field was the first song I heard of Belle and Sebastian. If You're Feeling Sinister the first album. Like so many others, I immediately fell in love. There are so many memories. I lay on the bed and looked through the booklet while I was amazed by how beautiful everything was. The piano in The Fox in the Snow. The third verse of Like Dylan in the Movies. The back of the booklet: "But Isobel, who's going to support us when our dreams crash against the rocks?
It was so long ago. I was so young. A lot has changed and still nothing at all. A boy's room has been replaced by a student room. Reflection on life has become ... thoughts about life. I still miss Isobel Campbell but Belle and Sebastian have always been there anyway. Strange though, I have never seen them live. Even my diary notes fail to explain what I did those nights when I had the chance. I personally think that I was in a coma. Apparently, I woke up late last summer. A new tour followed with the latest album The Life Pursuit, and I knew I would get another chance to see Belle and Sebastian live.
Finally the big day came. At friends Elisabet and Cecilia's home, we whistled our way through Asleep on a Sunbeam and Dress Up in You before we stepped on the bus to Malmö. We came to the venue Kulturbolaget just before nine o'clock and was welcomed by the dj playing Language of Flowers - Where You Belong. I was instantly in love with life again. We ordered at the bar and headed toward the stage. Although the support act Suburban Kids With Biblical Names already had played, it was surprisingly no congestion. We settled closed to the stage, full of expectations and dreams.
Stuart and his band soon wanders onto the stage to the audience's applause. I count to six men and two women. Only recognize Stuart, Sarah and Stevie. The introduction is brilliant. I smile a little more when The Stars of Track and Field opens the show. Stuart raises his voice, and while the guitars roar at the end he tries to convince us that the stars of track and field are beautiful people. Though it is obviously us he sings about. When the band follows up with Another Sunny Day everyone in the crowd gets a ridiculously charming smile. It should not be possible, but my favorite song on The Life Pursuit sounds better than on record. We are so happy. Wonderful. Stuart goes on to silly talk but soon mentions The Belle and Sebastian Song Book, and we who are near the stage see that he holds up the cover of Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasent. Many thoughts are running through my head. The Model? There's Too Much Love? I Fought in a War? In one second's time I calculate the probabilities for each song to be played only to reject the science and decide that it is better to wait and see. It became Women's Realm. The strings are so beautiful. Then we hear Belle and Sebastian's theme song from their first EP Dog on Wheels. The concert really feels perfect.
I did not really want to hear more songs from the new album but you may not always get as you want. Sukie in the Graveyard is a filler in this set. After that, a laptop is activated and the screen is shaking. It could only be one song.
"I still do no like it", Cecilia tells me. She is not alone. But those who fall, they fall really with a thud. Belle and Sebastian run over half the audience and I love it. After that, one expects higer tempo but unfortunately Electronic Renassaince also begins the bitter end. The fillers are stocked in and it suddenly feels uninspirational. Belle and Sebastian are too good to play songs like The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner and Funny Little Frog. Had I brought a note with my song wishes to Stuart, I would had written down Sleep the Clock Around, String Bean Jean, Another Sunny Day, Dirty Dream Number Two, Get Me Away from Here I'm Dying, Lazy Line Painter Jane, I Could Be Dreaming, There's Too Much Love and Le Pastie De La Bourgeoisie on it. I got two of them. The rest of the gig does not quite appeal to me. All that is good on record sounds better live and vice versa. A Century of Fakers is magic. Your Cover's Blown is garbage. And I am starting to get disturbed by the bouncing balls next to me. The two idiot girls who jump up and down to the quiet songs make me move closer to the stage. They have apparently also paid entrance but I wonder how people can have such a lack of self-awareness that they do not understand they spoil others' pleasure when all people give you the mean eye.
The spotlights are aimed at the entire scene but all light falls on Stuart. Even before the first song played he sets the bar by jokingly saying his newly purchased shirt is too short. We hear a brief chorus of Mamma Mia and Stuart is also trying to get a girl at the front to shed a tear, but she just laughs. He should have asked a young boy to sigh instead. But it does not seem to bother Stuart who dances on as if he were in his own world. He and many others.
After the encore The Boy With the Arab Strap is played and the crowd is bouncing up and down clapping the hands. This time more justified and they look happy. Belle and Sebastian leave the scene for the second time and it was long since I heard an audience applaud so convincingly. It is over. I cry inside. It hurts so much to write it but I am a little disappointed. It was good. So much better than almost anything else. Yet something is missing. I want to run past all the guards into the backstage room and shout at Stuart to play SLEEP THE CLOCK AROUND. I was hoping for more than happy pop to whistle to. I wanted seriousness.
May 2006 was to become the best month. We are halfway through. Belle and Sebastian is still one of the world's best bands. But not the best. A dream came true this evening, while another died. When I got off the bus in Lund, it rained. It would not end like this but it is probably best that we go our separate ways. I am grateful that I got to see Belle and Sebastian.
