Live report: Marit Bergman + Firefox AK @ Tack! Tack! Tack!, London UK 05/15/06
London's only truly international club night: flies acts in from abroad, plays music from abroad (or from cyberspace), truly cuts the mustard tonight, matching the amazing with the sublime. The bill was the most exciting to-date, however T!T!T! actually came undone tonight. Marit Bergman put T!T!T! to shame. And why you ask?
Okay, the pre-gig press-ups were one thing, the raw diet of love another, the wicked anecdotes and vivid descriptions in her songs just too good.
You must put into context: Marit Bergman draws on over 10+ years experience, has played everywhere [okay not ev-erywhere...but you know!), according to one on the night: "This is wild, in Sweden Marit can play to 7000 people at the Kalas tours [think: Lollapalooza]". She has a name. But she is much much more than a name, she is an artist, correctly described in the Guardian as "Scandinavia's finest Chanteuse". We agree. Drawing on new material, not relying on old, save "This is the year". It was sold out - and for many it worked, for some not, they needed smash hits/productions not constructions with performance.
In a band? Follow this line carefully: Marit thanked the sound technician, for being a very sound-technican. Magdeline was really pleased that she got a mention / compliment from Marit. Note the attention to detail at such an oft-forgotten level, then think how much is paid to the master task of music? Yes, she is on point Marit is.
Then It's a trap! DJ Per Apelqvist pitches in with: "At some point during her performance Marit made a reference to the bathrooms behind her, the very same bathroom indoctrinated as the back stage, by The Embassy."
Up steps Firefox AK for a super solid, completely confident show. Then someone asked: "have you got a light", of course I said: "over there mate, she is on fire." It went down as well as the subject. Firefox AK worked the crowd, the first stadium-esque handclap sequence, and she bowed to the the backstage toilet area!
It need be said that "The Draft" duet with Rasmus Kellerman (Tiger Lou) is top-ten material. The dynamic, the posture, the delivery, the electric static coming from their cold interaction on stage as they compete for perfection on this song makes for pivitol inclusion. Just brilliant. More than one fashion student in the back moving their hips.
Guest DJ Sweden Made Me Rob was on good lash and form. An hour for T!T!T! and SMM to unite for the night.
There is no other place in London you can go and see great live performances coming out of Sweden that you did last night with DJ's mixing everything from Familjen, Refused, Speaker, Robyn and on and on and on.
What a Monday night shrups and shizzle.
T!T!T! shouts to: La Tour, The Rushes, Consequences, Ruth Moog, Daniel Hansson (Art), Nicolia (Print), Sigmacon (Print), The Social, and SwedenMadeMe Rob, Piers SSS Productions and the mighty dope film crew they are, plus extended Hello's! to: Sounds Of Sweden (good luck!), Razzia Recs, Adrian Recs, and MySpazzers new and old: it snurrar babe it snurrar.
- Jason Christie