Hans Sidén
A rather substantial pop gala fairly free of sensations was presented yesterday at Cirkus. Occasionally the volume was incredibly loud, and some of the performers managed to completely hide all other aspects of their stage performances through the volume. One extenuating circumstance was that a bit of humour was allowed to slip through here and there. Judging from this, it may appear that pop music is growing up.
Beachers, a parody of Lenne and The Lee Kings made an efficient entrance and the funny The Overlanders made everyone happy in the hard and "serious-beat-churning. An unusually tidy and tranquil audience, at least during the first show, was quiet as well. Yet another reason to show surprise.
I found it difficult to see and hear any musical quality in the main attraction The Who. (But they had snazzy outfits, anyway)
Gentlemen Five kicked off the show, being followed shortly afterwards by the Donovan of the city Sam. Then Beachers made a dramatic entrance, i.e. the bass guitarist Juha Plunt came on in fur-clad trousers a la Sonny, while the vocalist-rhythm guitarist Tommy Christian appeared in nothing but his underwear. After adjusting their respective outfits, the Beachers performed, among others "Dang Me" and "Not Fade Away", and finished off their extraordinary set with each band member behind a drum kit.
Lenne & The Lee Kings was one of the most positive surprises of the evening. Their rather mean parody of Hepstars was spot on, as was the following Mick Jagger-performance. But even as "serious pop artists, Lenne and Co sounded great in numbers such as "Like A Rolling Stone".
Some bands sound better live than on record. Ola & The Janglers do not belong in this category. We were made aware of this yesterday. They are just as hopeless "in person" as in "No, no, no".
Shakers in a new set of suits played energetically, and performed a medley of Stones songs. Of the English guest artists, The Overlanders were the funniest. A humouristic gang that showed off in "Along Came Jones".
Finally The Who sounded terribly loud and terribly much. But how? And why. I, at least find it difficult to review the band's stage act, based on their appearance yesterday. In spite of attempts to twiddle with amplifiers and volume. In spite of the vocalist smashing his microphone against the cymbals. In spite of the solo guitarist pulling the strings of his guitar against the microphone stand in order to get a "sound". In spite of that!
But, it was a fairly decent pop gala. And nowadays, they are few and far between. Because of this it is especially grateful with a gala where everything works and also can present a couple of fair bands.
Note
Translation by Jan Forsgren
