Jens Lekman, Final Fantasy and Katie Stelmanis @ The Great Hall

I had waited a long time to see Jens Lekman live, having heard various reports about how impressive a show he puts on. To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one would be an understatement.

First off, I'll mention that I had never been to the Great Hall before, so I was looking forward to checking out the venue. Doors were at 8, which is about the time that I got there. The line up was a little bit longer than I expected, and I was worried that my chances of getting up close were shot. Thankfully the floor space is rather large, and I really didn't have to worry. The hall is often used for receptions and the like, and it certainly had a strange amalgamated aura of classy large hall meets high school gymnasium. The wood floors were hard on the feet and my uncomfortable shoes made them hurt rather quickly, but those are all just side points. It's actually a really cool venue.

The show opened with Katie Stelmanis, whom I had seen before but was still unsure of what I thought about her. Her debut album Join Us has been receiving its fair share of praise among Toronto hipsters, and since I long to be one of those, I was looking forward to seeing if I understood it a little bit better the second time around. I have to admit, that I found this particular performance to be quite powerful. The atmosphere, as well as my state of mind, probably had a part to play in that, but most of all I think it was the fact that her harsh operatic vocals, although perhaps being an acquired taste for some, have a very commanding presence that challenges a listener and demands attention. I also thought Maya Postepski's simple, yet heavy set percussion added immensely to the performance (something that was lacking the last time.) Her songs do start to drone a little bit, but overall I'd say that, with a little bit more experimentation, she could really develop into an even more accomplished artist, reminiscent of Kate Bush, in many ways.

Photos: My pics of Katie Stelmanis @ The Great Hall on flickr.
Downloads: In My Favour mp3 / Natural Woman mp3
Myspace: Katie Stelmanis

The next performer was another one in my personal "let's give 'em a second chance" category. I had never seen Owen Pallett's Final Fantasy live before, but I can't say that I've ever had a strong desire to. Last year's juvenile titled He Poos Clouds received monster praise up the ying yang, giving Owen the first ever Canadian Polaris Prize as well as securing his name in year end lists all over the place. Based on the hype, I picked up the CD, and although the first few songs were quite interesting, the album as a whole seemed rather bland to me. I could appreciate what he was trying to do, but an album's worth of that looping violin was making me a bit mental. Let's just say I didn't get it. However, many of my friends would pitch me the "but you have to see him live" line, so here I am, seeing him live. And the verdict? Yah, he's actually quite good.

Again the setting in the Great Hall probably had something to do with it, as well as Owen's charismatic stage presence, but I thought the music took on a whole new meaning in a live setting. In the same way that orchestral music is much more captivating to see live then it is to listen to on a cheap stereo, Owen's ability to make his violin sound like a full choir via the looping machine, is very impressive. Also, his down to earth stage demeanor prevents his music from sounding too overtly pretentious. He showcased a lot of newer songs, and his music was accompanied by the amazing artwork and slide projection of Stephanie Comilang. Her art accompanied Jens Lekman's show as well, and it is truly amazing the atmosphere that can be created with a slide projector and a few stencils. It's also amazing how many times I can use the word 'atmosphere' in the same review. I've got to learn to consult a thesaurus more often.

Photos: My pics of Final Fantasy @ The Great Hall on flickr
Downloads: If I Were A Carp mp3 / Many Lives 49mp mp3
Myspace: Final Fantasy
Video: The Lamb Sells Condos (Directed by Stephanie Comilang and Jamie Shannon) youtube

It took a long time, but finally Jens Lekman took to the stage and his set was every bit what I would have expected. His wit and charisma had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand as he played several favorites ranging from newer material like The Opposite of Hallelujah and Sipping On The Sweet Nectar, to older favorites like You Are The Light. He interspersed the songs with very amusing anecdotes about crossing the border and having to explain who he is, to deliberately putting up wrong information on his wikipedia page just for kicks. (Actually those were both part of the same anecdote, but my memory is fuzzy and it has been a couple of days after all. He did have many more anecdotes though, trust me.) He ended the set with an awesome performance of his 'love for hairstylist' anthem Shirin, and then I believe that he went outside and played a few more songs out on the street for any adoring fans who wished to come see him, although tiredness set in so I didn't stick around.

Photos: My pics of Jens Lekman @ The Great Hall on flickr
Downloads: The Opposite of Hallelujah mp3 / Friday Night at the Drive In Bingo mp3
Video: Sipping On The Sweet Nectar youtube

Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

When I was 10 years old, I declared Huey Lewis to be the greatest artist of all time. Yes, there is a lot of music out there that we once loved with all our heart, but years later become embarrassed about ever liking. Part of me wonders if that's the way we'll eventually feel about Jens Lekman. The man is oozing indie cred these days, but if we're being completely honest with ourselves, he's not exactly the epitome of rock star cool. His music is schmaltzy and even downright silly at times. But don't you just love it? Yah, me too.

Night Falls Over Kortedala is his second proper release, and it's even more sample heavy than the first album. The first two songs are excellent. The album opens with And I Remember Every Kiss which is as powerful as an opener can be. It starts ever so subtle, with minimal music, as the emphasis is placed on his saccharine baritone, designed specifically to make the ladies swoon. But once the chorus kicks in with full orchestration and strings and he belts out, "But I will never kiss anyone/ who doesn't burn me like the sun / but I remember every kiss/ like my first kiss..." well don't the hairs on the back of your neck just immediately stand to attention. The next song is Sipping On The Sweet Nectar, which samples an orchestral cover of Jimmy Webb's By The Time I Get To Phoenix. I swear that when the song started I was fully expecting to hear a smooth spoken word intro by Barry White. Another website mentioned that the song conjures up images of dancing on The Love Boat. Most. Accurate. Description. Ever. From then on the sweetness starts to get to me a little bit. The songs are probably better on shuffle mixed in with songs by other people rather than one after another. I do think that the album ends strong, with the wacky doo-wop of Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig, which apparently is Swedish for Maybe I'm In Love With You; followed by Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo, which is the happiest sounding song I've probably ever heard. And the big speed-up part towards the end made me laugh out loud. Overall, there is quite a bit of filler but this is still an enjoyable release that makes me smile. I may be embarrassed to admit that someday.

Downloads: The Opposite Of Hallelujah mp3 / Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo mp3
Video: Sipping On The Sweet Nectar youtube