Rolf Jansson
Is it true that The Who will arrive at Nine PM?, a girl asked the usher at Idrottshuset. - What are you saying, he yelled. I have to remove my earplugs. It was a pop gala at Idrottshuset in Örebro. 1415 youths listened to 16 different bands for over seven hours. But the ushers did not appreciate the pop culture. They were all using earplugs.
Without earplugs I wouldn’t have made it, explained the sturdy usher. I have a headache anyway. The promoter of the gala was Club Nyckeln. Simultaneously with the gala at Idrottshuset, a twin gala was held in Nyköping.
The artists travelled between the provinces of Sörmland and Närke. Except one band that went into the ditch along the side of the road, amplifiers and all. For seven hours of pop, the kids had to fork out 15 Crowns. This may sound a bit too much, but it was nothing compared to the high volume of the bands. But, the life of a pop star is not always easy. There is something called amplifiers, and these does not enter the stage by themselves. That was the reason one could watch 80 pop idols with their sleeves folded up carrying instruments between sets. They were cheered on by the 1 415 entusiasts.
Suddenly, the hall was emptied of people. Everyone scrambled for the café. The reason for this was that The Who performing on TV. The lads from England, that are playing for as long as the instruments remain intact, which they usually doesn’t do for long as the drummer is hitting the skins in the right place. But an unfailing usher turned off the TV, and the kids returned to the hall.
The names of the various pop groups never ceases to surprise. Here, one was able to find both Beathooven, Deejays, Shakespeare, The Fools and Outsiders at the arena. And, of course, The Who. Which was the best band? Well, the verdict is still open.
The surprise of the evening was Ejdertjärn and his Boozies. Their outfits was hardly elegant, but the music sounded good.
Annabee-Nox is a band that has developed a very personal style. They joke and talks, which was loudly appreciated by the audience.
The flyers for the gala had promised a “great show”. But a giant gala such as this one must be well organized. This one wasn’t, but the schedule was severely delayed.
Also, the benches at Idrottshuset wasn’t exactly made for seven hours of sitting down, complained one kid.
Note
Translation by Jan Forsgren
