Every musician in the building got onstage at New Sweden’s 5th Anniversary show
New Sweden‘s Birthday Party Concert was indeed a party. With openers Levee Drivers (who played a sensational cover of New Sweden’s “Dick Wolf”) and a high-energy, goes-to-11 set from Scantron, what followed was a New Sweden show like we’d never seen before.
Mixing brand new tracks with classics from over the last five years of their existence, and having members of other regional bands fill in or completely take over the stage, the show did feel like a celebration. New Sweden came out strong with “Frying Pan” and “Shine That Light,’ the packed downstairs of the Queen singing along with the latter and New Sweden Vocalist Billy Dobies just starting to get rowdy. The Hold Up came out for a cover of “The Highest Road,” one of the band’s best-known songs, with Hold Up vocalist Jason Webb giving it a spirited, soulful take. Fiddler Nevin Dawson then joined New Sweden for “Down The Line” and “A Poor Man’s Song,” and I have to say not only is Nevin killer, it was really nice to hear fiddle back in the New Sweden repertoire.
That was followed by a re-imagined version of “Son of A Bitch” with Black Horse Motel joining them, with what is sure to become the definitive version of this track. Then, with perhaps the highlight of the entire evening, came a solo ukelele performance by Chelsea Mitchell (Dirty Dollhouse) of “Like A Fool.” She brought an entire array of emotions to that tune, and it was the only time that night you could hear perfect silence in the hall.
Outstanding new tracks followed, including “Cousin Jules” and “Unlike A Rolling Stone,” both proving that this band still has plenty of new ground to cover. The Future Unwritten was fantastic in their cover of “Warships,” with New Sweden’s Jimmy Dukenfield on guitar and filling in the blanks. And the evening wrapped up with a frenzied “Eighty Seven” and a grand finale of “Way Up North,” with all bands (and then some) filling the Queen stage. It was a beautiful mess, a celebration of music, friendship and a music scene that has been slowly taking shape over the last decade.
But mostly it was a reminder, with bands like Mumford and Sons and The Lumineers selling millions, that we have a band right here who can match them song for song. Here’s to hoping that these guys have their next birthday party with the recognition they deserve.
Setlist
Frying Pan
Shine That Light
Burdened Days
About Time
The Highest Road (performed by The Hold Up)
Down The Line (with Nevin Dawson)
A Poor Man’s Song (with Nevin Dawson)
If King Don’t Come
All The Blue
Son Of A Bitch (with Black Horse Motel)
Like A Fool (with Chelsea Mitchell/ Dirtydoll House)
Cousin Jules
Unlike A Rolling Stone
Walking On Eggshells
English Major
Warships (performed by The Future Unwritten)
Eighty Seven
Way Up North (performed by all bands)