brooklynvegan: Jens Lekman & Frida Hynvonen @ Mercury Lounge, NYC

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Posted in music | pictures on July 20, 2006

Jens Lekman & Frida Hynvonen @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | pic

Jens Lekman & Frida Hynvonen @ Mercury Lounge

So when exactly did Frida Hyvonen get added to the Mercury Lounge bill last night? First I thought Jens went on at 10. Then I saw he wasn't going on until 11. Then I realized Frida was added as opener, but it was too late - I caught just her last song and what she did on stage with Jens. Oh well. Missing Frida's set aside, last night's show is now in stiff competition with Sunday's Amadou & Mariam show for 'favorite show of the year'. It's been a good few days.

Jens Lekman & Frida Hynvonen @ Mercury Lounge Unlike the band-enhanced show I'm expecting at Bowery Ballroom on Friday night, this show was just Jens completely solo - just he and his guitar (and microphone), plus the occasional instrument (harmonica, thumb piano) added in. Also, in one of the coolest Mercury Lounge moves I've seen yet, there was a surprise two-person horn accompaniment from musicians (members of his band?) playing from the back of the room to finish off the song Julie which in turn finished off his pre-encore one-hour set. I was pretty close to the front, so I had no idea that was coming.

Jens sounds better live than on album even, and he knows how to keep an entire room of people captivated, silent, and hanging on his every word. There was lots of crowd participation - sing-alongs, whistling, jokes, and the passing-around of 1970's photographs Jens found under a rock. The photograph-passing started while Jens played a cover song in Japanese. He asked us to please return them by the end of his set. I hope everyone did (unlike that biatch that kept Akron/Family's magic fish at Knitting Factory).

Jens Lekman & Frida Hynvonen @ Mercury Lounge Touring partner, and now Secretly Canadian label-mate, Frida Hynovonen joined him on stage for one song all in Finnish. Jens told us he knows how to play all the instruments already, so to challenge himself he figured he'd start singing in other languages. The Finnish song was a mish-mash of expressions he already knew, like "I love you" and "Excuse me (or something like that)". Frida and Jens provided the translations before they actually sang the song. Everyone laughed which was good because Jens later told us it makes him happy that we laugh at his songs - one of his many seemingly pre-meditated stories that so perfectly led into the next song. "A man walked into a bar..."

I didn't take any pictures, so I hope thisismecl and skipscada don't mind that I grabbed the above pics off Flickr. Tonight's show in Philly is not even sold out (Get to it Philly people).

Previously
Vetiver, Jens Lekman & M Ward playing Sound Fix shows
Jens Lekman, Vashti Bunyan & Jeremy Enigk on sale
New Buffalo @ Bowery Ballroom, a song w/ Jens Lekman
(The Concretes signed) Frida Hyvönen | opening for Jens Lekman

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Posted on July 20, 2006 1:19 PM

Comments (19)

It was "Excuse me, I don't understand." Very funny coming after "I love you." The other finnish words were "Wonderful" and "Cutie Pie." Jens definitely has an amazing stage presence and reminded me a lot of Antony what with the crowd participation whistling and the humorous stage banter. Best show I've seen this year so far.

Posted by tina* | July 20, 2006 1:53 PM

I agree, awesome show.

For Julie, it sounded like there was a tambourine in addition to the horns, but I couldn't see. Anyone? What was going on back there?

Posted by Min | July 20, 2006 1:57 PM

tambourine was on the left side, saxophone and trombone on the right. so awesome. even better than his last mercury show when he went into the dark corner in the crowd to play julie completely acoustic. did anyone not leave with a huge smile on their face?

Posted by Anonymous | July 20, 2006 2:27 PM

I super duper concur with all the above that this was a phenomenal show. I was enamored by it all, snapping, whistling, impersonating Calvin Johnson with a cast of some 100 other Calvin Johnson impersonators, doing some human beat-box, what a total blast.

There was indeed a tambourine player on the other side of the floor that joined Jens and the horns during the end swell of Julie.

Christ, I just wish this show kept going. Why didn't anyone tap Jens on the shoulder and ask for more songs after he left the stage?!? I couldn't get to him from my spot. Those on the exit side of the stage let everyone else down. I was actually hoping he would be outside busking after the show.

