AND THEY'RE OFF
By:Larm 2009 kicked off in a suitably controversial style in the Dagbladet Tent on Wednesday night with Ida Maria inexplicably storming off stage after only 16 minutes of the convention’s first show. A year ago, on the same stage, the band were announced winners of the inaugural StatoilHydro Grant, an 800,000 Norwegian Krone prize designed to further the international career of one Norwegian act each year. In the subsequent 12 months since their by:Larm breakthrough the band have toured relentlessly, making significant inroads into the UK market in particular, and this free show could have been their moment of homecoming glory.
Of course it was also designed to launch proceedings for By:Larm and highlight the benefits of the exposure that the event can offer, but inadvertently this brief appearance perhaps also spotlighted the pressures that bands face on the road to success. Whether the band’s premature departure from the stage was due to their rumoured exhaustion, the subdued response of an early evening crowd or an out of tune guitar – “that’s not a reason to leave the stage,” Oslo’s current Number 1 celebrity Little Steven was overheard to say, “it’s a reason not to go on stage” – is hard to say. It certainly ensured, however, that the band continue to provoke, confuse and excite in equal measures and confirms that acceptance of money from the petroleum industry does not have to mean the loss of one’s rock ‘n’ roll attitude.
It was left to Cocktail Slippers to get the party started, but they had the added benefit of an introduction from the boss of their label, the afore-mentioned Little Steven Van Zandt, who one suspects is going to be seen a lot in the coming days. Slouching on stage in an unusual fur print jacket and his trademark bandana, the round-shouldered Springsteen comrade and star of The Sopranos welcomed us to “the first By:Larm of the rest of your life” before his latest signings charmed a crowd, by now beginning to flesh out, with their rock ‘n’ roll revivalism and carefully cultivated polka-dot wardrobe.
As local musical luminaries and hopefuls circulated side by side through the tent Lukestar tore through a storming set, followed by one of the acts shortlisted for this year’s Statoil Hydro Grant, Harry’s Gym. They provided a more sombre but intense half hour of electronic indie rock, the ghosts of New Order and PJ Harvey just about visible amidst the dry ice.
There was no doubt that, after this, the instantly palatable sounds of one of Norway’s top dance producers and yet another emerging international success story, Lindstrom, were a welcome excuse for the crowd to cut loose. From behind his Macbook he took advantage of a room of well-oiled individuals by cranking up the beats and giving them a soulful twist.
Events were then brought to a rousing close with one of Annie’s eclectic DJ sets, a welcome reminder of the breadth and depth of a Scandinavian music scene that this opening night sought to celebrate. If this is how things get started one can’t help but be excited about how on earth they’re going to end this Saturday…
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