kent reviews
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Photo by Oskar Zander
It's been one year and seven month's since kent did their last gig and after a fantastic new album with a somewhat new and fresh sound my expectations
are high. As Camela takes the stage at 19.00 to perform with her guitar and special voice its hard to focus as my head is all set for kent. It's a nice
warm up for half an hour and at 19.50 the light's are shut down again and the growing intro start pumping on stage as kent walk out to meet the crowd.
The intro turns in to Taxmannen with a extra set of intro lyrics delivered by Jocke. It is a very convincing and revitalized kent on stage. The hard
pleasing Stockholm audience politely nodded their heads from the no brain opening of Taxmannen until the third song Du är ånga. After that kent went on an
overwhelming music spree that the audience just kept on embracing. New songs blended with revitalized oldies in a consictant and inspiring flow of energy
that sparked the audience in to a frenzy at a grand finale of falling fireworks. This is also the first night since about 1997 that kent DID NOT play 747 as
closing song of the first or second set. In a way this depicts the whole show this night, a very vital kent with a very smooth flow playing both new
and old songs in a fresh way but also a shift when it comes to the set list. Mannen i den vita hatten is still the ultimate finale with rose pedals
falling from the sky but the usual and sometimes slow nostalgic passages have been replaced by revitalized version of classics and newer hits. As usual there are
little bit's of new lyrics here and there. The loss of the hallmark classic 747 is compensated by a very fresh version of OWC. In a way this concert is a
breakingpoint, breaking old traditions but it's all for the good; the performance feels really fresh.
The friday concert got a some what slow start. The audience was a lot stiffer than thursday and
during some songs kent seemed to loose a bit of focus. The flow from thursday was not as smooth and the premiere
performance of Svarta Linjer feelt a bit weak. It wasn't until FF that the audience got really excited and kent
got the focus back. Six songs were different from thursday and it was great to hear Sjukhus. All in all a very nice
concert but It sometimes lacked the flow, focus and energy I saw thursday.
Saturday was a real treat. The audience was in a good mood and really energetic right from the start. Kent was very happy, relaxed and
confident and the flow through the songs was great! No dip in energy in the crowd or on stage. Sound and lights worked perfect and the too
long pauses and lights on the audience was all gone. It was all just a great big party with a very energetic kent and Joakim jumping around
on stage. Svarta Linjer works perfect this time and Saker man ser sets of a avalanche of nostalgia in the audience. From FF and on the
audience is on fire! Chans replacing Kärleken väntar in the ancore is also a really nice moment.
Sunday was a dream! One of the best kent gigs i have seen. The flow and energy on stage was perfect from the beginning to the end this evening. kent was really
relaxed and happy and the audience was great. We were treated with both Chans and during the encore Kevlarsjäl, one of kent's true classics. When
Mannen i den vita hatten reaches it's crescendo with Sami and Martin positioned on pillars on both sides of the stage and the red paper doves with printed album
lyrics once again shoot up in the air it is pure magic! What a show!
Actually kent seem better and stronger then ever right now. Both the new and old songs feels
really fresh, the old songs almost feels reborn. Four great gigs, all sold out, two of them fantastic even. Te only song I really missed was Ensamheten.
If you have the chance to see kent this year do it! You don't want to miss this!
Until the kentjunkie set list section is updated you will find set lists from the tour
here.
//kentjunkie.com |
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It's the last time for a long, long while we get the chance to see kent performe live in Sweden. A bit after 18.30 after hours of waiting I'm finally front
row at the safety fence. Markus Krunegård arrives around six to do his sound check. He has rushed from The Putte I Parken festival in Karlskoga where he
did a gig at 15.00 just to get to his old home town to warm up the crowd before kent takes the stage. Markus Krunegård and his band get on stage at 20.00
and it's a great gig with high energy and lots of nostalgic talk about Norrköping between the songs. The best moment for me during Markus gig is when he
sits down by the piano to do Samma nätter väntar alla, a fantastic and hypnotizing song. After playing about 70% of the fantastic album Markusevangeliet
(I've said it before; it might very well be the best Swedish album of 2008) Markus and his band takes a bow in front of the enthusiastic crowd.
Then a bit after 21.00 we finally get to hear the magic live intro to Stenbrott. As the black sheet of fabric that hides the stage falls to the ground a
happy and energetic kent are standing on stage. The energetic Stenbrott is followed by Max 500 that gets the enthusiastic fans in front of the stage
jumping. The sing along during Blåjeans is strong. All in all it's a very nice concert and the crowd closest to the stage is very enthusiastic, how ever
the concert never reaches the euphoric level I experienced in Eskilstuna a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it is because of the smaller audience compared to
other concerts during this tour or maybe it is because the setlist this night
doesn't revile any surprises compared to the rest of the tour. This nigh kent play 19 songs compared to 21 on the longest gigs during the tour. The crowd
is also only about half as big compared the crowd in Eskilstuna but it's still close to the maximum capacity at Lejongropen. As it is the last concert in
Sweden for a long while (kent will start working on new material) it is still a very special night and a very special concert. Lots of gifts are thrown on
stage during the show and the he band is in a happy and playful mood and they deliver a great show with high energy. Joakim and Martin comment handwritten signs in
the crowd between the songs and when Sami hits the wrong chord in one of the songs it is met with loving laughter.
It is a nostalgic evening and it is obvious that the band is as struck as the fans by the fact that this is the end of a long period of touring. It has
been the most concert intense period for kent since 2000. This night is a clear heartfelt goodbye to the crowd. The first set ends with a very emotional
747 and over 4000 people at the Lejongropen park are waving their arms in the air. It's magic.
The encore starts with Vinternoll2 and just as on the other previous concerts kent then play the unreleased song Håll ditt huvud högt. During the
Grande finale of Mannen I den vita hatten it is like every tune is delivered with an extra stroke of both sadness and love. It is a big moment. When
the confetti falls from the sky Joakim thanks the crowd and before leaving the stage jokingly says; "see you in 2035". And right there it was all over.
