Image by Caralyn Green
Peter Bjorn and John in Philadelphia, Thursday, May 3, 2007
A polite reception for indie's wintertime princes
By Caralyn Green
Published: May 9th, 2007 | 11:05am
There lurks a fear that Peter Bjorn and John will never rekindle that omnipotent fever pitch that accompanied them after their first slew of stateside shows this winter. Their January gigs shook the frost from New York’s mope and rippled to the hypothermic toes of rest of the country. America, or at least the America I know, danced. Peter Bjorn and John were our Nordic heroes, versed well enough in snow and ice to conquer such foes. They were our sunshine, our hope, our spicy chai tea and full body massage in one.
And Peter Bjorn and John still are catchy, silly dudes, who can induce a smile in just about anyone with some whistle, bongo, and harmonica action. But at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia on Thursday, May 3, 2007, the Swedish pop trio failed to whip the sold out audience into anything but a pleasant, ponytail-bouncing sway, with the exception of set highlights “Objects of My Affection,” “Let’s Call It Off,” and “Young Folks.” Perhaps we’re just a bit too jaded by now. It’s spring. The gray has melted, the lilacs are tickling our noses, and we no longer need pop music to rouse euphoria. We’ve roused it on our own, at barbeques, in bedrooms, and slurping gelatos in the park. So when we’re bombarded with artificial, though heartfelt, elation in the form of words and guitar, drum and bass, we’re over it.
Yeah, joyful abandon. Been there, done that.
Partly, I blame openers Fujiya & Miyagi for knocking any dancetastic vigor out of the audience. The British electro jam band feels like that 4 a.m., five-too-many-vodkas mistake. It’s all staccato whispers, Freudian grunts, phallic guitar caresses, and lyrics like “she made me go uh” and “don’t be pussyfooting around.” But if Fujiya & Miyagi are everything that’s wrong with dude music today, then – to stereotype merrily – the first opening band, Au Revoir Simone, is everything that’s right with chick music. If you formed a band with two of your best gal pals, Au Revoir Simone is what you’d look and sound like. Three keyboards, some xylophone, a drum machine, a maraca, black tights, empire-waisted tunics, long locks, side-swept bangs, and hazy, strawberry-scented love, love, love.
Heather from Au Revoir Simone did a lovely job subbing for Victoria Bergsman later in the night on PB&J’s hipster lust anthem “Young Folks,” which sounded as flirtatious and earnest as ever. But, well, I’ve seen club crowds go absolutely apeshit for remixes of “Young Folks” – frenetic pogo jumping, face sucking, clawing at each other’s midriffs and throats with a unified relish of hell yes, this song is our life. Although Thursday saw a slew of fist pumping, hand holding, and lyric shouts and sighs, the ten song set – plus three song encore – seemed to leave most folks with the sentiment that, yes, it was a lovely way to pass an evening; but a six pack of Magic Hat #9 and a Gilmore Girls marathon woulda probably induced the same cheery, unobtrusive calm.
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Photos by Caralyn Green
Issue #32
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