P B & J with a Side of F & M
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
Since I decided to ignore lukewarm accounts of the Coachella set by Sweden’s pop-rockin’ Peter Bjorn & John, I was well-greased to see them live – especially at the first of two sold-out nights by the band at Bimbo’s, the kewlest supper-club in North Beach.It was more than just the whistling on their fiendishly insistent single “Young Folks,” although, as Odin is my witness, I find that it’s impossible to not whistle along. No, it’s the entire Writer’s Block album – their latest of three. Wanted to hear stuff like “The Chills” and, yes, “Young Folks” played in person. And to make the show even sweeter, the Brighton, England techno-rock trio Fujiya & Miyagi were opening.And damn! It was a keeper of a concert. With an enthusiastic full house on board, Peter Bjorn & John - Peter Morén on vocals and guitar, Björn Yttling on vocals, bass and keyboards, and John Eriksson on drums, percussion and vocals - came roaring out of the block (that would be the Writer’s Block, I guess). They entered to a sitar gently playing the melody to “Young Folks” - all very introspective. But PB&J can hammer and careen like a power-trio in the tradition of The Who and The Jam. “Let’s Call It Off” was a twangy, inescapably butt-shaking way to show off PB&J’s tunesmithing and their ability to get a whole crowd moving as one. “Amsterdam” started off mellow and reflective, like a spare folk song; then it built into a jaunty rock singalong.For me, the apex of PB&J’s set was the reeling, ethereal-then-throbbing version of “The Chills.” That is, until the inevitable “Young Folks.” Without ex-Concretes singer Victoria Bergsman around to alternate verses, Peter sang it all – and no one in the place seemed any less ecstatic. In fact, the whistling was epidemic. Ever hear an entire nightclub audience whistle in unison? Gave me the chills…so to speak. Those reports of mediocrity seem unfounded. I’m thinking that all PB&J needed was their own fans packed into a cool joint.And the Swedes had a hard act to follow: a compelling, ass-percolating performance by Fujiya & Miyagi. These guys - David Best on lead vocals and guitar, Steve Lewis on synths and backing vocals, and Matt Hainsby on bass and backing vocals - are heavy on the rhythmic, rave-ready electronic vibe, but have a raw art-punk edge. You could hear influences ranging from Kraftwerk (the insistent intoxicating pulse of “Ankle Injuries” from the debut F&M album Transparent Things) to Talking Heads (Best’s jagged David Byrne-ish guitar on “Photocopier”) to Gang of Four (the martial-funk beat of “Collarbone”).Had to dance. Didn’t wanna stop. Thank Terpsichore that Transparent Things is on the ‘pod, and I was able to keep grooving way after the show was over.Keeping the fun alive, here’s the video for “Let’s Call It Off” from PB&J:And a clip of F&M doing “Ankle Injuries” live at Fearless Music in New York City earlier this year:
Comments (17)