Rapid fire May is loco yo gig reviews 8: Jens Lekman - The Village.

You know when you're confronted with a giant cake? And it looks really delicious? There was probably loads of chocolate involved in making it, fudge too. Or strawberrys and cream if you're into some a little lighter and summery. And you eat the whole thing? Then you feel a little sick afterwards?

No?

Well congrats on never having issues with your weight.

I reckon that since the 7th of this month I've seen at least 32 different acts in 9 venues and 2 countries. I'd say that I need a break but June sees Bon Iver and Dan Deacon hit Dublin which are pretty much unmissable as far as I'm concerned as well and Evangelicals, The Dodos, Radiohead, Low, Bonnie Prince Billie and probably a whole bunch more that I've not mentioned. Can someone get sick of live music? In my case it appears not. That being said if the European Championships turn out to be good and mean that I stay in a few more evenings in June I won't be complaining too much.

Last December Jens Lekman played Whelan's pretty much solo save for occasional contributions from a percussionist and violins from Alex Turner's string arranger. But mainly the night was all about Lekman's songs and his voice. There was some strange, intangible thing in the air that night and as the gig went on you couldn't help but feel that the Swede was drawing you in and making a very real personal connection with you through his music. And it's not just me that felt that way, a friend of mine said to me last week "that night the whole room fell in love with Jens." I can't say I disagree, I'm still into chicks otherwise but.

Last night he returned to Dublin to play The Village with a full band. And it just felt like a guy with some great songs and a supertight band playing a gig. It was fine, actually to be fair, it was good. But it lacked the charm of his last appearance here. Worse though was that parts of it felt utterly contrived; like his storytelling during "A Postcard To Nina" or when he requested that no one put any videos from the gig up on YouTube because it wanted the night to be special and unique, just for him, the band and those in attendance. Oh Jens, I bet you say that to all the crowds.

I was told afterwards that there's a good chance that Lekman won't tour again for a number of years and in recent times he's said to the Swedish press that he's unlikely to ever put out a full album again. That'd be a shame because I do think that when he's at his best he's a remarkable, enthralling talent. But if there's a Jens Lekman gig that lives long in my memory it won't be the one last night.

Oh You're So Silent Jens

May 23 Belfast TBA
May 24 Galway Roisin Dubh
May 25 Dublin the Village

Here's footage from Mr. Lekman's last gig in Dublin where he was ably assisted by Owen Pallett.

(Jens Lekman vs. Final Fantasy at Whelan's - Dublin) vs. (Arsenal [2] vs. [1] Steaua Bucharest at Ashburton Grove - London)

There was something of a mini Irish blogosphere summit at the table I was sitting at on Tuesday for Final Fantasy and at one point I was asked what the deal with the Music and Arsenal thing is. I tried to explain the 2 overwhelming passions in my life but I'm not sure if I managed it well, there was something about David O'Leary and Genoa mentioned but it's hard to verbalise. I suspect that only Nick Hornby would truly understand.

And from time to time the 2 come into conflict; mainly when there's a gig on at the same time as when the gooners are on the telly. Last night was one such occasion and with qualification for the second phase of the Champions League secured I toddled off to Whelan's for Jens Lekman (there's a terribly obvious joke to be made there).

I can't watch just half a match so safe in the knowledge that I had the DVD recorder set I tried to put the events going on in London out of my mind and arrived early enough to catch North Dakotan Tom Brosseau charm everyone in the room with a rather nice line in twee-country and "aww shucks" likeabilty. To be honest I kinda want Santy to bring me my own North Dakotan singer-songwriter to keep as a pet. There was a glint in his eye though, for some reason I suspect that there's a bit of the Aaron Stamplers about him.

Meanwhile ... a fairly second string looking Arsenal side were spending the first half of their match dominating Steau Bucharest. Robin Van Persie was back in the side for the first time since he suffered a knee injury a couple of months back and he brought an unpredictability and spark to the side that's been missing in the past few games and early on he set up a decent opportunity for Theo Walcott, who looked dangerous thoughout the game but ultimately didn't produce much in the way of an end product, before Diaby broke the deadlock after 8 minutes when he controlled Sagna's low cross on the run and knocked the ball past onrushing Steaua keeper to make it 1-0. RVP was invloved in the second when his through ball found Bendtner who controlled well and slide the ball home make it 2-0 on 42. The big Dane has been doing well of late and should be in contention for a place on the bench on Sunday against Chelsea.

The second half saw Arsenal continue dominate but fail to score. Things began to look a bit shaky in the final 20 minutes after Steaua pulled a goal back after Zaharia got in front of Armand Traore at the back post to head past the returning Jens Lehman and the Romanians created another couple of chances later on in the game that they weren't able to convert.

Back at Whelan's Jens Lekman was performing at a similar level to Arsenal were in the first 45 at the Emirates. A stripped back lineup featuring himself and a bongo player meant that without his lush arrangements the Swede was able to demonstate just how good his songs truly are, his understated guitar playing meant that everything was framed around his gorgeous voice and at times he was utterly captivating with "A postcard for Nina" from this year's Night Falls Over Kortedala being an early personal highlight.

Not that he needed any help but midway through the second half NO, that's fucking dreadful, late in the set Lekman was joined on stage by Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy for 3 or4 songs, the best of which was probably "Maple Leaves". Pallett looked utterly in his element filling out Lekman's songs and appeared to be having lots of fun with it, a stark contrast to the slightly rushed impression that I got from him at his own gig the previous night. I'd been told of the collaboration the night before and to be honest I was a little wary over the prospect of it; I worried that Pallett, being the bigger name, might overshadow Lekman in the eyes of the crowd and that he'd get a bigger reception for just playing some backup parts than Jens would for playing the entire gig. Fortunately that wasn't how things turned out it and to me it felt more like it was just some dude up there playing violin than some earth shattering joining of the somewhat wimpy looking indie titans. Which I guess is the best way for it to have been. But to be honest I don't think the reunited Led Zepp (including a reincarnated Bonzo) hitting the stage could have stopped the night being all about Jens.

Arsenal play Chelsea on Sunday, they've been something of a bogey side for us in recent years but with Drogba injured and Essien suspended I think they're really takeable.

Finally, the Foggy Notions XMas do it tonight headlined by Girl Talk. The secret special guest was announced today as being Final Fantasy (that was the worst kept secret in Irish music by the way). I'm not going to review it, assume that I enjoyed it.