Frida Hyvönen
Live @ Admiralspalast 101, Berlin 02/07/2009
Frida Hyvönen took the stage early on this wintery Saturday night, at least by Berlin standards. Still, the venue was well-filled with a mixed but enthusiastic crowd that included everything from the interested older couple to the younger first-row Swede complete with Frida-style oversized glasses. Ms. Hyvönen and her band won over the crowd quickly with powerful opener "Enemy within" from most recent album "Silence is wild". I had expected a more relaxed, musical-like performance but the band really went all out from the start. Together with cellist/bass-player Linnea Olsson and drummer Tammy Karlsson (both also played on "Silence is wild"; Tammy was a familiar face from Jens Lekman's band), Frida transformed her songs from cinemascope-powerpop to driving soul, even including the occasional be-my-baby drums. Think a Swedish all-girl Ben Folds Five with less punk and more Diana Ross. At the same time, quieter songs like "My cousin", "December" or "Why do you love me so much" were delivered with extra irony and humor -- I'm sure the ever-present champagne played its part as well -- and didn't seem out of place at all amidst all the powerpop. Even old gems from the first album were included ("Djuna" in a beat-centered new arrangement, as well as personal favorite "I drive my friend"), but couldn't outshine the brilliant newer tracks, especially the night's undeniable highlight "Dirty dancing". Finally, after two well-earned encores, "Scandinavian blonde" became fitting closer to a successful evening.
- Arnulf Köhncke
