2 posts tagged “anna ternheim”

Can't believe it has been almost a week since I went and I still haven't written about my trip to Paradise! Actually, it's a local rock 'n' roll joint called the Paradise and my fav new artist, Anna Ternheim was playing there. She opened for someone I had honestly never heard of, Joseph Arthur, who I guess is some kind of critical darling. A couple of quick plays on his last.fm page didn't really do much for me, but who cares? I wanted to see Anna!

Traffic was remarkably heavy for nearly 8pm and no Red Sox game to worry about, but I made it inside before 8pm and sat in the back row. Of course, there were only three rows of folding chairs set up in front of the stair, so it was no great drama :) I'd say there were about 50 chairs in each row as it wrapped halfway around the stage. Then a couple of other levels with tables and chairs.

I settled in and waited, but Anna didn't come out until nearly 8:20. And as her set wrapped up before 9pm, it was a very short and sweet show. As she did in her previous show, she opened a Capella then segued into a couple of new songs. Her rendition of Girl Laying Down was done on the piano and really came out nice, as did her "stalking" song, I'll Follow You Tonight. She looked spectacular in black jeans and a white dress shirt over a black body suit. Despite her voiced complaints about having problems with her hair out, it looked great to me!

At one point towards the end of the show, she asked the audience, which now numbered 150 at least, who had heard any of her songs before. To be honest, I was surprised when only a small handful responded. They were all here for Arthur, I guess. Then the show ended, despite my pleas for China Girl!

I hung around for a bit afterwards, as Anna said she would be signing CDs again. I heard the first few songs of Arthur's set and remained nonplussed. Sort of a Dylan wannabee, right down to the funky beret and harmonica. I did briefly talk with Anna when she came out, but she declined my offer of a drink and then went back into the dressing room. At that point, I decided to call it a night, but not before getting the Anna Ternheim poster that was up. So it was a good night, if too short. I hope she could get her own show at a smaller folk venue, like maybe Passim's or Tupelo. That would be truly worthwhile.

Went to a great club show the other day. Can't really call it a concert, as it was in a pretty small venue (the Middle East Upstairs, which is even smaller than Downstairs I think). But it was an excellent time.

We were pretty late to the show. The show was supposed to start at 9pm but due to overindulging at Midwest Grille, a Brazilian "Churrasco" restaurant (you know, one of those where they just keep coming and filling your plate with fresh cuts of meat). The sirloin was particularly good and the Caipirinha was an excellent "dessert". But it did mean we didn't show up at the Middle East until nearly 10.

But lucky for us, the first act was just getting warmed up.  Anna Ternheim was brand new to me, but between her guitar playing, clear voice, enchanting accent, and cute-as-a-button looks, I was hooked from the start. Her songs had an engaging personalness and were sung with feeling and verve. And her cover of China Doll blew me away. I talked with her a bit after her set and she was as nice in person as she seemed on stage. Her first real North American tour, it continued to Montreal the next day and on across North America. I later bought her US debut CD, Halfway to Fivepoints, which she graciously signed. Anna explained that it was much more orchestrated than her solo set, but that didn't worry me at all. Also, see V♥M's Anna Ternhiem post.

Anna was followed by Lykke Li, who opened up the sound quite a bit. Adding a drummer and keyboardist, Lykke showed some serious dance chops, with some great beats and plenty of energy. It was funny, as we were talking with someone in the audience before Lykke came out and he wanted to know about El Perro, who he wasn't familiar with, while we were in the opposite boat, having never heard Lykke Li before. Lykke later came out to accompany El Perro Del Mar.

And it was El Perro Del Mar that originally brought us to the Middle East. And she was as introverted on stage as she sounds on disc. Her hair in a short pony tail, she stuck with her hauntingly beautiful lo-fi songs, with a drummer and a keyboard along with her. El Perro's voice was as clear and unique in a club setting as it is on CD and she played a couple of encores, with Lykke Li helping out on one. The set was pretty much split between her first two US releases, while the encores were from The Valley to the Stars, her newest CD. I had held off buying it until the show and I was lucky enough to get El Perro to sign the new one there too. But, like Anna, her stage personae is no fake and she's as distant in person as she was on stage.

But a great night was had by all. Well, save for dropping a full beer on the floor before the start of things! But I otherwise had a grand time, especially enjoying the up close viewing I got for El Perro, as the crowd thinned out a little, possibly due to the latest of the hour, but also I think there were plenty who were there for Lykke Li. So if they come to your neck of the woods, I encourage you to check it out.