Sverige

Went to Sweden over the weekend, which explains the lack of new content. Got lots of stuff to say now.

It's the fourth year I've been doing this - going to SE for concerts. The artist is E-Type; if you're from Sweden or Scandinavia, you know of him. If you're from Europe, you may vaguely remember. If you're from the States, never mind. (Although if you're from Canada, a radio station in Toronto has been running his tracks quite regularly.) He's known as the king of Eurodance, and his peak of popularity was in the mid-90s Euro craze, but he's still alive and kicking, and very much an institution on the home market.

This was my first show outside Stockholm - in fact it was in a tiny town some 270km north. Which turned out to be cool, because the venue was a club. Let me tell you: there is a big difference between open-air and club gigs. No keyboards or fireworks this time, just a classic guitar-bass-drum pattern, plus vocals - featuring Nana Hedin! (She's the voice behind a whole lot of huge acts that used the old Cheiron team in Sthlm - including Britney Spears, for one.) I've got the bragging rights of having seen her perform live now, although the vocals weren't a particular focus. Anyway, it was a proper rock show, short tracklist - only 7 songs - but it was so insane that I doubt if the crowd could take more than that.

My Swedish friends couldn't make it this time, which sucked... but I wasn't all alone. In fact, I was (predictably) the only proper headbanger in the sorry bunch of wimps I was with. (There's a big story there, but I'm not exactly sure if I'm ready to tell it yet, or how I would do that.) I don't dwell on my numerous shortcomings, but the one talent I envy in others (in a good way) is music. I'm rubbish at it. Don't play any instruments and couldn't carry a tune out of a burning building. So to compensate, I'm honing my headbanging skills, and I must say, I'm getting rather good.

Rock on.