It was my last kent concert this tour. Kent went on to do a last gig at Ankkarock in Finland to close this tour but after that we won't meet again for a
long while. There were a lot of tears around me as the crowd scatterd. For me it really hasn't sunk in yet, that this was the last show for now, that it
will be quite for a long while. During the last 10 months we have been spoiled. We have been spoiled with more concerts than we could imagine. We have been
spoiled with great set lists. We have been spoiled with great shows. We have been spoiled… by the best band in the world. A big thank you for the last 10
months, It's been fantastic!
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Stenbrott
2. Max 500
3. Blåjeans
4. Socker
5. Saker man ser
6. Berlin
7. Ingenting
8. Vy från ett luftslott (Punks Jump Up Remix)
9. Kärleken väntar
10. Kevlarsjäl
11. Den döda vinkeln
12. LSD, någon?
13. Generation Ex
14. Om du var här
15. Dom andra
16. 747
encore:
17. VinterNoll2
18. Håll ditt huvud högt (new and unreleased)
19. Mannen i den vita hatten
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I arrive in Eskilstuna in the afternoon and as I stroll down Strömholmen I can see a big enclosed area with bar and restaurant tents in the green park
area on Strömholmen. The stage is in the far end of the area and some fans started lining up as early as Friday to get a spot in the front row of tonights
concerts. After a few hours of waiting I find my self front row as Håkan Hellström takes the stage. The weather is good, and he treats us with a great
concert. Every member of the band including Håkan are giving it all they got on stage and it really rubs of on the crowd. I can even see Joakim Berg
enjoying parts of the energizing show in the shadows backstage. After more than an hour of pure energy it all ends with a long and wonderful version of Det är
så jag säger det. I'm really impressed by the fantastic performance and joy I have just seen on stage.
A while after Håkan left the stage kent start playing the magic concert intro behind the black front drop. I get the chills as the intro
turns into Stenbrott and the black front drop falls to the ground and the audience explodes in a roar. It's obvious from the start; the band is more than
ready to hit Eskilstuna with maximum force and the audience is just as ready to get hit. Stenbrott is greeted with excitement and clapping hands and
Max 500 and Blåjeans get's the crowd going in an instance. The sing along comes natural and after Blåjeans another old classic, Ingen kommer att tro dig,
makes both the band and the audience explode. Joakim takes of his jacket and rolls up his sleeves as to show that he Is just getting started and there is
a lot more to come. A great version of Celsius is followed by a long explanation from Joakim who is extra talkative tonight. He gives us a story from the
beginning of the 90s about dry contact lenses as an introduction to the lyrical background of the next song; Kallt kaffe. The concert then rolls on like
a steam train giving us Berlin, Ingenting, the new catchy Vy från ett luftslott Remix (with the fan video playing on the backdrop video screen) and
Kärleken väntar. This all turns Strömsholmen into a big swaying kent-party.
Yet again we get to hear the amazingly beautiful Vi kan väl vänta tills imorgon followed by the always lovely Den döda vinkeln. LSD Någon? get's the
crowd rocking and Generation Ex is performed as a duet with the backdrop video screen. As kent then delivers Om du var här and Dom andra in that ferocious
way I just love its absolutely faboulus. Martin seems to be almost in a trance as he works the base in the speedy version of Dom andra. 747 is as
beautiful as ever with and Joakims microphone cam feeding surreal shots of his face together with shots of thousands of arms swaying in the air all
projected on the backdrop. It's extasy. God, I love this band.
When kent takes the stage for the encore Joakim say that they will play a song they haven't played for a long while, a song they played a lot touring in
the states before they recorded it in Denmark with lots of strings and extra effects almost covering up the basic song. He recently heard a semi acoustic
version they recorded for a dutch radio station where you really get to hear the song and so tonight they play it like that, semi acoustic; Beskyddaren.
It is clearly one of the most magic moments this evening! After this amazing performance the audience get's to vote what song the band will play next;
Utan dina andetag or Klåparen. Although Klåparen is on the original set list for the evening and the audience where I stand clearly scream most for
Klåparen (or both) kent end up playing Utan dina andetag. Although I personally rather would have heard Klåparen I can't complain, Utan dina andetag is
one of the most beautiful songs ever written and it's beautifully performed. After this it's time for the new and unreleased Håll ditt huvud högt,
dedicated to friends and loved ones.
Mannen i den vita hatten is as always the Grande finale and what a finale it is today! The energy is fantastic! Martin makes his way out on to the right
of the stage and then stands just about two meters from us playing his base as Joakim get's to the extra lines of lyrics and white confetti shoots up into
the air. When the tempo shifts again Martin climbs further out and onto the PA-system and sits down to greet the fans and take their hands. It's a great
moment. Joakim ends the song and as the confetti slowly falls to the ground the band thanks the audience. Joakim says "a million thanks, we love you" to
the crowd and then thanks Håkan Hellström and his band. He throws his wristband into the crowd and then the band leaves the stage. I'm exhausted after
standing in the front row for two full concerts but very happy as I leave the concert to head home. I'm slowly realizing that this was one of the best
kent shows I have seen. The continuous touring just makes kent better and better and I realise I just have to see them in Norrköping in August. I want
more!
Rockfoto have no photos from this concert unforunatey (thanks to Mica Wouda for letting me use her great photo above).
