10 May 2009

The Party Crasher Tour - Concert Nr.15: Stockholm, Cirkus (II)

10.5 Stockholm, Cirkus


2009.05.10 TPCT - Stockholm, by T. Evensson

Marie Fredriksson, as in Amsterdam, sang "It Must Have Been Love" and "The Look" together with Per and the band. According to TDR, the noise when Per introduced Marie must have made an impact on the Richter scale… or, as a reporter for one of the Swedish newspapers put it, it almost blew the roof off the theater. The concert was basically the same as on Saturday, only — so it seemed to this reviewer — much more intense. Christoffer Lundquist started playing "Ljudet av ett annat hjärta" frantically on his golden Gibson/Epiphone, and he also started the intro to "Owner of a Lonely Heart" in "Do You Wanna…"

If you want to remember all the tour, you can watch the Official videos from gessle.com here:



The band cried backstage, and then we felt all empty inside. Roxette's things are in the works soon.

After this astonishing tour, I feel empty!!! It's been the greatest tour ever for me. So intimate, so close with a superb band and a delightful crew, the most pleasant hardcore fans you can ever imagine and a great catalogue of songs to dig into. I've had the time of my life! There will most likely be a package with a CD and a DVD put together. The CD is recorded live all over Europe, the DVD is from Cirkus (day one) in Stockholm and the DVD will also include 100 of the most primitive and hilarious clips from the tour (you've probably seen a few on YouTube already). I'm such a generous guy! No one takes me seriously when I'm behind a camera. It's a fact of life. It's such a shame. And, forchrissakes, there will be a double-LP!!! One comes to the point in one's career when it's time to release a live double-album. Like Kiss, David Bowie, and Peter Frampton. This is the point for me! There will be loads of unreleased versions on Nordic Rox. I'm going to NYC next week to sort things out.

I didn't expect anything from this tour at all. I did it basically for me, myself and I. I consider it to be a nice 50th anniversary present from myself. So I am, of course, flabbergasted when it comes to the reception from the fans and the media. I couldn't ask for more. Thank you.

It felt great performing the Rox tunes. I knew I could handle them. At the same time I wanted them to be different from the Rox-versions. My ambition has never been to "replace" Marie. I just wanted to play and sing these songs because they are dear to me. After all, I wrote them.

The Party Crasher-album is pretty tough to play live. Unless, of course, you want to bring the click-trax and computers in. Which I didn't want at all this time around. I wanted the set to be guitar-based, straight forward power-pop with great vocal harmonies and silly power-chords here and there. The PC-album is totally different. Too early to say about how the PC album is doing in Europe, it's out in Germany while the UK is releasing in June. There is some positive response from the radio here and there but I guess it won't outsell Joyride. Next week I have new meetings regarding a US-release since I'm in New York.

We did a cover, "Steppin' Stone", great fun indeed. I might do a punk rock cover album one of these years.

All of the gigs have been terrific. I guess the band felt that Cologne, Copenhagen and London were triple AAA's. But to me all of them were memorable and gifts sent from god (or John L.)

This band is a splendid mix of Roxette and the "En händig man" people. I love them all dearly. On the stage, in the dressing room, in the bar. Can't wait to hit the road with them again. As long as I'm enjoying what I do I can't slow down. This is in my blood. This is what I do. This is what I love. We promised each other in the dressing room in Stockholm that this should be the start of a neverending tour so I don't have a choice anymore, do I?
Per Gessle



Per Gessle has changed a lot. He developed a new side of him a lot since the Mazarin tour when he had to be the single male performer for the first time, he really grew I think. And last spring I think it was amazing. But that’s a big step. It’s a personality thing to be that open. It might be difficult… you have to feel like that..you can’t do that as concept and pretend, you have to be like that. Otherwise it wouldn’t be good.

I’m glad to hear that some fans liked the new arrangements I did during the Party Crasher tour. That was sort of the idea, to bring the songs back to where they came from, without using the 80ies production. Which I think is great, but we wanted to sound different. So I am happy to hear this, because it’s very difficult for us, you know, when you love a band and they come with the old songs in a completely new way, it’s likely that you are not going to like it “uh, I want to hear the songs as they should be”. It was also fun to play during Party Crasher Tour. Per did that little survey online and asked the fans what they want to listen to. He got a lot of requests for the rocking stuff. The songs we didn’t play where those we didn’t manage to play that well. But we had all the songs we liked in the set list. We tried lots of songs and skipped those which sort of resisted. For example, during Per solo tours in Sweden we tried some older songs from the 80ies, but we only kept a few. We tried Speedo once, but then it disappeared from the set list. During the En händig man tour we put more emphasis on Gyllene Tider songs.

