Melbourne was treated to Sweden’s most charming singer-songwriter playing at the city’s coolest new pop-up venue, with Jens Lekman successfully making a sold-out audience fall head-over-heels in love with him.
Melodie Nelson’s laid back, poppy tunes washed over an already large, late-afternoon crowd.
The solo project of Sydney’s Lia Tsamoglou, who was backed by a five piece band, Melodie Nelson proved to be the perfect beginning to the night, accompanied by ethereal vocals, hand claps, and some well placed whistling.
The Garden Party is a truly unique venue, with the first incarnation only opening its doors this Summer. Located in a previously empty lot behind the Melbourne Recital Centre in Southbank, the area has been transformed with synthetic grass, food stalls, bars and even painted building walls, with it now resembling a mini, joyful community.
Local Courtney Barnett and her three-piece band inventively dubbed ‘The Courtney Barnetts’ brought an infectious and raw brand of garage rock to the garden, including songs off the wonderful I’ve Got A Friend Called Emily Ferris EP, as well as a few new ones.
‘Ode To Odette’ saw Barnett alone on stage, displaying her lovely and unique voice, while the fantastic ‘History Eraser’, filled with oh-so-Melbourne references was brilliantly backed by trams rolling past, and the Eureka Tower looming above.
The relaxed picnic vibes of lying in the sun, surrounded by friends, provided an atmosphere that is lacking in nearly every other music venue, and even with a full capacity, there was still plenty of room to laze around on the grass.
Just as the sun was finally setting, and an enthusiastic bunch began to stand at the stage, Jens Lekman walked out.
Backed by a four-piece band that included a violinist, ‘Become Someone Else’s’ from last years I Know What Love Isn’t opened proceedings, immediately signaling the enthusiasm and joy of every band member.
Having previously been a local, it was met with a huge reaction after Lekman stated “It’s nice to be back home in Melbourne,” and introduced ‘I Know What Love Isn’t’ – based on his attempts to stay in the city by marrying his friend “for the citizenship.”
Lekman proved himself as witty and entertaining a storyteller as he is a songwriter, providing insightful backstories to nearly every song, with ‘The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love’ dedicated to anyone with a broken heart, and ‘Waiting For Kirsten’ opening with a highly amusing anecdote revolving around stalking Kirsten Dunst.
New song ‘Golden Key’ segued seamlessly into the playful ‘The Opposite Of Hallelujah’, and just when you thought Lekman couldn’t endear himself any more to the adoring crowd, he produced flower petals from a jacket pocket and with a wide smile, showered the standing audience with them.
With its Melbourne street references, there was no better place for ‘An Argument With Myself’ to be played live. Something acknowledged by the acoustic guitar-playing performer, saying “It’s nice to be in a place where people actually understand the setting these songs takes place [in].” It’s something truly special to hear so many songs centered on the very city they’re currently being sung.
‘I Want A Pair Of Cowboy Boots’ saw the Swedish-born singer alone on stage, serenading the enchanted masses, who were later called on to add some clicked fingers on ‘Pocketful Of Money’. The audience participation continued on ‘Sipping On The Sweet Nectar’, which featured the biggest sing-along of the night and brought an end to the main set.
Fan-favourite ‘Maple Leaves’ brought Lekman and band back, before stating that “this has so far been the best show ever,” which was met by an inevitably deafening roar.
Finishing the encore with Night Falls Over Kortedala standouts ‘Your Arms Around Me’ (dedicated to the crowd) and ‘A Postcard To Nina’; Lekman again departed the stage, but not for the last time.
With such an adoring and enthused crowd, the ‘adopted-local’ bounded back on stage for a second encore, stating “I wanted to play another song so thanks for that”.
He launched into an acoustic and stripped back version of ‘And I Remember Every Kiss’, that after a nearly hour and a half set, brought the night to a close.
The night had everything going for it: a beautiful, new venue, two very talented support acts, a happy and all too charming frontman, and a perfect Melbourne Summer’s night.
With all of these factors, it was impossible to not be smiling the entire time, and hopefully Jens Lekman will be returning to his ‘home’ in the very near future.