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Stenbrott
2. Max 500
3. Blåjeans
4. Ingen kommer att tro dig
5. Celsius
6. Kallt Kaffe
7. Berlin
8. Ingenting
9. Vy från ett luftslott (Punks Jump Up Remix)
10. Kärleken väntar
11. Vi kan väl vänta tills imorgon
12. Den döda vinkeln
13. LSD, någon?
14. Generation Ex
15. Om du var här
16. Dom andra
17. 747
encore:
18. Beskyddaren (half acoustic)
19. Utan dina andetag
20. Håll ditt huvud högt (new and unreleased)
21. Mannen i den vita hatten
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It is four months to the day since I saw kent in Eskilstuna and I make my way to Zinkensdamms IP. The clouds keeps away and Joakim Thåström warms up the
crowd with his semi acoustic versions of both new and old songs in one of his fist concerts for a very long time. As the sun starts setting kent takes the
stage behind a black piece of fabric. They start playing a fantastic and hypnotizing intro that turns into Stenbrott and then the black front drop hiding
the band from us drops to the ground as the audience gives up a roar. It’s a confident and relaxed kent that meets the audience in Stockholm this nice
June evening. Stenbrott is followed by Socker and Blåjeans with obligatory sing along. Blåjeans is introduced as one of the songs kent played at
Tantogården just behind the Zinkensdamm arena the night in 1994 when they first got signed by BMG. The Stockholm crowd containing both Thåström and kent
fans are somewhat hard to really get rocking but Joakim does his best to fire up the crowd. Max 500 gets good response and is followed by Celsius. The
hard core fan favourite and b-side Kallt kaffe is introduced as a song the band hasn’t played for a long while. Joakim tells the audience that it's
really a song about contact lenses.
After this lovely opening of some older and some rare songs kent play the first song from the latest album; Berlin. It get’s the crowd moving a bit and
although the concert is performed in a very confident and relaxed way I lack that extra bit of ferocious energy on stage that I saw in Eskilstuna this
fall. Ingenting, the remixed version of Vy från ett luftslott and Kärleken väntar get's parts of the crowd moving but for some reason the crowd doesn't
really let loose. Maybe its cause the audience partly consist of Thåström fans. Even though the crowd is a bit stiff it is still a very nice concert
with a warm and relaxed feeling on stage. My personal highlight this evening is the fantastic song Vi kan väl vänta tills imorgon. It was the song that
really got me to start listening to kent back in 1996 and I have been waiting a long time to hear it live. It is performed absolutely perfect. It's
followed by the always fantastic Den döda vinkeln that sets a very nice atmosphere. LSD, någon then lifts up the crow again when it reaches the tempo
shift. Generation Ex is performed with Camillas pre recorded part and her face in the background. It is followed by the combined Om du var här and Dom
andra up tempo version. 747 then was the perfect ending but sadly Joakims microphone didn't work during the first verse.
The standard version of Utan dina andetag (this night dedicated to Nille Perned) starts of the encore and it's as always performed wit a lot of emotion
and you can feel its affect on the audience. Kevlarsjäl keeps the loving mood going and Joakim the says that they will keep to the love theme by playing
a completely new and unreleased song thats is still in the making (!). He also says it is about a person that unfortunately is not present this night.
The song is called Håll ditt huvud högt and is a mellow song that reminds me of Nihilisten. After playing the song Joakim says that maybe this song will
be completed in the future. Joakim then spots a person in the crowd wearing a white hat. He says "I guess you know what's coming next" and asks what the
man in the hat is called, then dedicates the last song of the evening to him. As Joakim sings the extra lyrics in the last part of the song white
confetti shoots up in the air and the concert is complete. Joakim thank the audience for being fantastic and the concert is over. There is pretty much
nothing to complain about regarding the performance this evening and the set list is wonderful. How ever the audience was a bit stiff and I lack that
last bit of ferocious energy on stage. Maybe it's because parts of the crowd came to see Thåström and maybe it's because it's a big outdoor arena. I
still walk from Zinkensdamms IP with a warm feeling after a very nice night with lots of great moments.
Oskar Zander and Annika Berglund from Rockfoto
took some very nice photos during the show.
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Stenbrott
2. Socker
3. Blåjeans
4. Max 500
5. Celsius
6. Kallt Kaffe
7. Berlin
8. Ingenting
9. Vy från ett luftslott (Punks Jump Up Remix)
10. Kärleken väntar
11. Vi kan väl vänta tills imorgon
12. Den döda vinkeln
13. LSD, någon?
14. Generation Ex
15. Om du var här
16. Dom andra
17. 747
encore:
18. Utan dina andetag
19. Kevlarsjäl
20. Håll ditt huvud högt (new and unreleased)
21. Mannen i den vita hatten
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It’s been more than five and a half years since kent did a concert in their hometown and it is obvious that this is one of the biggest events in
Eskilstuna in a long time. The local paper has printed special front pages that are handed out stating “Eskilstuna loves kent” and when I get in to the
very small arena you can really feel the whole place simmering of anticipation among the 2 600 persons in the crowd. Usually kent are very punctual but
today the schedule is delayed a half hour. Maybe it’s because the audience in other cities has been arriving late to the arenas or maybe the band just
take their time to really warm up to meet the crowd. When the supporting act Familjen enters the stage the audience is more than ready. Familjen
acknowledges the fact that the audience is there for kent and nothing else but makes a very good effort in treating the audience with some new music and
warms them up a little bit more.
When kent goes on stage some time after 20.30 the audience is more than ready and they are greeted as kings. The band opens strong with the usual opening
song Vy från ett luftslott and the hard core fans in the front give up a roar. Kent takes a firm grip on their home town crowd right from the beginning
and when they start playing Max 500 everybody inside the small arena really comes alive. Kent then keeps delivering song after song in the most confident
way. It is obvious that they feed on the strong response from the audience.
Joakim tells us that it feels strange to play in the same place they all had their gym classes during their teens. After playing Socker, Revolt III and
Palace & Main Joakim tells a story from his teens as an introduction to the lyrics of the next song; Stoppa mig Juni (lilla ego). As this song has some
Eskilstuna references in the lyrics the crowd is overjoyed. It is the one song I really hoped to hear this evening and it’s a fantastic performance that
really transports me back in time.
