words and photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

DOWNLOAD: Jens Lekman - Water Runs Dry (Boyz II Men) (live @ Googie's) (MP3)

I went to see the Frida Hyvonen show at Googie's Lounge last night (11/11). I was both looking forward to seeing Frida for the first time and secretly hoping Jens Lekman would be there - apparently I wasn't the only one. The places was packed, and I'm guessing Joe McGinty's Piano Parlour is not standing room only on many other weeks. Luckily I got there early and was able to grab a table. Jens was in the audience.

After a bit of waiting, Jens got up around 10:30 and introduced Joe McGinty and a woman playing recorder. Joe played piano while the woman played three songs on the recorder. Bizarre. Then Jens got up and sang three songs while Joe accompanied him. They played "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar," "Water Runs Dry," (yes, a Boyz II Men cover), and "The Opposite of Hallelujah." All three songs were absolutely brilliant jazz arrangements, and I'm suddenly craving a Sinatra-style album from everyone's favorite Singing DJ.

Then Frida got up. Unfortunately I was a bit distracted during her bit (my camera broke early in the set last night, and the stress of that was overwhelming), but man was she a performer. She played a set lined with guest appearances including - you guessed it - Jens Lekman. I'm not overly familiar with Frida's music - I knew "Once I was a Serene Teenaged Child" and "Science", but after last night I'm a convert. I believe most of the other tracks come off of Frida's recent release, "Silence is Wild," which came out on November 4th.

If given another chance, I would definitely catch Frida again. Though I'm busy tonight, I'd strongly suggest checking her out at the Church of Sweden and also picking up a copy of her record.

Grab the MP3 of Jens singing "Water Runs Dry" above, and check out a few more pictures below...

Continue reading "Frida Hyvonen & Jens Lekman @ Googies Lounge, NYC -pics"

Frida Hyvönen & Jens Lekman @ Bowery Ballroom in 2006 (thisismecl)

As previously announced, Frida Hyvönen is playing shows in NYC tonight/Tuesday and Wednesday. The Tuesday show is still upstairs in Googie's Lounge at the Living Room, though Living Room switched her name to just "Special Guest". Also worth noting: WFUV is hosting an event downstairs in the same venue with a bill that includes Lucy Wainwright Roche. Overall a good night to be at the LES venue. The Wednesday show was supposed to be at Monkeytown in Brooklyn, but has moved to the Church of Sweden which is located at 5 East 48th Street in Manhattan. It's an 8pm show with a suggested donation of $5.00.

Video of Frida and Jens Lekman singing together in Swedish Finnish below...

Continue reading "a change to Frida Hyvönen's upcoming show schedule"

DOWNLOAD: Frida Hyvonen - Enemy Within (MP3)

Sweden's Frida Hyvonen will be spending some time in the United States this month. Not only is she playing the Zipper Factory in NYC tonight (November 1st), but after visiting Chicago, Philly and DC, she is back in NYC to play Googie's Lounge (the upstairs part of Living Room) on November 11th and then Monkey Town in Brooklyn two days later. Maybe her friend Jens Lekman, who now seems to be living in NYC, will stop by one of those last two shows.

I would say maybe he would stop by tonight, but...

JENS LEKMAN will be playing a benefit show this Saturday, November 1st, in Northampton, MA. The show will benefit a young student named Clara Gardner who lost her legs after being hit by a drunk driver. What was planned to be a small private show to lift her spirits has turned into a real performance to be held in the Northampton High School Auditorium.

If you're in the Northampton area this weekend, don't miss your chance to help support Clara.
If you'd like to donate, please contact Eric Warren eric.warren@gmail.com

"Ememy Within", the MP3 on top of this post, is from "Silence Is Wild", Frida's new album out on Secretly Canadian on November 4th. Listen to more songs on her MySpace. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Frida Hyvonen - new album, 2008 Tour Dates (3 NYC shows)"