48 Hours of Ace

Getting back on track

2010-01-10T14:52:00.003-06:00

Will be finishing up the last posts on this blog in the next few months. Finally!

Tiny Töreboda

2009-08-23T01:24:00.054-05:00

We feeling a little hungry, so we strike out to find some grub. We see a grocery store adjacent to the stage. The store is called ICA. We decide it's as good a place as any to get some chow. We're walking through the aisles trying to find something tasty for breakfast when I happen upon something that makes me giggle with glee.

I can't resist this. I have to to get it. It's just too good to pass up.

Manna.

Yes, that's right. Here in tiny Töreboda at the local ICA I find Manna. So, that's what I pick.

Manna. For breakfast. From, uh, ICA.

As we're waiting to check out, we take a peek at the day's headlines:

Everyone picks up a copy of GT and we head back outside.

We find a park bench and dig into our breakfast. I pop the lid open on the Risifrutti concoction and think to myself "what is it?", which coincidentally, is exactly what the Hebrews said when they found the stuff in the desert. I finish off just one, seeing as how buying and saving a second one would have been too much. And it would have spoiled before the next day anyway...

And strangely enough, we spend the next hour or so wandering around in the desert-like heat. The sun finds us wherever we go. It's hot, Sinai hot.

We stop at the concert headquarters to trade our tickets for our yellow bracelets. The radio is playing All That She Wants when we step inside. One of the guys asks us where we're from and he seems oddly impressed when we tell him where we live. He says he likes Ace of Base and thinks they're cool.

Quick! Someone grab some cold water in case I faint! A native Swede just admitted he liked Ace of Base. He thinks they're cool. Somebody call GT! They're not going to believe this! All joking aside, it's nice to hear someone from Sweden say they like the band too. It's not that unusual actually. There are several Swedish Acers, so it's not statistically impossible. It's just improbable.

We pick a small grassy area far back from the stage and get some rest. I fall into a deep sleep. Jessi wakes me up after about an hour and I am thankful for that because she sees I'm not in the shade anymore and could cook myself red if I don't scoot back into the shade.

View from our shady spot.

We get bored and decide to wander around a bit. We hit up ICA again for some lunch and head back to our shady spot. We discuss Jenny's plans for a solo album over lunch.

Afterwards, we head back to the car to refill our water bottles and freshen up a bit. I stop by a store to get more airtime for my phone. We're about to head back to our grassy oasis when Jessi remembers she left her camera in the car. That's a mighty important piece of equipment, so we sit on a park bench while she runs back for it.

Anja and I hang out in the meantime. We're watching people and traffic rush by us near the train depot. Nothing out of the ordinary. We see a large white bus pass in front of us. Someone waves at us from the front seat of the bus. That's a little odd, considering we don't know anybody in this town. We both take a second look as the bus turns a corner, then we realize we do recognize someone on that bus. It's Jenny. I shake my head in disbelief. First because she recognizes us. Second because she's waving so enthusiasically. And third because this town really is so small.

Jessi arrives back with her camera and we tell her about Jenny waiving from the bus. She already knows about it though. The bus passed her when she was heading back and Jenny waved at her too. I spend a few minutes sending this amusing little anecdote to Twitter while Anja and Jessi lightheartedly snicker at me for doing so.

Onward to Töreboda

2009-08-22T22:48:00.139-05:00

We arrive at Landvetter around 8 am. It takes about 20 minutes to get our luggage and walk out to the rental car place. We get to the counter and find our reservation is in the system and our car is ready to pick up. Finally something that makes sense.

Anja and I will take turns driving and we've picked out an Altea as our car of choice. Anja is used to driving small cars and I'm used to driving bigger cars, so this one was a sort of compromise between us.

Picture from topspeed.com

We leave the rental counter and Jessi suddenly stops. Something isn't right. She doesn't hear a clicking sound. She looks at me and says "I think you left your luggage behind." And, of course, she's right. I left it at the rental counter, so I sheepishly slink back in to retrieve it. This doesn't bode well for my driving.

Even with that silly mistake, Anja and Jessi trust me enough to take the wheel first. They hand over the keys and I unlock our grey Altea. We all buckle up as I adjust the seat and mirrors. I slowly pull the car out of the tight parking space, careful not to bump the cars parked just behind us. It's a tight squeeze in a small space, but I manage. These aren't Texas-sized parking spaces.

Jessi sits in the passenger seat with directions, telling me where to go. We should get to Töreboda around 11 am.

I'm honestly a little nervous about driving in Europe. I understand most of the signs and the speed limit doesn't have to be converted, since both the car and the signs run in kilometers. I'm just a little weary about those unwritten rules.

I quickly become more comfortable and fall in love with the drive from the airport to the main road. It has a lot of nifty twists and curves, all nestled between large granite outcroppings on either side. I look at these winding roads and think to myself, I'd love to take a motorcycle trip out here!

From wikipedia.org

A little while later, I look in my mirror and see a police officer driving in the lane beside us. The road signs direct me to the lane where the officer is. Small beads of sweat break out on my forehead. I'm trying to do everything right. Signal. Get enough space between us and him. Slide over. Say thank you.

After I get in the proper lane, I try to find a speed limit sign but I don't see one anywhere. "What's the speed limit? What if I'm speeding? Are Swedish cops as lenient as those back home? Can I speed a little bit over the limit without a problem?"

All my silent fears are for naught because the officer doesn't even give us a second glance. We take the highway from a roundabout and the officer takes an exit a little further down the way.

I become more comfortable with every passing minute. Jessi decides to find a decent radio station but doesn't come up with any. We're driving between cities and the stations are fading in and out. So she pops in a CD by Big Ben, aka Benjamin Gross. Jessi works together with him on his music projects. We listen and jam along to the music to pass the time.

The plan is for me to drive as Anja gets some rest. Then, when I feel tired, Anja will drive while I rest. The plan works perfectly. I drive for about an hour, then we switch. Even though we've been up for quite some time, it's not difficult to stay awake while driving. The trip goes smoothly and Anja pulls the Altea into Töreboda sometime around 11:00 in the morning.

We park the car on a side street and walk into town, which takes about five minutes. Approximately 4,000 people live in town. Around 9,000 live in the surrounding municipality. It's not hard to find the main stage where AOB will play later in the evening. It's the biggest structure in town.

After the Sundsvall concert

2009-08-22T21:19:00.045-05:00

The crowd slowly disburses and we scramble to the left hand side of the stage. The entire stage is blocked off by massive metal gates and is watched over by several guards.

We arrive at the left gate and can see the band leaving the stage. The guards are eyeing us and quickly tell us to back up. We try to convince them not to shoo us away but they don't want to hear it. We see Jenny and Jakob exit the stage. They see us and wave, but the guards push us away and make us leave the area.

Original photo from st.se

We walk away mildly disappointed, yet we still have hope. We spend the next half hour chatting about the concert; the best parts of each song, the best moments, what footage we got. We sit there waiting for some signal from the band. Maybe they'll come out to greet us. Maybe Jenny will send a text to Jessi's phone because Jessi gave her the number before the concert. We wait patiently.

Twenty more minutes pass by and nothing. We still wait patiently. Jerry Williams is up on stage singing country rock. I'm actually enjoying the atmosphere. It's a beautiful night. I just heard an AOB concert and could possibly meet the band. I dance away to the music, as do a few others in the crowd.

Anna tries to convince the guards to let us backstage but it doesn't work. Thirty minutes, forty minutes pass by. We're thinking this probably isn't going to happen. We spot Susanna and Linnéa in a window to the right hand side of the stage. The building directly behind the stage, Stadshuset, is being used to house the artists. The band obviously has a room there and they're using it to relax after the concert.

Photo from stadshusetsundsvall.se

Screenshot from www.aceofbase.pl

Anna keeps asking the guards to let us go in the back, or even give the band a message. She tries everything she knows. It doesn't work. The guards don't pay attention to anything she says. This frustrates her to no end.

More time passes. We see AOB in the windows. We're pretty sure they see us. It's not so difficult to spot us in the crowd. We're standing off to the side with cameras in hand, looking up at them. Jonas sits reading a newspaper. Jenny looks out at the crowd every now and then, wine glass in hand. We see Ulf walking back and forth between windows. We even get more glimpses of Anna, Susanna, Linnéa and Jakob. I even think I see Rickard Engfors up there.

Anna finally gets fed up after waiting for a few hours. She and Andi go home, as do David and his friend. Jessi, Anja and I sit around a little longer, giving up only after we see the band pack up and the lights go out.

We spend the rest of the evening talking about the history of AOB, about the good times and bad times. We talk about our disappointment over not meeting the band when we thought the interview would happen that night. We try to rationalize out the reasons why it didn't happen.

Jessi and I discuss our experiences of Swedish culture, society and cultural expectations. We wonder why so many people here make promises and then don't follow up. We have both encountered this phenomenon during our time working and studying in the country.

We also talk about acquaintances versus friends in Sweden. How it's easy to talk with someone, yet it's near impossible to have deeper friendships. We spend a good amount of time talking about living abroad, about German culture, about American culture and the comparisons to Swedish culture.

We also talk about Sundsvall, what we liked, what we didn't. The evening passes, becoming progressively colder. Darkness never really descends though. It's more of a dusky look and it lasts only a few hours, then the sun is back up again.

Five in the morning and it's finally time to go to the airport. We grab a taxi with a crazy driver who thinks he belongs in a Formula 1 race. When we get to the airport, we discover it isn't open yet. It doesn't open for another hour.

Picture from of lfv.se

It's really cold outside and nothing makes sense to us. Ace of Base, the Swedes, Sundsvall. We vent our frustrations by making jokes. Jokes about ourselves, our lack of sleep, our situation as fans.. We're tired, cold and ready to get out of Sundsvall.

This trip has suddenly become a roller coaster ride. From a concert high to a promise-breaking low in only a few hours, something only an Acer can fully grasp.

Jessi, Anja, and I decide right then to re-define the word Sundsvall. Since arriving, nothing had really made much sense to us. The direction of the band, the transportation difficulties in the city, the cold reception from people, the band's reaction after the concert. The expensive and crazy taxi ride. The locked and deserted airport an hour before our flight. Nothing is logical. So the name of the city itself becomes a word for something that doesn't make sense, something that is utterly illogical.

One woman finally opens the airport doors for us at 6 am, then she disappears into a back office. We're the only ones in the entire airport. We begin to wonder if we're even in the right place. No one is there at the ticket counters. No one is at the coffee shop. No one but three tired Acers waiting to leave this place. The soles of our shoes echo off the tile flooring with each step until we find a few seats to collapse into. It's all so Sundsvall.

A few people slowly trickle into the airport. A woman finally appears at a ticket counter and takes our bags. Security personnel show up. A few more passengers arrive too. We go through security, which takes all of three minutes and are ushered out to our plane sitting on the tarmac. We've bought our tickets from Skyways but the plane is a loaner from a Scottish airline called ScotAirways. Even the crew is Scottish and they welcome us in English as we board.

The plane is incredibly small. It's a turboprop charter plane. I note the name of the plane, a Dornier 328, because my brother is interested in all things aviation and I'm expected to give a full report upon my return home.

I plop down in my seat and it's the last thing I remember until we touch down in Gothenburg barely an hour later. I've managed to sleep the entire way and I'm grateful for it. I've now had 1 hour of sleep in 26 hours and I'll need that little boost to help with driving to Töreboda.

The Sign @ Gatufesten

2009-08-22T14:29:00.037-05:00

The big projection screen pops on, the first few beats sound, and the crowd understands that the encore is nothing less than The Sign. Jonas walks back to his keyboard, which still has the little car toy on it. The blue lights and smoke appear once again.

Anna, Susanna and Linnéa run back onstage to sing the first few lines. They encourage us to sing along. Ulf joins them and points the mic toward the crowd.

Jenny arrives onstage once again and steps onto the lower platform as she sings her first lines, adding more vocal flourishes to the song.

She walks toward Jonas, nearly tripping on part of the stage as she steps up to meet him. She uses him to break her fall but manages to keep singing, laughing through some of the vocals. Jakob is grinning and Jonas just shrugs it off.

Jenny gets back to center stage, pointing to everyone in the crowd as she sings the stars line. Shen then asks us to sing along and we do just that, "Oooohh ooohh ooohh oooh oooh! Is enough, enough?"

Ulf and Jenny sing together, then Jonas and Jenny sing a line together. Jenny adds a few vocal pieces here and there throughout the instrumental before the bridge begins.

We're told "Everyone, sing along!" No problem. "I SAW THE SIGN!" We dance to the beat and sing as loudly as possible as the song lyrics fly by on the projection screen.

The three ladies join Jenny at the front. Ulf joins them as well and waives his hands in the air along with Jenny, getting the crowd involved once again. Jonas also joins their effort to get the crowd into it. It works and a large portion of the people are swaying their hands to the beat.

The song nears the end and they finish up their last lines. They stand and recieve recognition from the crowd. We whistle, clap, cheer, yell, scream, stamp our feet - make whatever noise we can to let them know we appreciate the performance. The three band members stand and smile.

The crowd is still cheering as Jenny begins to sing the final, slower TS vocals. This point signals the end of the concert and I think to myself, "It's over already? It just started!"

But then, I realize this concert is one of three. "I get to do this two more times!", I think to myself and laugh. I feel extremely thankful to be able to take part in experiences like this.

The band members triumphantly raise their hands as the last notes fade. They motion to Linnéa, Susanna, Anna and Jakob to come to the front and receive the credit they are due for a great performance. Ulf says something, which no one can hear because we're all screaming too loudly to hear anything. Everyone takes a bow twice then they all exit offstage.

Jenny gives a final wave as they all disappear offstage.

Beautiful Life! @ Gatufesten

2009-08-16T20:33:00.019-05:00

Jenny challenges everyone to put their hands up in the air for this, the last song of the evening.

Jonas and Jakob play those first few telltale notes from the song and the place turns into a madhouse when the audience recognizes what song they are being treated to.

People are screaming and jumping up and down, hands are waving in the air, everyone is singing along, smoke curls into the first few rows, the projector is flashing new pictures every few seconds, and Jenny and Ulf are running all over the stage.

It's an overload on the senses, a trip to chaos land. But it's a good overload and a good chaos. It's the chaos that means you don't have to care about how silly you look as you clap your hands and join the chorus. It's not about being proper, it's about enjoying the moment. That's the good chaos. And everyone seems to be caught up in it.

Jenny steps down a level to a secondary stage as she sings. The crowd joins in with her and it's hard to hear what she's singing at first. She sits down right in front of us again. Cool.

Someone from the crowd throws a stuffed toy onto the stage as Jenny stands back up. It looks like a toy from the Cars movie. She picks it up, waves it around and finally places it on Jonas' keyboard.

Ulf and Jenny walk across the stage with their "push and pull" routine, harking back to WOF at the beginning of the concert. They meet in the middle of the stage where Jenny leans on Ulf like he's a chair.

And just like WOF, I don't know who to focus on. I need more cameras! Ulf and Jenny are moving, jumping, and pacing back and forth so quickly. I would need at least four or even five cameras to get it all. I want to film everything even though it's just not possible.

I hear the the sound of the strings from the synths just before the "different ways" lyrics. I admire the contrast contained in that sound. The violin sound is both moving and haunting. It's the music you'd hear in a silent film when something bittersweet happens. The sound fits the song perfectly.

All three Aces finally meet up and walk to the front of the stage together. I give a silent little cheer because it means I can now focus on all three at the same time. Only one camera needed.

(At this point, I make a mistake only a fan can really regret. I push stop instead of zoom-in and my BL Sundsvall recording stops. So, sadly, that is where the video ends.)

The music starts to slow and the song nears the end, or so the audience believes. We know better. The three walk to the back of the stage. Everyone hollers and whoops, riding on a high from the energy the performance has created. The crowd thinks it's over. The chaos begins to subside and the crowd begins to slowly calm down as Jakob plays a fairy-tale like melody to end BL. The band has another plan in mind, however. They begin to walk toward the front of the stage. Jenny asks "are you with us?" and suddenly the crazy chaos that is BL starts all over again.

The crowd jumps back into a frenzy, crazier than they were before. We all sing along a second time, happy that it's not over just yet. We clap, sing, cheer and bask in the happiness of the moment.

Jonas, Jenny and Ulf stand together one last time at the front of the stage and thank the audience for coming out. The band and backing singers exit the stage, and before they've even left, the crowd is cheering for more.

It doesn't take long until Jakob runs back out on stage. He looks at the crowd and puts his hand to his ear. We yell but it's not enough. He shakes his head no then runs to the right side of the stage, putting his hand to his ear again. We yell even louder but we still get a negative head shake. He stands in the middle of the stage and tries it a third time. We yell with everything we've got and he finally shakes his head yes. A good way to charge up the crowd for one last song.

He takes his place behind the keyboard and the intro music to the encore begins.

ATSW @ Gatufesten

2009-08-16T18:04:00.030-05:00

"You may know this next song" Ulf says...

As those first few bars play, an even bigger smile breaks across my face and the faces of countless others. The crowd whistles in recognition and begins clapping to the rhythm with Ulf's lead. The smoke machine is again in overdrive as a cloud forms behind Ulf, threatening to engulf him.

All the Acers start chanting, "Ace! Ace! Ace!" and some others in the crowd chant with us too. People all around us are whipping out cell phones to record the moment.

Jenny tells everyone to join in but I think they already had that idea before she said anything.

Jenny sings and jams with Ulf for a little bit. She walks over and visits with Jonas too. The three meet up on stage and sing together for a brief moment. Then everyone meets at the back for a jam and dance session, gathering around Jakob while he plays a skillful rendition of the bridge.

It's time for a sing along with the crowd. The three of them take turns asking the audience to sing too.

It's Jonas' turn and he chooses to point the mic in our direction. We thoroughly enjoy the gesture and our thanks is shown by singing as boldy and as loudly as possible.

"One more time!!" Ulf shouts out. His energy is unstoppable. He runs the length of the stage holding out the microphone to the audience. Jonas and Jenny seem to get a kick out of his antics and the fans like it too!

The band meets at the back of the stage. The lights dim and they turn into silhouettes for a few moments. Jonas sings his portion in a husky voice. Ulf stands with his back to the crowd.

As Jonas finishes up, Jenny begins her climb to the top of her vocal range. She starts out normal then climbs higher and higher until you think she's hit the top of what she's capable of. But no, it's not over yet, she still has one more note to hit. She hits it and holds it and the crowd cheers their approval. And we cheer the most!

All of us watching are now a part of the show. We've invested in the music, in the lyrics and we've become a part of the act by singing and clapping along. It means we're all revved up and ready for the next song, so Ace of Base jumps right into it.

They pull out the crowd pleaser, the big guns, the pièce de résistance ...

Cruel Summer @ Gatufesten

2009-08-16T16:01:00.029-05:00

Two back-to-back songs from Flowers give this part of the concert a light and laid-back feel.

The crowd is still bouncing around, still chanting together. It reminds me of student night at Night of the Proms where each section tries to out-chant the next section. Ulf asks us if we're enjoying the concert. Yes! Are you having fun, he wants to know. Of course!

Jenny makes a comment about having almost no clothes left, referring to the quick wardrobe change in the beginning before the song began. It seems Rickard Engfors designed the clothes to look good and be practical at the same time. Easy to like, easy to change.

Jenny says a few things to the crowd while everyone moves into their usual places on the stage. Jonas on the left. Ulf on the right. Jakob and Linnéa in the far back. Anna and Susanna just behind Jenny.

Jenny stands at the back of the stage but is a little late getting to the front. As a result, she misses the first few lines and starts the song with "I sit around". She gives a knowing look and a grin and keeps singing along.

I notice there is a "curtain" effect on the projection screen as the song gets underway. A blue electronic curtain backdrop moves out to show a background of pink stars during the song. It reminds me a little bit of the music video with the red curtains. I also notice how many different colors are used to light the stage during the song.

The CS music sounds a little different this time compared to other concerts I have heard online. I can't exactly place what's different, though I think it may be Jonas' guitar part that has changed. It has a sharper sound to it than before.

As for audience reaction, the same is happening here as it did in Copenhagen. The crowd in CPH used the song to passively listen and chat with friends. There wasn't as much response there and the same thing is happening in Sundsvall.

And it's here the camera starts giving me a little trouble. The picture is becoming choppy and the sound is wavering. I think about trying to fix it somehow, then decide it may be due to outside factors I can't control. So I let it go and hope it fixes itself.

Ulf and Linnéa sing together in the back near the projection screen with the pink stars lighting up their area of the stage. It looks like the DTA background but in a different color.

The Acers are singing and dancing as I point the camera at them. I forget to zoom out and as a result, Anna and Andi get a nice close up. Anna is jumping up and down, thorougly enjoying the song. David and Jessi smile big for the camera, while Anja sings along with the band.

Back on stage, Jenny adds a little jazzy vocal kick near the end of the song, and smiles at the audience as the last notes fade out. Then each band member carries their respective mic stands off the stage to set up for the next song.

The audience gives a courtesy clap for this playful little filler. The Acers know what song is next in the line-up, though the audience is clueless, and we're sure they'll be more than pleased when they find out which song it is...

LIAF @ Gatufest

2009-08-08T12:57:00.053-05:00

The audience is worked up after LL. They're chanting "Ace of Base, Ace of Base"! The energy from LL is definitely carrying over to LIAF.

The band takes a little time between LL and LIAF to introduce each other to the audience. Jenny asks everyone to say hi to Ulf once, twice, then a third time. She asks them to say hi to Jonas next. Ulf gets the crowd to say hi to Jenny. The crowd is a little off on their greetings, not really all together.

You hear some people in the background chanting as Jenny asks Jonas about his guitar. She's going to talk about Jonas being the main songwriter and how she's proud of him, how the song was written on his guitar, etc. But the energy in the crowd is bubbling over and they're not really focused on what she's saying, so she cuts it short and goes straight to the music.

You can't hear the first couple of lines because the crowd is still drowning her out with their noise. Once the crowd hears what the next song is, they get wise and tone down the decibel level.

Ulf spends this song standing at his keyboard and computer station. Anna and Susanna are with Jonas and Jenny at the front.

Jonas stands and sings. Anna and Susanna stand and clap. Jenny's running back and forth across the stage from left to right then back again. After walking back from the right hand side, she stops and sings in front of David, Jessi, and Anja.

Jenny seems to be having fun with this song. As I watch her cross the stage again and again, I wonder how difficult it is to sing and run around like that. Regardless of the difficulty, she makes it look easy. She's getting the crowd involved and looks genuinely happy on stage.

LIAF is another song you just can't help but sing along with. Everyone joins in. It sweeps you along and before you know it, you're singing with every ounce of yourself. It has the same effect on this Sundsvall crowd.

Jenny starts waving one hand back and forth and the majority of everyone watching follows her lead.

As I watch everyone swaying their hands and singing along, I'm excited. Excited that these people are truly enjoying the band. I know how much enjoyment I've experienced when listening to AOB all these years, now these people are here doing the same.

Their yells of appreciation nearly drown out the final few lines of the song. And I think I actually feel my heart skip a beat.

LL @ Sundsvall

2009-08-08T11:07:00.059-05:00

After the emotional DTA, we come to the always peppy, upbeat Lucky Love.

Ulf chats up the crowd a bit, talking about the performance at Ullevi, then introduces the song. People in the crowd yell stuff at that point. I laugh when I hear someone say "Let's go Joker!" in Swedish. When was the last time I heard someone use the nickname Joker? Must have been 10 years ago.

The tour guys are out on stage bringing in Jonas' guitar and two seats for the others. Jonas is still trying to communicate something to them.

Jenny and Ulf take their respective seats at the front of the stage while Jonas stands with guitar in hand. Ulf is talking to the crowd as Jenny taps his arm and pulls on his seat. The seat is too far away, so she signals for him to scoot to the right. He scoots then she scoots her chair too. Good thing because it helps get everyone into the view of the camera.

Ulf begins clapping to the beat and Jenny follows suit. The crowd gets the hint and starts clapping too. The band begins to sing and the backdrop fills with falling hearts.

Since the focus is at the front of the stage, you don't see much of Jakob, Anna, Susanna or Linnéa. You can hear them though and they a layer of richness to the performance.

Jenny and Ulf laugh as they sing the "falling like leaves" line while mimicking a falling leaf with their hands.

Lucky Love was a #1 in Sweden and it shows because more of the crowd is singing along than on previous songs. They seem to be enjoying it. As I swing the camera around for another crowd check, you can see somebody give the peace sign as the camera rotates. Cute.

And, of course, I have to get a little Acer check in there. Anna, Andi,David, Jessi and Anja are all to the right of me. I take a quick spin to the right to see how they're doing. Andi and Anna give a quick hello to the camera, while David and Jessi are focused on the stage and singing along. Anja is on the other side outside of camera view.

The stage is dark compared to the outside light. It's about 10:30 or so at night, but it's still light outside since it's Summer. The stage crew didn't add many lights for the LL performance, and you can tell. The band member's faces become just a shadow until the beams roll back around again.

We throw out an Acer screech during the bridge. Ulf looks our way and gives a little grin.

The music drops out and everyone in the front side of the crowd sings along with the chorus.. "Lucky love, lucky looooovee". I love it! It reminds me of singing State of Independence during NOTP. The feeling of standing together singing the same song in one voice is incredibly invigorating. Never thought I'd be in a crowd of Swedes singing an Ace of Base song together! But it was happening!

Jakob brings in the backing music again with a flourish of the keys, while Ulf asks the audience to sing along even more and we happily oblige.

LL could easily appeared on the Flowers album. It fits that pattern of bubbly, yet poignant pop music. And it's perfect for a bright summer night like this!

Getting there

2009-07-30T07:54:00.007-05:00

I've been itching to post another video and concert description for a few days now. I've have a lot to do in the real world, so I haven't had a chance to post here. I hope to make another post and upload another video tomorrow or Saturday. Just thought I'd let you all know I haven't stopped posting videos and descriptions. After all, I still have the rest of Gatufesten, all of Törebodafestivalen, all of Stadsfesten and the interview with Jenny to talk about. Yikes!

Gatufest's Don't Turn Around

2009-07-24T21:11:00.042-05:00

Jenny has introduced DTA via her speech and she's ready to stand and sing for the crowd. She readjusts her earpieces as Jakob plays the opening sequence. Someone cranks the smoke machine wide open for for this one, creating an eerie afterglow as the stuff slides through the blue and green concert lighting.

Ulf and Jenny share the front stage for DTA. You don't see too much of Jonas and Jakob in the background during the song. I don't even see the backing vocalists anywhere. They're tucked away in the back, providing a few supporting vocals here and there.

I turn the camera on the big screen a few times to get some good close-ups. My camera is not behaving very well with the close-up view on this song, so I grab a few bits of footage from the screen.

The front row fans enjoy it when Ulf takes his place on stage. He gets a big applause and flashes a quick grin after hearing all the commotion created by his entrance. He sits, sways and sings along with Jenny.

If NGSIS is all about movement, DTA is all about stillness. Everyone on stage stands in one general area during the entire performance. They walk a little, move a litte, but it's not the craziness of NGSIS.

DTA is calm, contemplative, and emotional. The performance is on a different level. More serious, less silly. Even Ulf's normally supercharged energy is contained during this one.

The crowd seems to know the lyrics pretty well. It's not as well known as TS or ATSW, but the crowd still knows it nonetheless. They may be expecting the reggae version, but they are enjoying this version too. They sing along with the chorus every time it rolls around. Personally, I like this version better than the original. It's more mature, more thoughtful.

Both Ulf and Jenny don't hesitate to let their feelings show during the song, which can't be easy to do in front of total strangers. They bear their true emotions in front of everyone and the performance is enhanced through their willingness to give everything they have to the song.

As Jenny sings the last few words, I realize this version of DTA is cathartic in nature. The song is like a good drama. We identify with the characters, travel along the path with them, and find closure at the end. The last few notes of the song evoke the most emotion, the same feeling you get after finishing a dramatic book or intense movie. It brings you to a deeper place than you were before it all began.

Jenny's speech in Sundsvall.. almost halfway through.

2009-07-24T20:30:00.021-05:00

We're now up to Jenny's speech before DTA. We usually hear this part in English during the concerts, and it's almost the same speech each time. This time, she's working in her native language, so we hear a bit more extemporaneous speaking than previous go-arounds.

She says hello to everyone and thanks them for being there in Sundsvaaaaaal. She says the Swedish summers are wonderful but the people there that evening are even better. They're unbelievably great.

The crowd loves the buttering up, of course, and they scream their approval.

She wants to mention something that's a little bit more serious. She tells the crowd the next song is actually a dedication to her father and Jonas' father, who died 10 years ago. She says it feels as if he's waiting just around the corner for her, for Jonas, for the family. He gave her a poem when she was a little girl. Back then, she dreamed about being on stage with a big dress on. She shows off the dress and the crowds cheers.

After she mentions the dress, she points to Rickard Engfors and tells the crowd that he's the one who made the dress, then she says he'll probably have to hide now that she's mentioned him.

She turns the subject back to her father and says there are many heroes in life, as her father was for her. Then she goes into the poem. She mentions the man who wrote the poem, Harry Martinson, then she recites the poem.

My very liberal translation of the poem:

If you have two bits of change, buy a piece of bread and a flower.
The bread is for you to eat and the flower is there because life is worth living.

Jenny reiterates the last line, "and life is worth living, especially on a night like tonight". She stops to applaud with the crowd.

Then I have a difficult time hearing exactly what she's saying (from about 2:57 on in the video). She says something about love... then she tells us the next song is coming up.

NGSIS @ Gatufest

2009-07-20T21:47:00.028-05:00

The band quickly sets up for the next number in the background. Ulf talks to the crowd while they make those minor adjustments. He mentions the fact that this concert is the first Swedish one in 15 years, the last time being during Princess Victoria's 20th birthday.

Some drunken people in the crowd shout something I can't quite hear. I imagine they're not shouting good things. I think Ulf says something about these 3 concerts being the end of their one and a half year world tour, although I'm not entirely sure that's what he says. It's a little hard to hear over the crowd shouts. He thanks the crowd and introduces the next song.

As the song starts up and Jenny begins to sing, Jonas has some sort of technical issue. He's trying to communicate with one of the guys in the tour crew with hand signals. I think it's a guy named Ola who comes out to help. I'm not entirely sure what Jonas is trying to say but Ola runs off to the side to fix whatever is wrong.

Jenny's standing on the left side of the stage with an extremly large industrial looking flashlight at the start of the song. She's shining it in her face for dramatic effect. It's better than the gloves of Vina Del Mar at least. (The effect isn't too noticeable right now, although it's much more noticable when it's dark, as you'll see in Töreboda.)

Jenny and the two dancers/backing singers, Anna and Susanna strut their stuff in the choreographed portion of the song. Sundsvall is Susanna's home city, so I suspect she has a lot of friends there watching her performance.

Jenny walks over to Jonas' keyboard and takes a little breather as Anna and Susanna finish their routine. Jenny stays there, leaning against the keyboard and finishes up this portion of her vocals. Ola walks back onto the stage and brings out a guitar, then moves a microphone back to the side of the stage.

Everyone meets up at the back portion of the stage. Jenny, Anna, and Susanna walk from the back aisle to the front of the stage once again to resume their choreography. We cheer on the performance. Jonas and Jakob play together at the back of the stage while Jenny sings the vocals with emphasis.

Ulf stands at the right hand side drumming up a storm. Bengan steps out for a few seconds to adjust the keyboard, as Ulf continues his four minutes worth of drumming.

Jenny adds some vocal flourishes while jamming with Jonas on the left hand side of the stage. She returns to the middle of the stage and drops down on her knees right in front of us. We naturally think this is cool, so we let her know what we think by screaming, like silly fans do.

I wonder if some of the NGSIS background isn't extra footage from the BL video. It almost seems that way with all the movement, cars and roadway featured in the backdrop.

As Jenny returns to the chorus after the bridge, we all belt out the chorus right along with her. We sing it as if it's our theme song for life. We feel the words and we mean them! Jenny exits the stage to prepare for the next song and the rest of the crew take over.

Jakob is now playing Jonas' guitar while Jonas stands in the back with a microphone, ready to introduce everyone. Anna and Susanna take their place up front as they receive their introduction and show the crowd some dance moves.

Linnéa is introduced next and her singing is subdued for now. She sings strong but doesn't belt it out. Not yet. Jakob is introduced and gets a hardy cheer from the Acer section.

Jakob and Linnéa duel it out onstage between her vocals and his guitar. She throws out her strong and steady vocals while he hits back with some mad guitar skills of his own. They then join together as the vocals and guitar parts blend into one part.

Jakob hams it up by hitting the stage floor, playing for the crowd on his knees. I'm impressed with his skills and enjoy his stage antics. Linnéa gets some recognition of her own as we acknowledge her powerful vocals with a nice, long whoop.

NGSIS always feels like a party atmosphere to me. It reminds me of the end of the French CS video where everyone is dancing and singing, enjoying the fun. That's what this part of the concert feels like to me. A block party.

We thoroughly enjoy the performance, the rest of the crowd gives a customary clap, and the AOB crew hurries offstage to prepare for the next song on the setlist.

Living in Danger @ Gatufest

2009-07-18T17:16:00.010-05:00

After WOF09, Ulf says hello to the crowd... "We're in the capital of Norrland, the biggest, best, most fantastic... " The crowd loves it and gives a scream. He asks them if they are the best and, of course, they agree. He mentions being from GBG and thanks the crowd for coming out on "this fantastic evening".

He says the next song was the seventh single from their first album. He talks about performing it live in 1994 for the first time. He tells the crowd the song's title, Living in Danger, and seems almost out of breath as he says it.

Jakob plays some of the LID background music as Ulf speaks to the crowd. The stage crew is also working during his speech. They bring a guitar to Jonas and reset both Jonas and Jenny's mics to the proper places on the stage.

The song starts slowly, as Jenny and Jonas begin singing their lines. Ulf comes out with his bullhorn and begins his part.

I decide to take some crowd shots to see how the audience is doing back there. People are watching but not yet reacting to the song.

I am able to pan around to the big screen to see what it looks like from the perspective of people who are not as close to the stage.

The lighting is more muted for this song than the previous two. The lights have a blue, white and purple hue. The lighting slowly changes to red, yellow and orange with a little white mixed in as the fire backdrop plays.

My video camera picks up the performance but doesn't pick up on the band member's faces as well as in previous songs. The bass contains even more buzz in this clip and the drunk guy is again waiving his arm front of my camera.

Jakob is adding little flourishes to the music as the song moves along. I enjoy the fact that he adds new little twists to the song during each performance.

Ulf joins Jakob at his keyboard while Jonas and Jenny take their customary twirl and talk. Again, I wonder what Jonas is saying to her. I guess it changes for every performance. Sometimes she smiles, while other times she nearly cracks up laughing after he say something to her.

Ulf is bouncing away as he holds the bullhorn high while delivering his vocal lines. He gets more and more into it as the song goes on.

The band stands still for this song, staying near the front of the stage during the entire performance. No running or jumping like WOF09. They stick close together and sing the lyrics without any complicated vocals. Clear and clean.

The trio walks to the center of the stage for the back to back line-up. Again, a photographer is there to capture the moment for the morning papers.

The festival camera crew shows this shot from a side angle, providing a second perspective.

I stand there appreciating the extra lyrics added to the song. The song is no longer just a cold warning about people around you. It's also about seeing the humanity in others and seeing the needs of people around you. It's a more compassionate song with those extra lyrics.

I make another audience check at the end of it all. The front row is happy with the performance, although the crowd further back isn't as into it. They're more content to sit and listen than to interact. The square is nearly filled with people at this point.

WOF09 @ Gatufest

2009-07-18T14:57:00.017-05:00

I can barely wait for WOF09 even though I know it's only a few seconds away. It's a high energy performance and that's just what I'm looking for.

Jonas stands smiling behind his keyboard as Ulf starts in on the song intro. Ulf starts by clapping his hands and is running all over the stage before long. I have a difficult time keeping the camera focused on him as he runs from one side to the other.

The smoke continues to pour out onstage, while Bengan, their tour manager tries to re-tape an Apple laptop back onto Ulf's drum set.

Jenny walks around the middle of the stage with a determined look, rocking to the music. She starts strongly on the main vocals, reminding me of the early sounds in which we hear a short gruff sound in her vocals when she's really into a song.

I see the photographers in front of us and notice that they're always taking shots of Ulf and Jenny as they're singing together. The papers all seem to include this same shot in every report.

I stand there enjoying the back and forth between Ulf and Jenny during the song. They push each other back from one side of the stage to the next as they sing their respective lines. I wonder how difficult it is to walk backwards in high heels on a smoky stage. Ulf gives a "here's Jenny" wave with his hand as the main vocals begin.

Again, the sound is not as loud as the fans would like. It's still difficult to really hear what they're singing. The lights combine with the smoke to create this eerie green effect in the background.

Ulf continues to run around onstage while singing his electro-vocals. I have a hard time deciding who to focus on. Ulf, Jenny, Jonas and Jakob, Ulf again, back to Jenny, Ulf is back in the frame, Jenny again during vocals...

Ulf jumps down on a platform that's lower than the stage to get closer to the audience. He runs right to left as he's singing the "my dad" lines.

The fans yell as Jenny flips her hair and begins again on the vocals. Ulf jumps around in front of her, stealing the shot until they join up again at the left hand side of the stage.

The stage is so smoky at this point, it's hard to see anything in the background. Everything from the pulsating asterisk to the backing singers is obscured. I begin to wonder what it does to their voices when all this smoke is rolling around onstage.

Ulf takes a little break with Jonas at the keyboard while Jenny launches into the "I'm in love" line. Jonas and Ulf then join her at the back of the stage. All three walk up to the front, creating a dramatic effect similar to the entrance during HN.

Jonas finally gets some face time during WOF as he stands front and center to sing for us. He seems comfortable singing in front of everyone. He generally stands still when he sings, walking to the left-hand side of the stage a little bit, while Ulf is still running from side to side.

Jenny and Jonas meet up at the front and sing together for a few moments, exchanging sibling glances and smiles.

The bass on the song buzzes in the recording, again due to the proximity of the stage. Had we been further back, the bass would have thumped like it should have. At this distance, it buzzes instead.

The three come back to center stage to sing the last little bits together. We whoop and holler as fans tend to do. The band gives a little nod of thanks and it's on to the next song.

Happy Nation @ Sundsvall

2009-07-16T10:01:00.020-05:00

It's almost time for the concert to begin. Smoke begins to creep across the stage. The tour crew hustles off to the left.

Two men from the festival crew run to the front and pull back the Gatufest curtain. The announcer provides an introduction as the smoke rolls out. The crowd begins to clap and cheer.

A roar bursts from the crowd as the background images begin to roll. Lights flash and the smoke increases.

People make comments as the HN intro plays. Jakob steps up to the keyboard soliciting cheers from the front row. Linnea begins to sing the HN lament as she walks on stage. The dancers and background singers take their places.

We see the band walking through the backstage area. The band slowly walks to center stage and stops. They keep a serious look on their faces. A yellow light appears behind them as a blast of sound hits the crowd. Let the show begin.

Jonas can't keep from smiling and his look turns from serious to happy. Ulf takes his place at the drums. Jonas takes his place at the mic with his guitar. Jenny stands in the middle as the projections flicker in the background. Ulf's drumsticks are raised and ready to go while Jonas waits with pick in hand.

The music begins and the dancers, Susanna and Anna, start their opening routine. I hear both good and bad comments from people around me about the opening. Someone says it's cool while another comments negatively on the militaristic feel. I try to hold my camera steady during the Laudate, but a drunken guy and girl beside me keep putting their hands up in front of my camera. I keep having to push their arms down with my left hand. They finally get the message after a few minutes.

We're so close to the front that the projection screen is pixelating, creating green and purple squares during HN. Even though we cannot see it clearly, it adds some light to the background and helps get better footage for the camera shots.

The sound isn't the best, as we cannot really hear Jenny, or anyone else, very well. The crowd is easier to hear than the band, although it changes as the concert progresses. (I suspect this may have had something to do with our distance. Other clips on YouTube from farther away sound clearer).

As it is unfolding, I think to myself, "I cannot believe I am here right now. This is amazing. I'm watching AOB play in Sweden!" The reality stood before me and I still could not comprehend it. It is truly like a dream sequence when you're there. Time and place is forgotten. Now is the only thing that exists as you watch and listen. My second thought? "I love Ace of Base!"

(Jessi found this picture of me in the crowd on rockfoto.nu and I think it explains that "now" feeling)

All the Acers sing along and some people in the crowd also sing along. The crowd is mixed with all ages represented, though the majority seem to be between 15-35. Most people in their 20s, though a great deal are teenagers. We fit in with this crowd more than the EMD crowd.

Photographers and camera crews are in front of us snapping away and recording for newspapers and TV. They're taking a lot of pics during HN. Mostly of Jenny since she's out in front singing. A few snap some shots of Ulf and Jonas.

Jenny always looks so serious just before she turns around. I wonder what she's thinking about as she stands there with her back to everyone.

As Uffe runs out to sing his part, we automatically yell. I don't know how we decide when to yell and clap, but it seems like every Acer does it at the exact same moment. Ulf's energy is evident and it's contagious. He's fully in the moment when he's on stage. I wonder if he has ever accidentaly lost a drumstick during a performance.

Jonas looks like he's serious now, as he's concentrating on playing and singing. Jakob's right there with him in the serious department. He's in the back on the keyboards with an almost angry look on his face.

As I hear Jenny sing, "come true and I will dance with you", I remember that I've been singing this line incorrectly for nearly 13 years. It was only after the CPH concert that I realized the correct line is "come true" and not "come through".

Everyone seems to be more comfortable as the song progresses. A cool blue and green light shines in the background as Jenny finishes the end of the song.

The band gets a generally good response from the audience after it's over. The Acers appreciate it the most though and give a hardy cheer/scream/clap, especially Anna and Andi who give a thumbs up and number 1 sign to my camera after it's over.

First part of Sundsvall...

2009-07-16T06:26:00.038-05:00

I think this will take awhile...

2 July 2009, Thursday.

It's 5 am and my alarm clock rings in a hostel room full of sleeping people. I silently apologize to my fellow guests as I crawl out of bed and begin to quietly pack my suitcase. I have somewhere to be in a few hours. As the others snooze, I head out the door, definitely ready to begin my journey. I find myself walking down Upplandsgatan in the warm sunshine admiring the stillness that is Stockholm at this hour.

I make my way to the train station in silence. The tranquility is broken as I arrive at the central station. Even though it's early, commuters are rushing around trying to get where they need to be.

The departure board shows train on track 12 is headed to Sundsvall, so I make my way there. Boarding begins just after I arrive and we start heading north to Sundsvall right at 6 am. I know I won't get much sleep in the next 48 hours, so I try to sleep on the train. I manage to get a little rest, even with the sunshine streaming through the windows.

The train arrives at the Sundsvall station around 10 am. The sky is light blue with a few clouds and a slight breeze. The temperature is unsually high, hovering around 28 C. I drag my suitcase behind me and it ticks loudly as I walk along the cobbled streets.

I am supposed to meet several Acers this morning, Jessi and Anja from Germany and Anna and Andi from Hungary. I don't know where they are right now, so I take the time to eat something and get a sneak peek at the stage where the band will play in about 12 hours. I find a bench in the center of the town square, just a few feet away from the stage, and begin eating the sandwich I picked up on the walk over.

The stage early in the morning:

As I am eating, I hear a familiar sound, "for the people, for the good, for mankind, brotherhood..." I fumble around as I try to find my phone in my backpack. Jessi says hello to me on the other end of the line, then asks me if I know where the bus station is. I do, in fact. I've been to Sundsvall before a few years back and know the city isn't that big. It will take about three minutes to walk from the city center to the bus station. I finish the last few bites and walk the short distance.

Anna, Andi, Jessi and Anja greet me and we hop in Anna's car. We take a tour of the town from the highest point in the city to the harbor below.

Anna explains to us that the houses are made mostly from stone because a fire decimated the town in 1888 and it's one of the few cities in Sweden built in stone. The view from the top of the city is clean, clear, and calm.

We swing by a gift shop on the way back down, then take a rest at a playground. The entire city seems to promote the Skvadern. It's a local legend about a half bird half rabbit that was supposedly shot by a local hunter. There is even a Skvadern slide at the playground. Children can climb to the top of the bird-rabbit and slide out its backside. Oh, Sundsvall.

After visiting this unique area, we decide to head down to the harbor. We spend time feeding some ducks and sharing some thoughts on AOB.

Andi and Anna take the car back home and decide to meet up with us later. Jessi, Anja and I find something to eat around 4 pm and take it to the concert area. We think there may be a sound check, so we get there early to make sure we won't miss it. We start eating and shortly thereafter, we see Susanna Säfsund pass by. I interpret this to mean a sound check can't be far off.

After we finish eating, we launch into a discussion of the band and its future. About 10 minutes into our conversation, I see a woman who looks like Jenny walking through the crowd. A man who looks like the band's tour manager walks beside her. I'm in the middle of a sentence when I see them, "Well, I hope the band will...Is that Jenny?" Jessi and Anja turn their heads to the left and confirm what I already suspect with a nod of the head. "Yes, it's Jenny". As Jessi says this, both Jenny and Bengan turn in our direction. We get up from the ground to meet the two of them as they approach. They greet us and ask us if we're hungry. We just ate, so we tell them this. They ask if we have tickets to all the concerts. (I don't really remember this part but will be reminded of it later).

Jenny says she's glad to see us there and asks Jessi for her contact info so she can contact her and Anja later regarding an interview for their website. (They own aceisland.de / jennyberggren.net if you're not aware). Jessi works on getting that info to her. Jessi then asks about a sound check, but Jenny informs us there is no sound check since it's a festival. Jenny then says she wishes there was a sound check but unfortunately there isn't one. Jenny again says she's happy we're there, then both her and Bengan head out to get ready for the concert later in the evening.

We continue to sit at the front gate and around 5:30 pm, we are joined by another Acer named David. He's there from France with a friend. We chat a little bit and they decide to take in some of the festival until it's time for the concert. The rest of us wait at the gate until 6 pm, when we are ushered out of the area by the guards. They're clearing the area of people and will only open the gates again when everyone is out. We head out, grab our tickets and wait to be let back in again.

Everyone gets back in relatively easily, though I have a little trouble. I bought my ticket online and the concert organizers decide people with online tickets need to go to another area to have their tickets verified. I keep thinking the front row will be taken up in a very short amount of time, so I'm a little anxious to get in. I walk down a few blocks to the e-ticket area and join the line. My watch says 6:10. People start complaining. We hear a rumour about a technical issue. It's now 6:20 and I'm hoping the other Acers got great spots up front and maybe even saved a little space for me too. Five minutes later, the gates open. I finally trade my ticket for a concert armband and begin to run back to the main stage. Just as I start my run, a guard stops me and wants to see my bag. Sure! I show it to him and he checks only one of five pockets. He sees some airplane itinerary papers and lets me go. Great security. Oh, Sundsvall.

I join everyone at the front gate around 6:30, and as I had hoped, they have a little spot for me. Thank you! The first act, EMD, will play at 7 pm. EMD is a popular Swedish boy band and we're soon surrounded by a young audience. We joke about being the oldest ones in the front row, as it's evident we're at least a decade older than the majority of the EMD fans standing around us. The concert rolls around and we listen to the band as the girls scream and cry for their beloved boys. One girl has such a piercing scream, we have to cover our ears to avoid the pain. EMD gives a decent performance and the fans disband from center stage. We're left to choose any place we want along the stage line. We take the center, naturally.

A little white later, we see an advertisement on the main screen where you can text in a message and have it shown on the screen during the festival. We send a text about Jessi and Anja's website, thinking it won't be shown because it's advertising, but surprise! It pops up for all to see and Jessi runs to catch a shot of it on her camera.

This is what you see when you look from the side of the stage to the audience:

It's about 9:30 pm and we're left to wait out that last bit. We use it to prepare for the show. Batteries? Check. Memory cards? Yes. Camera? Right here. We have so much recording equipment between us, we could have pooled everything together and created a new TV station.

Excitement shows in our faces as the hour approaches. A company sponsor walks down the front row handing out earplugs (as they do before every concert starts). Anna lets them know they're crazy and tells them we intend to hear the music at a music festival. She rejects the earplugs and I do too, but I change my mind after Anja says something about using them for the airplane ride tomorrow. I pack a set in my bag to use later.

The tour crew has been up on stage for a while moving equipment around, hooking up mics, pushing equipment around, putting everything in just the right spot. Drums have been set up. Keyboards are being rolled out. Guitars are in the right places. They tape off reference points on the floor for the dancers. One guy is standing in front of us taping down the set-list. All of this activity is taking place behind a milky-white curtain with the text "Sundsvalls Gatufest" printed on it. The curtain seems to be completely white from a distance away. Since we're so close, we can almost see through it.

Two festival crew members are re-setting a broken electrical line running from the stage to the sound booth in the middle of the square. They look stressed, yet still manage to fix it in a few minutes. People begin appearing around us about 10 minutes before the show is set to start.

There aren't a mass of people there yet, though more arrive as time ticks by. The front row is taken up by this point and the next couple of rows are filling in. Five minutes until 10 and the spaces around us are closing up. Jakob appears at the left hand side of the stage. We know we're close. Concert time rolls around and the front 1/3 of the square is full.

WOF 09 from Sundsvall

2009-07-12T10:10:00.005-05:00

I'll start with the Sundsvall concert and work up, since it was the first on the list. I want to tell the full story from the time I left Stockholm until the time Jessi, Anja and I got on the plane to GBG and I will do that in another post, but first I have to catch up on work and life.

It doesn't take much work to upload a video to YouTube, so I will start with that and tell the full story in an upcoming post on Monday or Tuesday.

The sound at the Sundsvall concert was the worst of the three. We could barley hear the band most of the time. You can hear fans singing better than you can hear the vocals. Watch WOF09 and judge the sound quality for yourself...

External hardrive fun

2009-07-12T00:01:00.014-05:00

I ran out and bought an external hard drive to put all my clips on. It works beautifully. I have almost everything uploaded onto it, about 20 gigs.

I'm organizing the concert clips now and will upload a larger portion later. It's late now and I've got things to do tomorrow but I thought I'd leave you with a LIAF cliip from Sundsvall:

(Get used to the shaking now. My video camera doesn't have any image stabilization on it, as you will see. It's even more difficult to keep it steady when you're at a concert with everyone around you dancing, singing and moving about. Still better than nothing. If you become ill, don't say I didn't warn you!)

Videos, photos, etc

2009-07-11T12:59:00.001-05:00

I have so many photos and videos, I have to buy an external hard drive to upload them all. (That and my computer has no memory left). I will be doing that shortly and uploading all those things here.

As for the experiment, I'm half satisfied with the way things turned out. Twitter worked really well, until my phone died. The video files worked out in Stockholm, then the other cities didn't have any accessable computers to upload files. The blog was easy enough to update and I am pretty satisfied with the number of posts, although I planned for much more. Five years ago, computers were plentiful in Sweden. Now, everyone has one of their own or they have a phone to access the internet. It leaves very few choices for tourists without a phone/computer. Next time I travel, I will be taking my laptop!

I will try to get more multimedia up here shortly. And my descrptions for the three concerts too!

The trip home...

2009-07-11T12:45:00.003-05:00

Oh, it was a task trying to get home. I'm finally rested enough to make another post. The bus ride went well. Nothing wrong with that. I got to the airport in time for my flight. Did a little shopping beforehand. When I got to the US, it went a little nutty.

The flight to the US was good. The flight to Houston, however, was fully booked and they asked for volunteers to be bumped. So, I took that deal and got a voucher for money off another flight. That was cool. So, to get home, they put me on a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina and then a flight to Houston.

But, during the time before I had to get on the first flight, I had to call my Dad and tell him not to pick me up at the airport. I had no working phone and no change to use an airport phone. I finally found someone to give me change at the Philly airport and got the answering machine. I left a message for him and hoped he heard it.

So, when I got to Charlotte, that flight was overbooked too. I volunteered again since it wouldn't make any difference when I got back into Houston. But, they didn't pick me. I was a shame because it came with another voucher and a hotel room and breakfast. And a shower. I needed a shower at that point! Well, instead I got on the flight in first class for the first time ever. I don't know why everyone wants it. It's not that great. Sure, the seats are bigger and you get better service, but not for that price. It was just ok.

I land in Houston at some horrible time in the morning. I thought about taking a taxi but they cost too much. I waited a few hours for a bus and took that into Downtown. Once I got there, I couldn't figure out how to get back home and I trudged my way through the hot streets with about 20 pounds of chocolate. I finally found out what bus goes home and got on it.

Once home, I walked to my apartment. I didn't have the key. I gave that to my Dad because he was going to give them back when he picked me up at the airport. I got keys from the apartment people and got in my place. Well, then I couldn't find my car keys. My parents had an extra set, so I walked over there, hoped I could get in the house since no one was home, and finally got my keys. By this time, it is 10 am in the morning and I have to be at work at 12.

I get back home, take a quick shower, get something to eat, and head out to work. I nearly fell asleep several times at work. LOL! But it was worth it for the voucher. Although my Dad isn't too happy. He didn't get the phone message and was at the airport looking for me at 10 at night. Sorry!! I owe you.

That's my story. It took me 42 hours to get home and it normally takes about 18 hours. Still, I have a voucher for money off another flight...

Farewell GBG - until next time!

2009-07-07T15:45:00.003-05:00

My last hour in GBG. Everything is closed - nearly. I am in the bus station waiting on my night bus. I will be traveling all night and get to Stockholm in the early morning and I plan to stay awake so I can see some of the beautiful landscape on the route. I do not know if it is really possible, but I will try.

I spent the day walking around, enjoying the sites, and buying stuff. I spent almost all my money I changed over when I got here. I think I have 8 kronor in my pocket at this point. I will be buying some more stuff, but that is what credit cards are for. I threw away some clothes to get everything to fit. Well, that was my plan from the beginning (take clothes I do not mind throwing out and use the rest of the space to buy stuff to take home). It has worked quite well.

I have been taking pictures and photos along the way. I will upload those for anyone interested in the next few days after I get back. Probably on Friday or Saturday.

I have also seen a few threads at TAB and the descriptions of the concerts and the photos are excellent. I will add my thoughts and memories to those when I arrive back.

Back to Stockholm and then the other side of the ocean again.

Last day

2009-07-07T03:11:00.003-05:00

I am just about to check out of Slottsskogen right now. It looks almost as it did five years ago. They changed the group room around a bit. Now there is a staircase in the middle of the floor leading to a lower level. GBG is also as it was before. Not too much has changed in five years. Just a few newer shops and newer trams. Same city, same laid back attitude.

I am about to go out shopping one last time. CDs, candy, books. All that good stuff I cannot get in Houston. It was rainy last night but now it is sunny. I hope it holds up.

I will be leaving with a night bus at 11 pm and will arrive back in Stockholm (for the fourth time in a week) around 6 am. My flight leaves at 1 pm, so I will have a little relaxation time before I have to jet back.

I get back to the US around 9 p.m. and will work the next day. That should look funny with the reverse jet lag and all.

Anyway, gotta go check out!

Piteå paper interview

2009-07-06T12:50:00.002-05:00

http://www.pitea-tidningen.se/skelleftea/artikel.aspx?ArticleId=4732612

This interview was done and pictures taken just before we met Jenny. This reporter was talking to her just a few feet from us, actually.

The interview is mostly about her book.

Technical issues

2009-07-06T12:32:00.002-05:00

My phone ran out of juice just after the third concert, so I have not been able to update as usual. It was also terribly difficult to find a computer. A lot of wifi everywhere but no way to access it without a laptop. Anyway, what a crazy, fun, strange, amazing, hot, cold, rainy trip. I will fill in more info when I get home, but for now, that will be my explanation.

