(all photos by Keith Klenowski)
The environment was perfect on Friday night for live music here in Cincinnati. The weather had finally seemed to break, with temps in the high 70′s on a weekend night. People had were starting to creep out after a long winter and a spring that felt like winter thus far. Peter Bjorn & John were headlining at the historic Southgate House, and were supported by up and comers from Brooklyn, Charilift, who recently became at least a household sound, if not a household name, for their song “Bruises” that was featured on an IPod commercial.

So it was perfect right? I sat at the bar as I arrived early and watched a few innings of my beloved Cincinnati Reds over a cold beverage or two while the crowd streamed in. After the Chairlift set began, and I started to make my way in myself, I heard someone call out that the show as an official sellout, and no more tickets were available. Not a big deal in most music markets, I know, but this does not happen on a weekly or maybe even monthly basis here in the ‘Nati. So why did it sell out? Was it the reasons I had mentioned above? I felt like it was, but had some skepticism that maybe the big Peter Bjorn & John hit, “Young Folks” was the most familiar this crowd might be with the Swedish trio.

After Chairlift ripped through a short but hard hitting set, which included the IPod famed tune, as well as my personal favorite, “Evident Utensil”, PB&J took the stage, with a cleverly placed and thought out backdrop which simply said, over and over again. Peter Bjorn & John BackdropBackdropBackdrop….etc. The guys jumped into the set with a bit more enthusiasm and punch than I expected out of the three Swedes. The first half was pretty heavy on material from their breakthrough US record Writers Block, and it included the aforementioned “Young Folks”, which was fun, but of course lacked what made it shine in my eyes, the sweetly placed vocals of Victoria Bergsman, who guests on the album version. Peter Moren made mention that they would be playing a few tracks from their new album, Living Thing, which I have found to be much darker and tougher to get into personally.

The new stuff of note, which included “It Don’t Move Me” , “Just The Past” and the title track sounded great live though, and those tunes really hit the highs from the record in my opinion. Overall I really enjoyed what the guys brought to the stage with them. It seemed that they know what their American audiences expect, they expect to hear the guys that made “Young Folks”, that fun poppy gem that made them realize that these guys existed (never mind that the trio has been together since 1999 and Living Thing is album number 5).

And that is exactly what the audience was given, a fun energetic set that was heavy on all the poppiest, most entertaining tunes from their last two records, and for that I commend them. Catch the guys live in a city near you if you get the opportunity. They are getting ready to head out in support of Depeche Mode very soon. All tour dates listed after the great photos from Keith.

For More Photos By Keith Klenowski, click the read more link below……

Peter Bjorn and John on Tour Dates:
4/27: Montreal, QC @ Le National*
4/28: Boston, MA @ Paradise*
4/29: NY, NY @ Webster Hall*
4/30: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg*
5/1: Philadelphia, PA @ World Café*
5/2: Washington DC @ 9:30 Club*
With Depeche Mode
7/24: Toronto, ON @ The Molson Amphitheatre&
7/25: Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre&
7/28: Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavilion&
7/31: Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center&
8/1: Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata&
8/3: New York, NY @ MSG&
8/4: New York, NY @ MSG&
8/7: Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
8/10: Seattle, WA @ Key Arena at Seattle Center&
8/12: Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre&
8/14: Chula Vista, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre&
8/16: Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl&
8/17: Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl&
8/20: Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara County Bowl&
8/22: Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl&
8/23: Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Center&
8/25: Salt Lake City, UT @ E Center&
8/27: Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Pavilion&
8/29: Dallas, TX @ Superpages Center&
8/30: Woodlands, TX @ Woodlands Pavilion&
9/1: Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre&
9/4: Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheatre&
9/5: Sunrise, FL @ Bank Atlantic Center&

*=Headlining/Chairlift Supporting
& =Supporting Depeche Mode