Capitalizing on the recent buzz within the indie rock community, Swedish band Mando Diao ushered in the 23rd installment of SpinHouse Live, presented by Newcastle Brown Ale. Touted as a special "acoustic" show at Spin HQ last night (May 15), their sweaty in-your-face presence was anything but. Team led by Gustaf Norén and Björn Dixgård, who were both barefoot, the feisty quintet wasted no time in powering through a mix of choice cuts from their third full-length, Ode to Ochrasy, and older faves.
A dynamic crowd of youthful hipsters, industry folk, and aging rockers bopped to show standouts such as the thunderous mosh-worthy rendition of "You Don't Understand Me" and the memorable toe-tapper "Long Before Rock'n'Roll." But in the end, raw emotion is what genuinely solidified the band's performance. Not even a busted A string during "Killer Kaczynski" could deter the manic Dixgård from unloading his inner demons; fittingly, they followed "Killer" with the delectable "God Knows." ELIE Z. PERLER / PHOTOS BY DAVE GUSTAV
>> Stay tuned to SPIN.com for streaming video from Mando Diao's set!
We asked: The band's latest release is called Ode to Ochrasy. If you had to write an ode, who or what would be the inspiration?
Name: Laree Ross
Age: 24
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Graphics
"Swedish rockers."
Name: Derek Diggs
Age: 26
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Occupation: Art director
"Manorexics."
Name: Ryan Rayhill
Age: 28
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Music industry
"Big Wheels."
Name: Josh Strawn
Age: 28
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Music industry
"A Grecian Urn."
Name: James Minor
Age: 30
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Music industry
"Theocracy."
Name: John Gagliano
Age: 26
Hometown: Floral Park, NY
Occupation: Artist
"Wayne Gretzky -- cheers to broomball helmets!"
Name: Angela Whitton
Age: 24
Hometown: Bristol, CT
Occupation: Music talent coordinator
"An ode to Mike Kinsella."
Name: Tricia Pelton
Age: 24
Hometown: Albany, NY
Occupation: Bartender
"Waffles."
Mando Diao, live from Spin HQ / Photo by Dave Gustav
Mando Diao's Björn Dixgård / Photo by Dave Gustav
The Swedes' ode is in full effect / Photo by Dave Gustav
Rock'n'roll is a 'lustful life' / Photo by Dave Gustav