But Isobel, who's going to support me when my dreams crash against the rocks? I will ask her when she comes here in a couple of weeks.
Eight out of Ten
Setlist
(subject to minor mistakes)
The Stars of Track and Field
Another Sunny Day
Women's Realm
Belle and Sebastian
Sukie in the Graveyard
Electronic Renaissance
The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner
To Be Myself Completely
Piazza, New York Catcher
Funny Little Frog
A Century of Fakers
We Are the Sleepyheads
Your Cover's Blown
Le Pastie De La Bourgeoisie
I'm a Cucko
Jonathan David
White Collar Boy
Me and the Major
Encore
If You Find Yourself Caught in Love
The Boy With the Arab Strap
(Originally published on May 15, 2006)
Firefox Ak and Hello Saferide - Lund March 11
I hand over my ticket and the staff at the entrance puts a paper bracelet around my right wrist. I realise that the concert is open for all ages. It is not ideal, but you can not have everything you want.
Andrea Kellerman looks so cool with her electric guitar when she opens her live set with City to City. Andrea is more known under her artist name Firefox Ak. Andrea has got the charisma, the songs and the voice to make the audience fall for her, but she does not really succeed this time. Tonight the audience is waiting for the next live act.
Introducing... Hello Saferide:
Have you ever had the feeling no one really knows what you're all about
And when you try to show them
They all have things to do tonight
Tonight
(I Thought That You Said Summer Is Going to Take the Pain Away)
Annika Norlin's debut album was the second one on my year list of 2005, but numbers can not desribe what Hello Saferide meant to me last fall. In a period in life when I felt that everything went wrong, Hello Saferide came from nowhere and wrote sad songs that touched my heart. I Thought That You Said Summer Is Going to Take the Pain Away was a comfort when no one else was there. I got a record with painfully honest lyrics in which I actually could believe. Hello Saferide reached me from the first listening.
There were some nervousness and unpredictability when Hello Saferide played on the small stage at Mejeriet last fall. The atmosphere and uncertainty of what to expect made me shudder when I heard the first chords of Long Lost Penpal.
A lot has changed since then. I still play If I Don't Write This Song, Someone I Love Will Die when I want to get happy, but I have left the first stage of love behind me. Annika Norlin has had a real breakthrough with Hello Saferide. Mejeriet is full of people tonight but Annika shows no signs of uncertainty when she enters the stage. In the middle of the show she says that this is a special night since a friend of hers is here. Firefox Ak comes back on stage and it is impossible not to get moved when Annika and Andrea perform Long Lost Penpal together.
If my memory serves me right, there was no encore the last time Hello Saferide played at Mejeriet. Tonight it is a given. When Hello Saferide is clapped back to the stage and closes the evening with I Don't Sleep Well I get so happy that I give her a rose which I take from the boquet of flowers at the edge of the stage. She accepts it and I walk home with a smile on my face.
(Originally posted on my lastfm on March 12, 2006)
Andrea Kellerman looks so cool with her electric guitar when she opens her live set with City to City. Andrea is more known under her artist name Firefox Ak. Andrea has got the charisma, the songs and the voice to make the audience fall for her, but she does not really succeed this time. Tonight the audience is waiting for the next live act.
Introducing... Hello Saferide:
Have you ever had the feeling no one really knows what you're all about
And when you try to show them
They all have things to do tonight
Tonight
(I Thought That You Said Summer Is Going to Take the Pain Away)
Annika Norlin's debut album was the second one on my year list of 2005, but numbers can not desribe what Hello Saferide meant to me last fall. In a period in life when I felt that everything went wrong, Hello Saferide came from nowhere and wrote sad songs that touched my heart. I Thought That You Said Summer Is Going to Take the Pain Away was a comfort when no one else was there. I got a record with painfully honest lyrics in which I actually could believe. Hello Saferide reached me from the first listening.
There were some nervousness and unpredictability when Hello Saferide played on the small stage at Mejeriet last fall. The atmosphere and uncertainty of what to expect made me shudder when I heard the first chords of Long Lost Penpal.
A lot has changed since then. I still play If I Don't Write This Song, Someone I Love Will Die when I want to get happy, but I have left the first stage of love behind me. Annika Norlin has had a real breakthrough with Hello Saferide. Mejeriet is full of people tonight but Annika shows no signs of uncertainty when she enters the stage. In the middle of the show she says that this is a special night since a friend of hers is here. Firefox Ak comes back on stage and it is impossible not to get moved when Annika and Andrea perform Long Lost Penpal together.
If my memory serves me right, there was no encore the last time Hello Saferide played at Mejeriet. Tonight it is a given. When Hello Saferide is clapped back to the stage and closes the evening with I Don't Sleep Well I get so happy that I give her a rose which I take from the boquet of flowers at the edge of the stage. She accepts it and I walk home with a smile on my face.
(Originally posted on my lastfm on March 12, 2006)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)