For us Party Crasher Tour was a very special one. I know Per says that all the time about every tour but this time it’s actually true. I hope we can do more of that some time in the future. When I sat down listening and choosing versions from the different cities for the CD I was really surprised to hear that it was a lot different. It was really different. Normally they’re not. You feel the difference when you play it, but when you listen to it it’s normally same same same same..but not this time. It is really good, I think. It was a fantastic moment when Marie came on stage the second Party Crasher show in Stockholm. It was a magic moment. I was standing in the corner crying. Yeah, it was very emotional, really. And for Marie it’s fantastic, of course, to get all that feedback again.




Home again after the European tour with Per Gessle. Feels good to be home and my little baby-boy might think so too- sleeping in his own bed, his parents soon not so tired anymore. But I do think he misses his new friends: a bunch of fully grown men with stubble and beards, smelling of red wine, talking baby language, and smiling faces all around (the band and the crew). Especially Åsa licking his feet in Per´s dressing-room saying "Piiii katten!"

I just want to say THANK YOU to you all who I´ve met while singing on this tour. Without you, there wouldn´t be much. I wonder if you can understand how much your support helps.

I already miss you, and I hope to see you musiclovers soon in any way!
Helena Josefsson (Sandy Mouche)


Helena, thanks for some great times over the past few weeks... you made us equally happy with your antics on stage, your an amazing artist and we all had fun watching you chase balloons around! ;) I think we all fell for Martin as well... we are all going to miss those evenings of music and laughter but enjoy the rest, it's much deserved!

Martinique European Tour - Concert Nr.15: Stockholm, Cirkus (II)

10.5 Stockholm, Cirkus

The second show in Stockholm was the best show on the whole tour for me. I felt relaxed and everything just felt right. Great audience that gave me nice energy to work with. I could really feel that this was the last night of the tour and it was special.

I had two friends on the guest list this evening and them being there also made this night special to me.

Backstage:




On stage:


The big fans:




Thank you all for visiting this blog. It´s been fun posting for you and getting such support from you throughout the whole tour. Without you readers and show visitors this tour wouldn´t have been as fun as it was. Per´s fans, you are incredible fans I must say and it was a joy talking to some of you.

This is my final post on this blog but I will not disappear. You will find me on my myspace site www.myspace.com/martiniquejosefsson and of course the Sandy Mouche site www.sandymouche.com. We have new stuff going on with Sandy so stay tuned. We are at home resting and Helena and Mr X says hi.

Bye for now…………………–But Mr Bear!??…….–Shut up! Can´t you see i´m watching tv!!
Martinique Josefsson (Sandy Mouche)

Comments by fans:

I don’t wanna say bye at all, so I’ll say you “see you very soon again!” and of course thank you for the incredible show you created with the other band members!))))) All the warmest and most kind regards to Helena and Mr. X! Rox on!)

Ilya Volkov
-(a.k.a. Kreecher)-
Roxette House


Thank you for the blog. For all the fans that could not go to any gig, your blog has been an interesting way to follow the tour. Good luck in all your projects. Kind regards to your family!



*sigh* i’m gonna miss your blog! Thanks for a great tour :) your performances were really great! Don’t be a stranger, love to Helena and Mr X. xxx

9 May 2009

The Party Crasher Tour - Concert Nr.14: Stockholm, Cirkus (I)

9.5 Stockholm, Cirkus


2009.05.09 TPCT - Stockholm, by T. Evensson 2

Spring is certainly in the air as the fans start lining up outside Cirkus in Stockholm. According to TDR, Per Gessle's and Helena Josefsson's "super fan" Erik Johansson has been there since the night before and is first in line — again. He feels it's his duty. There are Brazilians, Argentinians, Brits, Russians, Germans, Scots… and a few Swedes. Per Gessle steps on stage a little after 8 pm, and the crowd goes wild. Per is all smiles for the whole hour and a half. The band is in absolutely top shape, and "you can hear this is a band that is having fun", says Thomas Evensson from TDR. No changes in the setlist this evening; even though the band jokes and starts playing Gyllene Tider's old hit "Sommartider" after Per yelling "Did I hear 'Sommartider'??" Chris also falls into The Knack's "My Sharona" in the intro of "Do You Wanna be My Baby?"

