We had a blast this weekend. My cold did actually disappear in time for the show on Friday. We arrived at the mansion in Växjö in the early afternoon. We immediately got served with pizza and beer and then we started loading in our gear. We turned on the amps and did what turned out as the shortest soundcheck we’ve ever done. The sound engineer really knew what he was doing and for the first time ever I didn’t ask for any changes in my monitor mix after the first song we tried out. So, we went back down to the boat house where we were to sleep after the party. And when I say boat house I actually mean house, cause it’s just as big as a regular house and holds a sauna and a jacuzzi overlooking the lake. We spent the rest of the afternoon in that sauna and jacuzzi, drinking beer and talking about everything and nothing and getting in the mood for rock n’ roll. The gig was actually one of the best we’ve done. The guests were in their best party mood, and the host, being as he is, a big Beatles fan, had a big grin on his face everytime I saw him on the dance floor. For the second half of our second set we were joined on stage by a guy called Ted Hector who played a Hammond B3, complete with a Lesley cabinet, and brought our show to a whole new level. That instrument never ceases to amaze me everytime I hear it!
We went home on Sunday morning, happy, hung over and with a wallet loaded with cash. Not too shabby! It’s nice to get a posh gig like this every once in a while when most others are nowhere near as smooth to realize. Too bad they are so few and far between…
When I got home and opened my inbox I was met by the tragic news that Will Owsley had passed away on Friday at age 44 in an apparent suicide. He has been a true inspiration for me since the release of his first solo album was released back in 1999. It seems so pointless. I rank that album (entitled Owsley) as one of the top ten albums in my collection, and definitely one of the very best powerpop albums to ever come out. He only released one more album in 2004 (The Hard Way), which, even though it isn’t as good as the first in my opinion, still was a solid and balanced record worthy of attention. I sure hope there’s a lot of unreleased material out there that will see the light of day eventually.
Today I did an acting job actually. My very first time. I was an extra in a scene they were shooting for a movie about the life of Cornelis Vreeswijk, starring Hank von Helvete of Turbonegro fame. The movie is directed by Amir Chamdin from Infinite Mass and I’m really looking forward to seeing it when it hits the theatres around the country. It was a fun time and I think I might do more of that if the opportunity arises. On the set I bumped into Mattias Areskog, (bassist of Friska Viljor), whom I hadn’t seen for a while. Small world, eh?
The day was rounded off with a Genuine Fakes rehearsal. The big gig on May 22 is approaching fast! I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a blast on so many levels.
On Wednesday I’m doing my first solo gig in almost exactly two years. I had one planned at the end of last summer, but it got cancelled at the last minute ’cause it was to be an outdoor gig and it was starting to get really cold in the evenings so the place decided to cut the season short and close up shop early. It was a shame ’cause it was bound to be a really good show. In any case, now I’m going to play at Southside Cavern here in Stockholm (where we played with The Genuine Fakes a couple of weeks ago), just me, a piano and an acoustic guitar. I’ll do five or six songs and there will be a couple of other acts playing acoustic sets also so I’m betting it’s going to be a pretty soft and cozy night. So, if you’re in the neighborhood – drop by for a beer wontcha!
59.332788
18.064488
Johan Bergqvist 