Next song is probably the most beloved song from the new album, the epic Columbus and it is greeted accordingly. It is followed by LSD, Någon?, Romeo
återvänder ensam and Generation Ex, the same standard set up as the band did on the autumn tour but there’s a big difference; the constant touring the
last four months have resulted in a confidence making the performance of each song more or less flawless. After this the band play the very welcomed third
single from the previous album; Den döda vinkeln, a fantastic song that really works very well live with its acoustic intro and exploding climax.
Joakim explains that the next song is inspired by Raymond Carver’s novel Why don’ you dance? and this means that it’s time for the last section of the
first set: a real killer suite starting with the disco combo of Musik non stop, Kärleken väntar and Ingenting and then followed by spiced up, harder
and integrated versions of Om du var här and Dom andra. This fantastic five song extravaganza makes the audience go completely wild and it really is a
joy to see the band do classic hits in a new, fresh and extremely energetic way. During Dom andra the roof of Eskilstuna Sporthall is about to crack open
and its pure magic. The long and energetic outro on the speedy version of Dom andra makes the crowd explode and as the last tones cling out and the band
leaves the stage the audience immediately starts asking for more.
It doesn’t take long before the band takes the stage again but it takes a long while before Jocke gets a chance to talk without being drowned by the
cheers from the audience. He introduces the first song of the first encore as a song about the big eternal love, Utan dina andetag is then performed with
a massive sing along. It is followed by the energetic Berlin before kent ends the encore with the classic 747 drowning the stage in red lights before
giving us a spectacular show of green laser beams. It’s a very emotional performance and the whole arena wave their hands as Joakim thanks the audience
and leave the stage as the rest of the band finish the magic outro.
The audience roars for another encore and when the band enters the stage for the third time this evening Jocke presents their long time concert keyboard
player Andreas Bovin who dressed in black tail suit take over the microphone, points at his girlfriend in the audience and asks her to marry him! The
crowd cheers and kent ends the concert with the mighty Mannen I den vita hatten. As Jocke sings the final extra lyrics golden confetti shoots up in the
air making the crowd scream even more in a crescendo that is already in a climax. This puts an end to one of the most confident and flawless concerts I
have seen the band do. Some of us wished for an extra treat like a special guest or some kind of extra Eskilstuna related song as it was the first gig in
Eskilstuna in more than five years but it really doesn’t matter; kent gave their hometown crowd a fantastic show with fantastic energy and loads of
emotion and they received tons of love in return. Simply put: a fantastic concert!
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Vy från ett luftslott
2. Max 500
3. Socker
4. Revolt III
5. Palace & Main
6. Stoppa mig juni (lilla ego)
7. Columbus
8. LSD, någon?
9. Romeo återvänder ensam
10. Generation Ex
11. Den döda vinkeln
12. Musik non stop
13. Kärleken väntar
14. Ingenting
15. Om du var här
16. Dom andra
encore 1:
17. Utan dina andetag
18. Berlin
19. 747
encore 2:
20. Mannen i den vita hatten (16 år senare)
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I originally planned to see the concert 18th of November as well but unfortunately I was not able to. Some people say it was the best of the four Stockholm
concerts thanks to the audience, a relaxed kent and the
setlist.
Unfortunately I missed Innan allting tar slut, it would have been a new song on this tour for me and it always bugs me to miss out on a kent gig. On the
other had I was fortunate enough to get a photo pass to this nights concert. I got to the venue a bit before 20.00 and was let in to the pit in front
of the stage. Me and Oskar from
rockfoto.nu
was the only persons taking photos this evening and we were allowed to take photos during the first three songs of the concert. The band opened up
strong as they have done during the shows in Stockholm I have seen. The three first songs were the three standard opening songs on this tour: Vy från ett
luftslott, Berlin and Max 500. There are a lot of backlights during the first songs so as a novice concert photographer I really struggled trying to get
some nice photos that captured the show in a representative way. You will find my photos from the gig in the new
kentjunkie.com concert gallery.
I put my camera bag in the wardrobe before finding a nice generous spot on the floor in the audience at the front section a few metes from stage. I get back
just in time for Columbus, performed with lots of emotion as usual. Just as on the Saturday concert next song was Saker man ser and this glimpse of Isola
was clearly appreciated by the audience. Joakim presents the new concert guitarist Max Brandt to the audience as a close to 40 non golfer and lets him open
Revolt III. The raw energy of this song gets the crowd going and it continues with Pojken med hålet i handen. It’s a happy and relaxed kent we get to see
today and you can really see the joy up there when the band plays Kevlarsjäl (for the second time during this tour). Joakim who is more chatty than usual
comments Kevlarjäl as being “a very beautiful little song” and gets a big cheer from the audience as a receipt.
LSD, någon? and Romeo återvänder ensam turns the heat up again and gets the crowd jumping. It's a very nice mood at the arena today, playful with a lot
of love between the band and the audience. The three song disco combo of Musik non stop, Kärleken väntar and Ingenting is up next and is greeted with
singing and dancing. As Joakim announces the “last” song of the evening he is met by a resolute “NO” by the crowd ad it’s easy to see the smile on his face. Ensammast
I Sverige is performed in a relaxed way and Joakim seems pretty satisfied with the audience sing-long in the end. The audience does not have to wait long
for the first encore. Elefanter is greeted as a favourite but Vinternoll2 generate even more cheers and gets the crowd jumping again. Not very strange as
its a fantastic performance of the song we are served tonight. Joakim introduces 747 as “the song about aeroplanes” and the always beautiful and longed-for
signature song starts of with Markus delicate use of the drum brushes. After the beautiful 747 outro the band is called back for the last encore and as
they take the stage the applause and cheering is deafening. Joakim says “you know what song we have left to play” and then the eager audience is treated
with Mannen I den vita hatten. The standard closing songs is delivered with great energy and passion as usual and both than band and the audience has
smiles on their faces when the band leaves the stage. A relaxed, warm and loving end to the four days of concerts in Stockholm.