2009.05.09 TPCT - Stockholm, by T. Evensson 1

SET LIST:

1. Dressed for Success
2. Drowning in Wonderful Thoughts About Her
3. Stupid
4. Party Pleaser
5. Wish I Could Fly
6. She Doesn´t Live Here Anymore
7. 7twenty7
8. I Have A Party In My head
9. Late, Later On
10. Listen to Your Heart
11. Do You Wanna Be My Baby?
12. Opportunity Nox
13. Doesn't Make Sense
14. Church of your Heart
15. Dangerous
16. Joyride

Encore

1. C'mon
2. Are You an Old Hippie, Sir?
3. The Look
4. It Must Have Been Love

2nd Encore

1. Hey Mr. DJ
2. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
3. Sleeping in My Car
4. Queen of Rain


2009.05.09 TPCT - Stockholm

Yes sir - back in Stockholm! And what a Saturday night it turned out to be. The beautiful venue Cirkus, a very relaxed band and crowd-pleasing setlist and... of course... a mind-blowing audience that makes life so easy for us!!! You guys & gals in the front row you're the best, sweatin' it out, groovin' along our mood of the day, without you it would be very much harder to do what we wanna do! Thanx! And everything got captured on film, it's gonna be a sensational DVD. See ya tomorrow, same place, same time.
Per Gessle



I remember on the Party Crasher tour seeing the guys every night, I asked one – I forgot who I asked – isn’t it boring to see the same thing every night? And the answer was great. “Well, is it boring to play the same things every night and do the same stupid moves?” And I was: Ooops. And I sort of got it. Music is communication. It’s not a performer and an audience. You are doing something together. If you can listen to a song so many times throughout your life why only see one concert?

Martinique European Tour - Concert Nr.14: Stockholm, Cirkus (I)

9.5 - Stockholm, Cirkus

Pew, the two last shows are over and the last bit of energy I had is gone. I´m in zombie-mode waiting to wake up. Maybe in a week or so.

The shows went great I think. The first one was a little more nervous because they were filming for a DVD. I don´t know if my performance will be included but still the cameras were there and it effected my playing a little. The good thing is that after 14 shows your fingers work by themselves so although I had a million thoughts running through my head as I performed I managed to pull it off.
Martinique Josefsson (Sandy Mouche)

Comments by fans:

Thanks for a fantastic six shows and for appearing last night, I refused to go and get the bus till I had my photo with you, much to the annoyance of my friends! Lol ;) Still it worked… thanks for the photo!

I have some photos from both Stockholm shows that can be found here…

Take care and enjoy the much deserved rest now… love to you, Helena and Mr X!

8 May 2009

The Party Crasher Tour - Concert Nr.13: Halmstad

8.5 Halmstad, Sporthallen

2009.05.08 PC Tour - Halmstad

About 2,000 tickets were sold to this evening's "homecoming" concert in Halmstad, Sweden, according to TDR. The show, which was held at the indoor Sporthallen, attacted a crowd from all over southern Sweden (along with the now familiar small groups of fans from other countries) eager to hear Per and his band. After opening with "Dressed for Success," Per approached the mic and shouted out "Hello Halmstad!" The response was an explosion of cheers that reverberated in the echo-prone sports hall.

SET LIST:

1. Dressed for Success
2. Drowning in Wonderful Thoughts About Her
3. Stupid
4. Party Pleaser
5. Wish I Could Fly
6. She Doesn´t Live Here Anymore
7. 7twenty7
8. I Have A Party In My head
9. Late, Later On
10. Listen to Your Heart
11. Do You Wanna Be My Baby?
12. Opportunity Nox
13. Doesn´t Make Sense
14. Church of your Heart
15. Dangerous
16. Joyride

Encore

1. C´mon
2. Are You an Old Hippie, Sir?
3. The Look
4. It Must Have Been Love

2nd Encore

1. Hey Mr. DJ
2. (I´m Not Your) Steppin' Stone
3. Sleeping in My Car
4. Queen of Rain



The audience is always nice and active here. The tour has been the most funny thing I've ever done. The intimacy that we experienced in smaller venues has in some way reminded me why I do what I do.
Per Gessle

Comments by fans:
Helena! Thanks a lot for Gent, Amst and Halmstad! Your appearence on Mr. X's concerts was a combination of beauty and magic voice. I liked it and I hope you did to!

