Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Peter, Bjorn & John and The Russian Futurists
The Spitz, 5 August 2006
The Russian Futurists have a good song out, Paul Simon, with a dirty happy horn-y hook and a sprinkling of, yep, Paul Simonish, You Can Call Me Al joy. But live, they’re a letdown. Doughy Canadians in hoodies, they look like half the cast of Emmerdale and talk like cocky, dimwitted teenaged boys. Between-song banter that includes, without tongue even in cheek, “this is our sensitive song, for all the ladies,” does them no favours. They’re a bit like Har Mar Superstar without the libido or the energy, and the songs sound like they could soundtrack a dodgy 80s Saturday night TV show if only they were a bit more professional, or even interesting. The best thing about these tunes is how quickly they stop.
Peter, Bjorn and John give a much happier gig experience. They’re tight and lively, singer Peter leaping and hopping about with nervy abandon, and bassist Bjorn grinning like a giddy bear, singing along because he wants to and he loves the songs (there’s no mic anywhere near him). The drummer (John!) gets to take some limelight, too: he provides the whistling that is the hook for standout song Young Folks (that’s also the current single – a duet, on record, with The Concretes’ Victoria Bergsman). They have a sweet open-heartedness and clever, catchy pop songs; simple rock’n’roll with layer upon layer of influence, from synthy funk to Motowny pop to plain old rock, all worn lightly and with their own brand-new style. Bugger Top of the Pops; if Ready, Steady, Go! were still on TV, Peter, Bjorn and John would be on it every week.
The Russian Futurists have a good song out, Paul Simon, with a dirty happy horn-y hook and a sprinkling of, yep, Paul Simonish, You Can Call Me Al joy. But live, they’re a letdown. Doughy Canadians in hoodies, they look like half the cast of Emmerdale and talk like cocky, dimwitted teenaged boys. Between-song banter that includes, without tongue even in cheek, “this is our sensitive song, for all the ladies,” does them no favours. They’re a bit like Har Mar Superstar without the libido or the energy, and the songs sound like they could soundtrack a dodgy 80s Saturday night TV show if only they were a bit more professional, or even interesting. The best thing about these tunes is how quickly they stop.
Peter, Bjorn and John give a much happier gig experience. They’re tight and lively, singer Peter leaping and hopping about with nervy abandon, and bassist Bjorn grinning like a giddy bear, singing along because he wants to and he loves the songs (there’s no mic anywhere near him). The drummer (John!) gets to take some limelight, too: he provides the whistling that is the hook for standout song Young Folks (that’s also the current single – a duet, on record, with The Concretes’ Victoria Bergsman). They have a sweet open-heartedness and clever, catchy pop songs; simple rock’n’roll with layer upon layer of influence, from synthy funk to Motowny pop to plain old rock, all worn lightly and with their own brand-new style. Bugger Top of the Pops; if Ready, Steady, Go! were still on TV, Peter, Bjorn and John would be on it every week.