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Vy från ett luftslott
2. Berlin
3. Max 500
4. Kungen är död
5. Columbus
6. Saker man ser
7. Revolt III
8. Pojken med hålet i handen
9. Kevlarsjäl
10. LSD, någon?
11. Romeo återvänder ensam
12. Generation ex
13. Musik non stop
14. Kärleken väntar
15. Ingenting
16. Ensammast i Sverige
encore 1:
17. Elefanter
18. Vinternoll2
19. 747
encore 2:
20. Mannen i den vita hatten (16 år senare)
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Just like every concert on this tour kent opens with Vy från ett luftslott followed by Berlin and Max 500. It's a clearly more relaxed kent facing the
audience this night compared to the night before. The set list differs quite a lot from the day before and it feels more like a gig for the die hard fans
than the broader audience. Kungen är död is replaced by 400 slag and En timme en minut is replaced by Saker man ser. The later is a song that gets
recognition in the broader part of the audience but as Pojken med hålet i handen and Gravitation is changed into 10 minuter (för mig själv) and Ansgar &
Evelyn the concert turns into a feast for the hard core fans rather than a night for the casual kent fan. It's a performance of high class for any fan who
have waited months for this night but maybe kent looses the contact with the less initiated fans during this part of the gig.
The crowd situated right in front of the stage is more than happy during the following songs. The not so initiated crowds how ever don't get their mojo
working until the crowd pleasing three song cocktail consisting of Musik non stop, Kärleken väntar and Ingenting is presented. The impressive laser show
lifts the show even further and during Ensammast i Sverige Jocke really manages to get the sing along in the crowd work. I'ts clear that the audience is
just as eager to please as the band. There is actually people still singing the outro of the previous song as the band takes the stage for the first
encore; Elefanter. The popular treat from last night, Nihilisten, is then traded for another b-side; Vinternoll2. I'ts clearly appriciated by the fans and
the energy sticks well into the cresendo of the classic 747. It is a strong moment but nowhere near the fantastic performance from last night.
After a second brief paus the band takes the stage for the obligatory closing song: Mannen i den vita hatten, this night delivered without confetti but
still placed as a crown on the audience head as they join Joakim in the fatal lyrics. All in all a flawless concert with some new and nice treats but a
bit short of the electric intensity displayed last night. In no way a concert less performed but a concert performed in a different key. The two things
making this cocert stand out is the two songs presented by demand of the hard core fans: 400 slag and Ansgar & Evelyn. This tour is a success but clearly
ment to please the hardcore fans rather than the broad audience. If any band in Sweden can pull that stunt of it's kent. Novmber 17th at Annexet was great
but it didn´t leave me breathless like the gig last night.
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Vy från ett luftslott
2. Berlin
3. Max 500
4. 400 slag
5. Columbus
6. Saker man ser
7. Revolt III
8. 10 minuter
9. Ansgar & Evelyn
10. LSD, någon?
11. Romeo återvänder ensam
12. Generation ex
13. Musik non stop
14. Kärleken väntar
15. Ingenting
16. Ensammast i Sverige
encore 1:
17. Elefanter
18. Vinternoll2
19. 747
encore 2:
20. Mannen i den vita hatten (16 år senare)
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| |
I arrive at the Stockholm Globe Arena Wing venue about 17.40 and join the line of about 300 people of which some has been standing in line since the day
before to get a spot right in front of the stage. At 18.30 people are let inside and by the time I get in to the venue the floor in front of the stage is
already filled with kent fans full of expectation. At around 20.00 the stage is filled with smoke and red light and kent enters the stage accompanied by the cheering
audience. The atmosphere is electric and it actually gives me the chills already right then and there and I get the feeling that this concert will be
something special. Just like in Helsinki kent opens with Vy från ett luftslott but the slightly nervous and cautious impression that I got of the band
in Helsinki is no where to be found: kent owns the stage from the very first second. The band delivers the first four songs in a very confident way and
the audience starts to jump already during Berlin. The Globen Annexet venue gives the lighting more justice than at Kulttuuritalo and the blue spotlights
during the next songs makes a fabulous display. As the Bam Bam sample in the Kungen är död outro comes to an end Jocke presents the next song as “a song
about this city and a drunken walk home in the snow”. As kent starts playing Columbus snowflake like confetti slowly start falling in front of the stage.
This song has become one of the fans favourites from the new album ad it’s greeted with joy from the crowd.
Joakim takes a moment to look around the room and discovers the balcony; “Oh theres people standing there as well! And up there is my Mum and Dad!”. The
crowd cheers and then the band present an old favourite: En timme en minut. The song is a success with lots of sing-along going on in the crowd although
it’s not quiet as long as the album version. Still, it’s a treat. Next up is Revolt III and just like in Helsinki its hard to decide what to give most
attention; the fascinating video on the big screen behind the band showing people in convulsions or Jocke encouraging the crowd to jump and clap their
hands. Anyhow the song is preformed just as frantic as at the tour premiere and it is followed by a crowd pleasing performance of Pojken med hålet i
handen causing even more sing-along. Jocke presents the next song as “a song about love”. Gravitation is rolled out accompanied by lasers making a grid
In the air above the crowd (a clear reference to the
Gravitation
single cover).
Next up is LSD, någon? and the part where the song changes character is like an explosion in the crowd making people jump and scream. Romeo återvänder
ensam gets the same warm welcome from the crowd as at Kulttuuritalo, it’s a great album track turned into a killer song when performed live. During
Generation Ex (performed as a duet with Camela pre-recorded on the big screen) something makes Andreas Bouvin’s keyboard sound out of tune. This is the
only flaw I ever hear during the whole show and it kind of makes the song limp. After this kent launch their 3 song disco cocktail: Musik non stop,
Kärleken väntar and Ingenting. Sure there is jumping and dancing during the two first classic songs but Ingenting makes the crowd explode! It takes a
while for the audience to settle down before Jocke announces the last song for the evening (met by a big NOOOO from the crowd) and starts playing the
intro to Ensammast I Sverige. It makes a nice round off and the efforts to get the audience to sing-along in the outro as the band leaves the stage pays
off better in Stockholm than in Helsinki.
