Skip to content
Reviews

Jens Lekman Spoils Red Sox Fans

Still swooning over the Red Sox’s World Series victory, Beantownmusic fans welcomed Swedish songster Jens Lekman with open arms lastnight (Oct. 29) at the Paradise. With his colorful, witty personality,Lekman and his band composed chiefly of ladies, slid onstagecollectively clad in white robes, each with a red flower or design onthe shoulder. Bursting into a rousing set belted out with an array ofinstruments ranging from saxophone to strings, the honey-voiced Lekmanoffered songs from not only the recently released Night Falls Over Kortedala, but also the acclaimed collection Oh, You’re So Silent Jens, as well as debut LP When I Said I Wanted to be Your Dog.In response, the enthusiastic audience was energized — despite thesurely exhausting Red Sox celebration — for Lekman’s musical whirlwindof a set, dancing straight through from beginning to end.

Breathinga rare vigor and beauty, Lekman’s vocals brought new light toselections like “The Opposite to Hallelujah,” which seemed to leap outinto the ears and hearts of the entire crowd, which next swallowedwhole “Black Cab,” an energetic track showcasing rich, orchestralswells. Lekman’s frenzied rendition of “Friday Night at the Drive-InBingo” introduced swingy, ’50s pop, practically transporting theaudience back in time. Other highlights included “A Postcard to Nina,”where the songsmith’s quirky theatrics lead him to half speak, halfsing the lyrics, and the lonely “Pocketful of Money,” which Lekmanperformed solo to cap the set as the audience willingly filled in thetune’s missing finger snaps and harmony gaps. With a characteristicwarm smile and heartfelt wave, Lekman finally left the stage, while hisfans went home, now reveling in not only Boston’s new sports title, butalso the musical frosting on the cake.

We asked: Jens dedicated his latest album Night Falls Over Kortedala to his friend Lisa. If you could dedicate an album to someone, who would it be and why?