Martinique European Tour - Concert Nr.13: Halmstad

8.5 - Halmstad, Sporthallen

Just home after what was to me the largest crowd I´ve played for on my own. A cool feeling getting up on stage and seeing this sea of people. I´m very happy with my performance. Strange talking Swedish but I managed.

The sound check:










Back stage:


The crowd:




And action:




Earlier today Helena and e managed to squeeze in another gig at Dunkers Culture house in Helsingborg. All in all a great day. Mr X is back on track and so are we. It´s good to be home altough Europe, I´ll never forget you. Ohh look at the time, my make up is flaking but i´m still smiling. Goodnight.
Martinique Josefsson (Sandy Mouche)

Comments by fans:
Martinique! Thanks a lot for all of 3 shows I attended (in Gent, Amst & Halmstad), it was amazing to sing along with you. I’ve bought the white T-shirt – it’s just unreal cool! =) And the e.p. is still playing in my ears, very good lyrics! Lycka till med avslutningen av turnen, ha:lsa Helena! Prova ja:rna pepparkakan fra.n Tula (en stad i Ryssland)!



Hej Martinique! How was today’s show? You’re probably on stage while I’m writing this post. I had a busy working weekend and tomorow I also have to go to work but lots of work at least stopped me from thinking about the tour all the time. It’s so hard to face up the fact that for me the tour was just one concert. Anyway, I’m glad I could attend one concert! It’s something to cherish for a long time until the next tour one day. Are you going to continue writing the blog or give yourself a break? I suggest having a break and devoting more time to family and Sandy Mouche? Lately I’ve been listening to …and poems for the unborn and I must admit I didn’t listen to it very attentively in the past and now I discover some new instruments and sounds and I find pleasure in some songs which in the beginning felt a bit dull. :) “Chimney hole” is fabulous with Helena singing the fragment about the fish. Poetry to my ears. Thank you. I’d like to thank you for writing the blog. I’m really grateful.

Sandy Mouche hides the head in the sand (III): Sommardis in Dunkers Kulturhus, Helsingborg

Earlier today Helena and me managed to squeeze in another gig at Dunkers Kulturhus in Helsingborg. We sang The Prayer and Hallelujah, both as duets.

When we are not going solo or playing with Sandy Mouche, this is what we like doing for a change. Sing different song in churches and happenings, usually with the pianist Christoffer Andersson. I may post a movie from a church sometime.
Martinique Josefsson (Sandy Mouche)

6 May 2009

The Party Crasher Tour - Concert Nr.12: Amsterdam

6.5 Amsterdam, Melkweg



2009.05.06 PC Tour - Amsterdam

Marie Fredriksson joint Per Gessle on stage at the “Party Crasher” concert in Amsterdam on Wednesday. Before the show, at an official Night of the Proms press conference in Belgium, it was announced that Marie has recovered from the illness that forced them to cancel their scheduled appearance in 2002. Seven years later, Roxette will finally make good on that previous commitment and perform at this year’s series of concerts to be held in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands beginning at the end of October and running through December.

According to TDR: "In Amsterdam, there were screams, wolf whistles, shouts of "Marie!," cheers, hoots, hollers, and just about every other loud sound of jubiliation you could possibly imagine when Per Gessle invited Marie Fredriksson to join him on stage this evening. And yet, if one paused for a moment to look at the people around them, it was rather easy to spot people with tears in their eyes. It was, by all accounts, an extremely emotional moment… and many in attendance at the Melkweg Arena felt they were witnessing pop music history being made." Marie sang lead vocals on "It Must Have Been Love" (view mobile phone video posted by Expressen) and "The Look" (view video from same source).


