Up and coming indie/folk artist Hein Cooper provided an enthusiastic support slot. Arriving right on time Peter, Bjorn and John, plus some touring members, wasted no time at all getting into new album track A Long Goodbye before quickly following it up with another off Breakin’ Point, What Are You Talking About?. Playing material off their new album was a constant all night, many of the gathered attendees taking the time to listen to their new album even though it’s relatively new. A third of their 18-song set list came from Breakin’ Point, and usually too much new material can turn an audience off, so it’s lucky that the new album is arguably their best work yet.
Breaker, Breaker from 2011’s Gimme Some was a real highlight, showcasing the manic energy the band can provide when they want to. Lead singer Peter Morén proclaimed that it’s a short song “so you’d better pay attention,” he hardly had to worry. By this halfway point in the set the crowd had really loosened up, finally defrosted from their commute to the Corner. Dig a Little Deeper was a treat and had the audience singing along in unison.
They closed the set with Objects of My Affection from 2006’s Writer’s Block. If it wasn’t already a given that every band do encores these days, what made it obvious was the missig song that the Stockholm natives are most famous for, Young Folks. Joined on stage by a guest female vocalist to play the monster hit, the Corner crowd joined forces for one hell of a sing-along. They followed it up with Second Chance, probably more well-known as the theme song to American sitcom Two Broke Girls, which prompted a look of familiar realisation from some of the less committed fans in the room. Finishing off with I Know You Don’t Love Me, the band departed the stage and people started to leave the venue. Those that stayed were duly rewarded.
Peter returned to the stage alone, promising one more song, one that a girl down the front had been screaming for all night, “if the rest of the band could remember it.” It turned out to be Amsterdamn, going down swimmingly with those who had remained. They even got the girl up on stage and gave her a mic to sing along, proving why the band are so darn likable.
BY ALEXANDER CROWDEN
Loved: The band’s energy and banter
Hated: People who missed the second encore
Drank: Cider and gin (not at the same time)