It doesn’t take many minutes before Markus Mustonen eagerly jumps on stage as the first of the guys for an encore. When the band is back on stage
Elefanter is delivered before Joakim presents the among hard core fans very anticipated Nihilisten, a b-side from the Palace & Main single. It’s
performed with lot’s of sing-along in the hard core crowd. This is topped by one of the most mighty delivery’s of 747 I have ever seen kent do and it
makes the crowd go wild! Absolutely fantastic! Kent leaves the stage as the applause continues. Soon enough the band steps on to the stage for a second
encore welcomed by a avalanche of applause and screams for the Grande finale: Mannen I den vita hatten. It is still ecstacy as usual when Joakim sing the
extra lyrics and golden confetti shots up in the air but in my opinion 747 was the true Grande final this evening. As the confetti slowly sinks to the
floor Jocke greets the audience by saying “You have been absolutely wonderful tonight, thank you very much” before the band leaves the stage for the last
time this evening.
The truth is YOU were wonderful tonight guys! Simply amazing!
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Vy från ett luftslott
2. Berlin
3. Max 500
4. Kungen är död
5. Columbus
6. En timme en minut
7. Revolt III
8. Pojken med hålet i handen
9. Gravitation
10. LSD, någon?
11. Romeo återvänder ensam
12. Generation ex
13. Musik non stop
14. Kärleken väntar
15. Ingenting
16. Ensammast i Sverige
encore 1:
17. Elefanter
18. Nihilisten
19. 747
encore 2:
20. Mannen i den vita hatten (16 år senare)
|
| |
A small Finnish flag is sitting on top of Markus Mustonens drum set and I guess the reason they choose to place their tour premiere in Helsinki this time
it is because half the band has their roots in Finland. As the band enters the stage at Alvar Aalto’s House of Culture they are accompanied by warm
applause from the 1700 people in the audience. A giant screen filling the back of the stage is showing projections of a sun and the stage is filled with
red light and smoke as the band starts the show with Vy från ett luftslott. It feels great to see the band in this intimate venue and the stage with its
sound and light system is impressive, but the band seem slightly distracted at first . Next song is the heavy Berlin and we get to see more animations on
the giant screen. The band is clearly fully charged but maybe the fact that it's the tour premier makes them slightly nervous and during the first two
songs it feels like something is missing. They are not immediately unified into the juggernaut that hit the small audience at the launch party gig in
Copenhagen October 4th.
Joakim greets the audience and as the band continues the show with Max 500 the crowd yells out their recognition. When I hear the loop from Sister Nancy's
Bam Bam kicking off as intro to Kungen är död I start to get the feeling I had in Copenhagen one month ago. As the song ends the crowd is clearly enjoying
the show. Joakim really gives it all he’s got in the next song: the amazingly beautiful new ballad Columbus. Suddenly you can really feel the band coming
together. It's like they found the right track and it's a very confident kent that play’s yet another song from Hagnesta Hill; the always fantastic
Berg&Dalvana. The show continues with a frantic Revolt III accompanied by video sequences of men having rabid seizures. At this point the intensity is
magnificent and this is exactly the attitude I was expecting; kent is like a well-oiled machine running straight over you. The crowd is really starting
to move and the hard core fans right in front of the stage is now jumping. Revolt III is quickly followed by another hard core fan favourite from the
band’s debut album; Pojken med hålet i handen. This makes the crowd closest to the stage jump even more.
Joakim encourage the couples in the audience to hold hands as the band delivers the dark ballad Gravitation in front of a sea of spectators slowly swaying
in the twinkle from cigarette lighters. As the song comes to an end Joakim just say the word “Drugs” in the microphone as an introduction to the next
song; LSD, någon? The song works fantastic live with the tempo change half way through. It is followed by another song with changes in tempo; Romeo
återvänder ensam. This song is performed in a impressing and vivid way. For the next song a video of Camela Leierth shows up on the giant screen and it
looks like she is filmed through a night vision lens. Her recorded backing vocals works excellent together with Joakims live performance in Generation ex.
It feels like kent has a tight grip around the audience by now and this is when they start moving in for the kill; Music non stop kicks off with a new
electro sounding intro and gets the crowd jumping. It is followed by Kärleken väntar and a sea of hands in the air before playing Ingenting. It's clearly
a more guitar based version compared to the studio version and sometimes the keyboards almost drown but that doesn't matter to the excited audience,
Kultuuritalo is rocking! After this Joakim somehow manages to get the audience in the small venue completely silent as he proclaims the last song for the
evening; Ensammast i Sverige. Again Joakim puts his soul in every word of this sad, beautiful ballad and in the end he encourages the audience to sing the
choir in the outro as the band leaves the stage.
It's almost like the audience is taken by surprise that the show is over and the clapping and cheering soon turns into demands for an encore. The band
gets back on stage and plays the opening track from the new album, Elefanter, followed by a gift to the hardcore fans; the Palace & Main b-side Nihilisten.
After this it's time for kent’s most classic closing song: 747. It is delivered in the most fantastic way and after ending the song with the lyric's
(translated) “You’re keeping us alive, we’re keeping you alive” Joakim says “You’re absolutely wonderful, we love you. Really!”. It's clear the feelings
are mutual as the applause, whistling, stomping and screaming knows no limits. As kent takes the stage for a second encore it sounds like the audience is
going to blow the roof of the small concert hall. Joakim introduces Max Brandt (the new rhythm guitarist used on this tour) to the audience and then he
starts playing Mannen i den vita hatten, the new standard closing song. Putting Mannen i den vita hatten directly after 747 in the set list creates
a finale of monster proportions. As Joakim sings some of the alternative extra lyrics, golden confetti shoots up in the air and rains over the cheering
crowd. This is the absolute crescendo and the audience is completely wild. The band leaves the stage for the third time escorted by roaring applause and
then, as the last bit of confetti touches the floor, the concert hall is lit up and it’s all over.