Anyway, I don't have tickets for the Bowery Ballroom show but I think I'll survive not seeing it, knowing that I was at this way more intimate show. But what are the chances of getting into the Sound Fix store show? Seems like it'll be packed.

And thanks to Jens for wearing the most ridiculous sweatshirt I've ever seen.

Posted by Eggs1234 | July 20, 2006 2:32 PM

I totally asked Jens for another song. I asked him to play "Someone to Share my Life With" and he said he would but it never happened. He stayed around talking to people for a long time before he actually left, but never with a guitar in hand, sadly.

Posted by tina* | July 20, 2006 2:46 PM

Any chance that I could see a setlist? Thank you
I am going to see him this Sunday at The Bug Jar!!! Can't wait!

Posted by Eve Meyer | July 20, 2006 4:08 PM

just a terrific show from start to finish. now we know what an entire room of whistlers sounds like. and the "ba-bum" and "oh no!" choruses during "hammer hill" were so much fun. better than i could have imagined. pics and stuff are at my site.

Posted by marty | July 20, 2006 4:25 PM

Tina*, thanks for asking for another song. That's awesome of you. I feel relieved now that it wasn't a huge missed opportunity.

Yeah, a set list would be sweet, Eve M. There were so many non-LP songs though. Hopefully someone was taking notes, cuz I sure wasn't. Here's what I remember, in no particular order (and possibly melding songs together).

- the first two songs are a blur, but the second of them I believe was where JL asked for beatboxing from the boys and whistlin' from the gals.
- there were the "other language songs" that are referenced above, one in Finnish and one a Japanese naive pop cover song.
- there was the song about the outdoor bingo (apparently a good place to enjoy a Zingo).
- the hysterical song about JL being asked last minute to pose as his lesbian friend's fiance.
- the avocado, sliced finger song, which may have been my favorite.
- and then the LP tracks that I remember: (1) Maple Leaves; (2) Pocketful of Money; (3) Black Cab; (4) Julie; (5) Sweet Summer's Night on Hammerhill; (6) Man Walks into a Bar; (7) Do You Remember the Riots?; and (8) You Are the Light.

If anyone else remembers anything, please lay it out. I really want to remember this wonderful show.

Posted by Eggs1234 | July 20, 2006 4:30 PM

That show was awesome. I have his EP and really like it, but they were just great live and Jens has such a refreshing and genuine stage persona.

When i walked out I was thinking how awesome he will sound with a full band on friday, but after reading comments and thinking more, I'm very glad to have caught the more intimate of the two shows.

great call on the "huge smile" when leaving...i definitely felt that

Posted by Verdude | July 20, 2006 4:48 PM

i couldn't believe how amazing his voice is live. even more clear and beautiful than on the records. awesome show.

Posted by micah Welner | July 21, 2006 4:08 AM

i couldn't believe how amazing his voice is live. even more clear and beautiful than on the records. awesome show.

Posted by micah Welner | July 21, 2006 4:09 AM

- there were the "other language songs" that are referenced above, one in Finnish and one a Japanese naive pop cover song. ->could the japanese song be Nagisa Ni Te (me on the beach)
- there was the song about the outdoor bingo (apparently a good place to enjoy a Zingo). ->At The Drive In Bingo
- the hysterical song about JL being asked last minute to pose as his lesbian friend's fiance. ->Postcard to Nina (aka Nina, I Can Be Your Boyfriend)
- the avocado, sliced finger song, which may have been my favorite. ->Your Arms Around Me

Posted by L | July 21, 2006 3:48 PM

Posted by L | July 21, 2006 3:50 PM

Yes it was Me on a Beach (japanese song), which you can find on the cd that he sold at the last show at the Mercury lounge.

Posted by Darkness | July 21, 2006 3:59 PM

did anybody at the bowery show stick around and see if he played more songs?

Posted by Anonymous | July 22, 2006 2:58 AM

I tried to stick around for a bit, but it seemed like they were beginning to usher people out, so I left.

Posted by Anonymous | July 22, 2006 10:05 AM

the show in philly was the best show i've been to all year, simply incredible

Posted by sf | July 22, 2006 7:11 PM

Thanks L and Darkness for the additional info on the Mercury Lounge show.

Posted by Eggs1234 | July 23, 2006 9:12 AM