Lykke Li @ the Fillmore

Kimmy and I went to see Lykke Li at the Fillmore last Sunday. It was a cold, rainy evening and Kimmy was feeling quite ill, but we still managed to make it over to the city to catch the show. We arrived and stood outside for a while with a bunch of other artsy hipsters who were standing around languidly, smoking their cigarettes. They were wearing really funky clothes — lots of fedora hats, skinny pants, and leather. A lot of hawks too (both mo and faux).

We missed the opening act, and it wasn't long until Lykke appeared on the stage, in a cloud of smoke. It was all very dramatic and rock star-like. Indeed, she is quite the rock star — I don't mean she has attained that status, I mean she carries herself like one. She's a pretty talented performer, very charismatic, knows how to move and contort her body in weird shapes and angles.

She says weird things too. There were these two gay guys who were standing right in front of me and Kimmy and they were definitely high. They were having a GREAT time. Every time Lykke said something to the audience, they would squeal with delight and look at each other like they couldn't believe it. At one point, one of them yelled "YOU ARE A GODDESS!" Later on during the show, Lykke said "I'm so happy to be performing for all of my babies." I guess she was referring to us, like we were her babies? (Note: Lykke Li was born in 1986.) The guy who called Lykke a goddess turned to his partner and said, with a look of complete incredulity and glee, "Did she just call us her babies?! Oh my God... I love her!!!!" I almost wished I were high, too.

Overall it was a fun show: the music was catchy, upbeat, and danceable; Lykke was entertaining; the people in the audience were dressed in what I can only describe as modern art, which is always fun to look at; the venue was nice; and I was with enjoyable company. Overall a positive experience. But although lots of talented musicians have come out of Sweden (Jose Gonzalez, Sally Shapiro, Peter Bjorn & John, among others), I still maintain that those Swedes can be a little weird. I guess that is part of their charming appeal, kind of like how some of the furniture at Ikea is a little weird.

Here's a little Blogotheque video filmed last year in SF, by the talented Nate Chan: