Where:
Vulkan Open Air, Nedre Foss gård, Oslo
Audience:
About 3000
«King Lasse of Vulkan!»
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So – what songs, what lyrics and melodies, what a band, what a guy – and what a sound experience! I have never heard such sharp and clear stadium sound that I can recall, so pure that you can hear every single word. And – words are as important for Lars Winnerbäck (48) as they should be for us. The lyrics are supported by realistic films on the large backdrop.
Has he been better?
It was the expression, but especially the lyrics, that drew me to the Swede when I came across his second album, “Rusningstrafik,” in 1997. Since then I have followed him in recordings and live. After each concert, I have to ask myself the question: Has he ever been better?
Tonight, the clear answer is no.
He has played several places in Norway this summer, but without the distinctive Swedish country artist David Ritschard and singer-songwriter Amanda Bergman. Both are still quite unknown in Norway – while some may know Bergman from the band Amason. Ritschard is something of his own, currently elevating himself from a cult hero status to something bigger thanks to his wonderful, free presence and good songs.
Postgirobygget started the last of two festival days in the afternoon (by the way, who decided to pair them with our Swedish friends?), but the evening belongs to Sweden. And a bit of Norway, Winnerbäck is actually on home ground after a lot of time in Oslo with his wife Agnes Kittelsen and their shared daughter.
Varied
On the summer tour, he has, with few exceptions, played the same 23 songs, from rocking to stripped down, from soft to hard, from electric to acoustic, from the opening “Min gata i stan” to the encore “Söndermarken”, perhaps his very best song from his very best album – with the same title – from 2003.
HEARTY: Lars Winnerbäck at Vulkan Open Air. Photo: Lars Eivind Bones / Dagbladet
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The ordinary set ends after 18 songs, but you realize something is brewing when six chairs are set up for a film that rolls on the backdrop. Six string players take their places and eventually also 18 backing vocalists. Brilliant dramaturgy, and a powerful conclusion to a concert that “had me” early on. Yes, at least from song number two, “Dunkla rum”, with one of his very best lyrics!
Two encore rounds are needed, during which we also hear “För dig” and the live favorite “Kom ihåg mig” along with one of his very few cover songs, Ragnar Borgedahl’s “Hum, hum från Humlegården” from 1974 – recorded by Lasse and his old backing band Hovet in 2003. The single stayed for 25 weeks on the Svensktoppen and was used in a film of the same title in 2004. He has also included again “Ingen soldat”, unfortunately just as relevant today as when it was written twelve years ago, before “Söndermarken” gets the last word.
Little Kent
The repertoire mainly focuses on the albums from recent years. Half of the songs have been swapped out since the previous concert at the same venue in 2022, and the oldest song is from his fourth album “Kom” (1999).
There are also snippets of old favorites such as “Elden” from 2001, supplemented with a delightful story about when he was out with his best friend Staffan’s ex-girlfriend in Oslo, without anything happening, that is (!), about starting a family, having kids, getting divorced, and starting over. Now he has met a “norska” (Agnes Kittelsen), he is back in Oslo, and he has gotten a “little devil with blue eyes.” Kittelsen is also the theme for the new live favorite “Tror jag hittar hem”. “Om du lämnade mig nu” (here with Sandra Widman) is unlikely to be relevant issues anytime soon, but the duet is a given.
GOOD MOOD: Lars Winnerbäck smiles slyly, perhaps because he is so well received at Vulkan. To the left duet partner Sandra Widman. Photo: Lars Eivind Bones / Dagblaldet
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Duet
Some might say last year’s album “Neutronstjärnan” was a bit too influenced by being produced by two of the members of Kent, but there is little of that included in this summer’s tour. You hear something in the backing vocals, and Kent’s leader Jocke Berg sings backup on film, but I am rather reminded of Bruce Springsteen in terms of appeal and humility. On “Kom ihåg mig”, which starts with harmonica, I think of a well-oiled Swedish version of the E Street Band. Behind sits the backing band’s most popular musician. Winnerbäck doesn’t need two drummers; it’s enough to have Jonna Löfgren. She always gets the most applause!
Håkan or Lasse?
In the old days, it was between the Beatles and the Stones. In Sweden, we have Håkan Hellström or Lars Winnerbäck – with Thåström in a class of his own as a kind of mythical prince of darkness. Håkan may fill Ullevi, but he doesn’t match the lyrical universe of Winnerbäck. I cheered for the Stones, and in the neighboring country, I mostly cheer for Winnerbäck, especially after this superb performance. There is nothing like it. He has definitely “found home”.