A fantastic concert, a fantastic setlist and kent as I prefer them; tight, fresh and hungry. I can't wait to see them take on the Swedish audience. As I leave
Kulttuuritalo I feel very pleased wih the concert as seem most of the audience. I have only some minor details on my wish list for the rest of the tour: crank up
the volume on Bovins keyboards, let us hear when Sömnen turns into Vy från ett luftslott live, bring Goran Kajfes on stage and let us hear Våga vara rädd.
What ever happens this is likely to become a fantastic kent tour!
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Vy från ett luftslott
2. Berlin
3. Max 500
4. Kungen är död
5. Columbus
6. Berg&Dalvana
7. Revolt III
8. Pojken med hålet i handen
9. Gravitation
10. LSD, någon?
11. Romeo återvänder ensam
12. Generation ex
13. Musik non stop
14. Kärleken väntar
15. Ingenting
16. Ensammast i Sverige
encore 1:
17. Elefanter
18. Nihilisten
19. 747
encore 2:
20. Mannen i den vita hatten (16 år senare)
|
review; kent Tillbaka till samtiden launch party Pumpehuset Copenhagen, October 4th 2007 |
Thursday October 4th kent arranged a launch party in Copenhagen, Denmark. About 350 friends, journalists and people from the music industry together with
a few lucky fans gathered in the small concert venue Pumpehuset for an evening with kent. Per Lindholm of Sony BMG presented the gold disc for Ingenting
to Jon Schumann before letting the audience listen to the new album Tillbaka till samtiden. We got to hear the album from the beginning to the end and
new arty pictures of leaves, trees and buldings was projected on the wall to accompany the music. What we got to hear was a new kent. Yet again they have
reinvented them self but this time they have taken a bigger leap than ever before. And the result? Well, take kent as you know them, ad an equal amount
of a new modern kent coached by Jon Schumann then blend it all together with the bands favourite electro hits from the 80's and 90's. Top it with a twist
of modern dance and club vibes and you got “Tillbaka till samtiden”.
The album opens with the amazingly beautiful “Elefanter” and a massive load of the
new sound followed by an emotional sneak peak into a relationship undergoing disintegration in “Berlin”. The third track is the very catchy and danceable
first single “Ingenting”, perhaps one of the most dance floor friendly hits the band has ever produced. The fourth track; “Vid din sida” is a bit mantra
like with its unison chorus and it is followed by the Vangelis like and epic “Columbus”. “Sömnen” is the name of the fifth song and it’s a very low key song
swept in a very dreamy veil. “Vy från ett luftslott” is a rhythmic club hit you would expect to hear in a lounge at kent's Isola. “Våga vara rädd” quickly
catches on with its synthetic trumpet loop. It is followed by a chameleon like composition called “LSD, någon?” a track that changes its character at
least three times. Generation Ex with its female backing vocals feels like a piece sprung from Vapen & Ammunition all dressed up in the electro suit.
The last track of the album is a naked but driven melancholic song with an electronic heartbeat. As always with kent, when you are through the first
listening the only feeling that is the same is the feeling of the unexpected. The new album might give you some flashbacks but most of all it is
surprising and exiting. Its new, its fresh and its kent.
|
After a while kent themselves takes the stage and like starving tigers they deliver an energetic and flawless mini-concert. The band feels vital and
loaded with confidence and they give it all they got. The band delivers the first three songs of the new album; Elefanter, Berlin and Ingenting in a
furious tempo hitting the audience like bulldozers. Martin looks like he wants to go out into the audience with his bass guitar, Jocke climbs the monitors to
get even closer to the audience while Sami plays his guitar like it was a whip and its all accompanied with Markus methodical and heavy drums. Max Brandt,
an old friend from Eskilstuna, fills Harri Mänty’s old place on stage and as always Andreas Bovin plays keyboard. Some of the electronic sounds are
replaced by guitars in the live versions of the three songs but the most striking thing is the energy in the performance. The gig ends with a
hard and heavy version of the old Hagnesta Hill track Kungen är död. As the song comes to an end it is hard to tell if it's the audience or the band
that are most sad over the fact that it's already over. The short gig however gives a taste of what is to come this fall when kent goes on their Nordic tour. If kent
are as energetic and confident then as they were at Pumpehuset it is going to be a fabulous fall!
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Elefanter
2. Berlin
3. Ingenting
4. Kungen är död
|
review; kent live on Norwegian Wood at Frognerbadet in Oslo, Norway June 18th 2006 |
About one hour after Mew has walked of the stage at Frognerbadet in Oslo kent enters it to play the last gig of the evening at the Norwegian Wood Festival.