The ability to go to three concerts has been awesome. Each crowd had its own personality, as did each city. The meeting with the band in Skellefteå was very cool. The Acers from Aceisland, Jessi and Anja, set up the meet, so I am going to wait with any interview info until they send it over their site. But we were able to interview Jenny, with a short visit from Jonas and it was about thirty minutes long, I think. They also got to chat with Ulf, not on camera for an official interview, but we got to talk with him. Jakob also chatted for a few with us (not on camera, but as fans). It was nice to be able to sit with Jenny and ask questions. We were not able to ask as many questions as we would have liked, of course. It we asked every question, it would take hours and hours! But she did chat about her book, her projects, and about AOB.

We all recorded every concert and took lots of pics. I am not able to upload any vids yet (sorry!), but I will upload a few asap.

Take care from a rainy Göteborg!

Jenny article pics

2009-07-01T15:17:00.007-05:00

Some pics from the Svenska Journalen article. The magazine is in color, but I had to make black and white copies at the library.

2009-07-01T13:53:00.009-05:00

I've been all over town today here and there. I did get to see the exposition for The Book. It was smaller than I had hoped, but something that made me think, at least. Would have been nice to see more of the photos. Here are a few from the exhibition..

Picture of a little child with a caption saying Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

A crown of thorns under a microscope.

Picture with the caption If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

I wasn't too enthused with some pictures, but that's to be expected with art I suppose.

Anyway, I thought I'd also take some window shopping pictures for you all to see. Nothing special. It's just what you see when you're walking down a part of Sveavägen. Here there are...

I also went shopping for some CDs. I found some good ones for myself. No AOB included in this one. I did see some CDs though. Bengans was the only one who had a placeholder for the band. They had two cds. One HN US version and one of the new boxed sets with the new 09 songs. The other shops sold used cds. I saw two original HN cds and two DC cds. No TB or F cds. The cds were all 25 to 30kr. I'm sure there was more there, as both stores had a great deal of cd singles but I didn't look through them all. So, cds can be found around here, but not too many.

That's all for today. I'm going to rest up for the big start tomorrow. YES! Off to Sundsvall I'll go.

Until tomorrow!

What the future brings

2009-07-01T02:54:00.003-05:00

Good morning!

I'm happy to report I haven't fried any electrical objects yet. I have a habit of doing that in Europe, even with the proper plugs and adapters. No hairdryer this time so I don't kill another one.

I also was able to get Twitter to start working. Thanks to a nice guy at a local convenience store, he was able to get me on the right track when it comes to getting a SIM card and money to add to the phone.

Today, I thought of visiting City Hall. Never been inside, so it would be nice to see that. I'm also thinking of visiting the concert house because they're having a photo exhibit on The Book. The Book is the Bible in a glossy cover magazine format. The Book includes thought-provoking pictures within the text. It's sold an amazing amount in Sweden. The pictures will be on display and I'd like to see them. And even better, it's free.

Other than that, I'm not sure what else the day holds. But it's only a matter of time before I know. I will be eading out for some breakfast shortly to greet another great day.

Yes, it is a beautiful city.

2009-06-30T16:42:00.006-05:00

I remember now just how beautiful this town is. Sparkling water, blue skies, boats in the harbor, people strolling, green trees everywhere. All of Sweden is amazing, but Stockholm on a day like today is breathtaking.

I spent my time revisiting some old sites and seeing some new ones. I took some AOB related videos and other videos for fun. I did get to walk around Skansen and see Allsång at 8 pm, which was fun. I didn't actually see too much because I wasn't in the front row, but I got to enjoy it anyhow. I wonder how the tv production turned out. It will be fun to watch it later on. The most well-known international guests were Malene Ernman (La Voix) and A Camp with Nina Persson as lead singer.

I also found my favorite candy of all time, Polly. I can't quite explain the taste because I've not found anything else like it. The bag puts it this way, A taste of chocolate, arrack, buttertoffee and vanilla. Its a squishy, chewy chocolate covered something which I love. That's really why I came almost 5,500 miles. I didn't come to see AOB, I came for the Polly. I do love the fact that the Swedes seem to have as big a sweet tooth as I do. Candy everywhere. Love it.

Strawberry Marabou chocolate. I have to get some of this.

In Stockholm!

2009-06-30T06:44:00.003-05:00

Ah, it's a hot day in the neighborhood. And sunny too. I just arrived a little while ago and am about to go out to hunt for food and a phone card, so I can set up those Twitter feeds. Also a little video to send back.

As for tonight, I'm not sure what I'll be doing, as I didn't plan anything. But Skansen looks good because Allsång på Skansen is filming today. Not sure when you have to get there to be a part of that. It may already be too late. Would be fun though.

Catch you all later!

One flight down...

2009-06-29T16:52:00.004-05:00

I'm in Philly waiting for my flight to board in a few hours. The flight from Houston worked out well. A little turbulence, but I don't mind that. Been walking around the airport and it's nice. It's bright, clean, good signage. A+ for Philly.

Some pictures from the airport:

An authentic Philly Cheesesteak. Midnight snack! The departures board. How sweet it is to see Stockholm on the board. Ah! And my plane loading up with fuel for the flight.

More from Stockholm once I arrive.

Only 20 minutes left!

2009-06-29T07:35:00.002-05:00

Where is this, where is that? Will it all fit into the suitcase? What else do I need to do? Am I missing anything? Several thoughts running through my head right now.

It's down to the end and I can safely say I'm almost ready. At least I think I have everything. I almost couldn't find a few things but they showed up just in time.

I'm getting a ride to the airport in about 20 minutes, even though my flight doesn't leave for another 2 hours 45 minutes. Security takes an awfully long time. And as I mentioned before, the first stop is Philly. Never been there before. New airports are always fun.

I'm off to fly!

T-minus 8 hours

2009-06-29T02:36:00.005-05:00

Still haven't packed. I will wait until the last minute and curse myself for doing so.

I tried to get some good sleep last night because that's good for fighting jet lag, supposedly. I didn't succeed very well and now I'm afraid I'll fall asleep waiting for my flight to Stockholm. As long as someone wakes me up to board the plane, I'll be good.

I'm going through Philadelpia first and I have a pretty good layover there, some 5 hours. A little shopping may be in order. I'm actually looking for an authentic Philly Cheese Steak. I've never had one and they look heart-attack inducing good.

But, right now it's 9:30 in my head. For everyone else here, it's 2:30 in the morning. It's a little lonely! But, that just means I have time to pack. Eventually.

Sunday 28 June 09

2009-06-28T07:28:00.000-05:00

It's a day for, eh, cleaning clothes.

I'm spending the day cleaning up so I don't come back to a mess. Boring but necessary. I haven't packed yet, as I'm still trying to decide what to bring.

There's not much more to report on the travel front. Just the necessary stuff; checking off lists, making sure I have everything I need for tomorrow. Trips are always more fun once you've finished all the preparation.

Saturday 27 June 09

2009-06-27T04:14:00.000-05:00

Last bookings, final plans.

Everything is coming together now for my trip. I'm still thinking about how to pack and what to bring. I don't have that much space because I will be using several methods of travel (bus, train, plane, car...). Swedish airlines have a low maximum weight allowance for luggage, I've found.

I've also switched my days around to avoid jet lag. Right now, it's 11:15 a.m. for me, but everyone else is asleep because the clock says 4:15 in the morning. It makes shopping for last minute things a bit of a chore. Consequently, I work until it's time for bed (5 pm for my co-workers but midnight for me). It's jet lag in reverse. Not so fun, but it will keep me from feeling so worn out when I arrive in Stockholm.

I haven't started panicking yet. That comes tomorrow and Monday. Until then, I'm off to figure out where I put that darn passport...

Friday 26 June 09

2009-06-26T07:16:00.000-05:00

I will be using this blog to document my trip to Sweden starting on the last day of June until the 8th of July, but the highlight for Acers will be the three AOB concerts I'll be attending from the 2nd of July to the 4th of July.

Three concerts.
Three cities.
1,165 miles (1875 km).
in 48 hours.

I will upload videos and twitter feeds to the blog during the trip to keep Acers updated. Drop by and enjoy the crazy trip along with me!