Unlike the gig at the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden the night before the band enters the much smaller stage in more casual clothing allthough Jocke wears
an eyecatching bright red retro uniform jacket. Its obvious that the band enters the stage with a totally different attitude than last night; from the
first song its perfectly clear that its a much tighter and more explosive kent than we saw in Hultsfred. The more solemn atmosphere from last night is
gone and its a more confident and more energetic kent that hits Oslo. The smaller arena and its setting with a much smaller audience than the night before
results in a fantastic contact between the band and the audience. Vi mot världen is a perfect start and it feels powerful and vibrant. Vintenoll2 raises
the energy in the audience yet a notch and when the boys starts playing Max 500 it is welcomed as a classic by an enthusiastic audience. Jocke sings some
alternative lines of lyrics in Den döda vinkeln and then the tempo is lowered quite a bit with Chans and Romeo återvänder ensam, however the audience is
clearly enjoying the melancholy of Jockes lyrics. Pärlor then causes the audience to jump with joy before again setteling down to the finetuned Ansgar &
Evelyn. Maybe the setlist is a bit too varied when it comes to tempo but it really doesnt matter to the audience at Frognerbadet. |
When Musik Non Stop is rolled out the party really gets going and practically the whole audience is waving
their hands in the air. Apart from the Go-Betweens cover and Vintervila from last night the setlist is identical with the setlist at Hultsfred however
the experience is totally different. The feeling is much more "here and now" compared to the more nostalgic mood that was set at Hultsfred. Allthough
there are lots of swedes and other nationalities in the audience its clear that this is kent playing for the norwegian audience and the crowds response
is fantastic! There is singing, dancing, jumping and hands in the air as kent delivers song after song in a very confident way. In between two songs
Jocke proclaims Norway their second home and there is now doubt in the mind of the norwegian audience that it is the truth. The spirit is constantly
high during Om du var här, Palace & Main and Blåjeans. |
Allthough it's a smaller setting and a smaller audience some songs feel even bigger at Frognerbadet
than at Hultsfred. 747 ends the set in a magic way and the audience is loudly screaming for more. Norwegian Wood turns into a huge disco when kent
again enters the stage for an encore and mangles out a fantastic version of Kärleken Väntar together with the audience. After the more subtle Dom
som försvann kent puts the finnishing touch to a great concert with a vital and beautiful performance of Mannen i den vita hatten. As the confetti
shoots up in the air and Jocke chants out the words in the crescendo of the song the audience is ecstatic. Just like the rest of the crowd I leave
Frognerbadet with a big smile on my face. The trip to Oslo was well worth the effort. This is the kent I do anything to see!
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Vi mot världen
2. Vinternoll2
3. Max 500
4. Den döda vinkeln
5. Chans
6. Romeo återvänder ensam
7. Pärlor
8. Ansgar & Evelyne
9. Musik non stop
10. Om du var här
11. Palace & Main
12. Blåjeans
13. 747 |
Encores:
14. Kärleken väntar
15. Dom som försvann
16. Mannen i den vita hatten (16 år senare) |
review; kent live on Hultsfred Festival June 17th 2006 |
During the 15th to 17th of June 2006 the small town of Hultsfred in the south of Sweden yet again turned into swedens biggest music festival. The weather
was amazing with constant sunshine and high temperatures. A very strong lineup made all 30 000 festival tickets sell out and kent was booked to do their
only gig in Sweden during 2006 on the Festival. It was also the fifth time the band was booked for Hultsfred.
The day before the gig kent
played Rockfest Haugesund in Norway as the first of three exclusive gigs for the summer of 2006 and on the afternoon on the 17th of June the band
arrived at the backstage area in a black helicopter with the kent logo painted in gold on the side. Later that evening, a bit after the announced
starting time, kent enters Hultsfred´s biggest stage; Hawaii. They are all dressed in more or less formal black clothes as to welcome the audience
to their long awaited summer party. Joakim Berg wears a tuxedo with a bright red/pinkish west underneath, almost making him look like a bullfighter.
The black mascara under his eyes makes him look very serious but its obvious he is very happy to meet his swedish fans for the first time in a year. |
The band opens with the song Vi mot världen from The Hjärta och Smärta EP followed by the frantic
Vinternoll2 and the 2005 No 1 single Max 500. Older songs are then mixed with songs from the 2005 album Du & Jag döden and during the song Chans
Jocke looses himself in the lyrics as he is watching his audience form a sea of hands and flags in front of him. Maybe its not among the best
performances the band has presented. Sometimes it's a bit untight, Jockes voice is not at its best and he sometimes looses a word here or there but
it's all due to the fact that its the bands second gig in about a year.
The band sometimes feels a bit cautious and insecure but it is
very hard to ignore the feeling of joy on stage and the flow of love between the band and its fans. Tight or not kent gives its fans a treat as they
pay their resepect to the deceased Go-Betweens singer Grant McLennan by playing a cover of the Go-Between song Quiet Heart. Its a rare occassion as
kent hasn't played a cover since the 90's when they used to cover Depche Modes Stripped at their concerts. |
A continuous mix of old and new songs follows and for the hardcore fans the party reaches its crescendo
as the band welcomes their manager and former guitarist Martin Roos on stage to do the song Vintervila in its original version from the time when the
band was called Havsänglar. This is by far the most magic moment of the evening for any true kent fan and its followed by the singalong flirt Blåjeans
and the previous standard closing act 747.
As the hypnotic outro of 747 fades the audience starts demanding an encore. After a while their
demands are answered by a energetic version of Kärleken Väntar. Although Joakim mixes up the lyrics the energy is making the crowd jump and sing along.
Jocke then demands help with the chorus for next song and karaoke style lyrics for the chorus of Dom som försvann is shown on the big screens. A choir
of kids in black hoods and baseball bats in their hands are brought on stage to do the choirs with the audience. They are looking just as Clockwork
Orange-like as the kids in the video but the envisioned mass karaoke never really lifts. It really doesnt matter though as the crowd explodes in
joy and gladly sings along in the grande finale; Mannen i den vita hatten. The song has quickly reached status as a masterpiece and Jocke delivers
some brand new closing lines of lyrics to the ecstatic fans as the black confetti rains from the sky. This is what its all about and you can really feel
the energy and all the feelings in the air.
As the song comes to its end it also marks the end of the concert. When the band leaves the stage
to unwind before the gig in Oslo the day after their fans are allready debating the highs and lows of this big and exclusive concert, cause thats what
it was; big and exclusive.
//kentjunkie.com |
Set list:
1. Vi mot världen
2. Vinternoll2
3. Max 500
4. Den döda vinkeln
5. Chans
6. Romeo återvänder ensam
7. Pärlor
8. Quiet heart
9. Ansgar & Evelyne
10. Musik non stop
11. Om du var här
12. Palace & Main
13. Vintervila
14. Blåjeans
15. 747 |
Encores:
16. Kärleken väntar
17. Dom som försvann
18. Mannen i den vita hatten (16 år senare) |