What a nite!!! The show felt fab from the start. Had a tiny technical problem with my earphones but hey... who needs ears when you got Amsterdam at your feet! Great crowd; loud, curious, receptive. Joyride was superb. Christoffer's solo on Doesn't make sense was mind blowing. Then, of course, Marie joined us for IMHBL and The Look. What can I say? She was in terrific shape and it felt like central Europe went nuts!!!! Thanx everyone for your support, we all had a blast. People were holding their cameras and taking photos with one hand, while blowing their noses (from crying) with the other when Marie took the stage in Amsterdam. We are thrilled to finally be able to attend 'Night of the Proms'. It's gonna be the first time we share a live stage together since 2001 and it certainly feels most exciting to do so in front of the huge 'Night of the Proms' audience. We look forward to performing some of our greatest hits and working together with the big Night of the Proms orchestra, which should fit our music very well. We will play our four U.S. #1 hits ("The Look," "Listen to Your Heart," "It Must Have Been Love," and "Joyride" ) along with "Wish I Could Fly." Now we fly back home to greet the Swedish soil. Dinner with mother.
Per Gessle


Marie Fredriksson is an artist extremely loved in Sweden. She is surrounded by a lot of love. On the stage she feels at home. She is fantastic live. It is great to be on the same stage as Marie, because no matter what you do , nobody is watching you, everybody is looking at her. She has a lot of charisma.

Helena Josefsson is so sweet. I don't think she is nervous to sing with Marie on the same stage. It's not about a competition. She is a big fan of Marie Fredriksson. She has all her albums and she is listening them. “

Comments by fans:
Sweet Helena, thanks so much for a wonderful evening in Amsterdam, May 6th! And thanks a whole lot for making my evening even better when you threw me that guitar pick from Per :) Dunno if you remember me, the gall in the front row with the lime green t-shirt and green cap (also the one who was waiting inside when you passed us before going to eat pasta :) ). The whole evening was amazing! I am uploading some vids to YouTube and writing a blog about it. Much love and thanks again for a delightful evening. I was sad that I did not had the chance to see you and thank you in person after the gig, but I guess you had a little one to cuddle with :)

Martinique European Tour - Concert Nr.12: Amsterdam

6.5 - Amsterdam, Melkweg

Ok, posting from Hotel Tylösand actually after being home for one day and resting. And after a nice hour of spa treatment I almost feel like a Duracell bunny again (almost). The show in Amsterdam was for me a good show. Not great but good. Mr X had a tough flight this day and he wasn´t feeling good at all, with fever and throw-ups. So my voice was present during the performance but my mind was with him.

The Amsterdam audience seemed a bit shy but very listening which to me is great. The front row was a usual very supportive and I thank you all. I had some trouble with my in-ear system on the first song. Suddenly I couldn´t hear a thing so I had to take one of them out. Micke fixed it right away and I was safe. These guys are pros.

Tonight Marie joined Per on two songs. I didn´t see it but I was told it was a really fine moment.

The stuard on the plane back to Sweden was a good one. –The flight time today is 1 hour and 20 seconds. And when we were heading for the runway the plain bumbed a little once. – We hope you will Ohh enjoy flying with us today. A smart way of getting everyone´s attention.

The crowd in Amsterdam:


A short video recorded by Cynthia Deruiter from Amsterdam:

Martinique Josefsson (Sandy Mouche)



Comments by fans:

Amsterdam was fantastic last night! Your performance was great, you even laughed through the error with the battery pack… at least I think they were changing your batteries at the start of your performance! ;)


I’ve noted with each show I have watched your confidence has grown on the stage.




Oh, there’s me jumping in yellow coat! Great! I’m on the Net!!! Martinique – champion! =) SPA at Hotel Tylo:sand is really best of all I ever visited. Nice to read you also liked it!

4 May 2009

The Party Crasher Tour - Concert Nr.11: London

4.5 London, Islington Academy


Photobucket

Having recovered from feeling a bit under the weather in Gent, Per Gessle was in top form Monday night when he and his band performed at the Islington Academy in front of a very appreciative crowd, according to TDR. Fans from Brazil — almost all of whom had flown into London just to attend this concert — made up the largest contingent of fans from outside the UK. Having also travelled from overseas, some long-time fans from California (USA) and Canada were there as well enjoying the show. While the set list remained the same, "Hey, Mr. DJ" was moved from it's position in Gent just after the band introductions to become one of the encore songs.





I was at Per Gessle’s London show incidentally, and it was magic. My music might be too far removed from Roxette to warrant a posting on roxeblog.com, since I’ve never actually played with Per, but I wanted to keep you in the loop!

This week I am promoting my new animated video for the song Goodbye London which you can find on YouTube. I recorded the song in AGM Studios with Christoffer Lundquist, Magnus Börjeson and Jens Jansson. My wife Dora and I are were getting ready to leave London after spending an extended period of time there and I started to get nostalgic about the place. Pretty much everything in the song is just how it happened. I was running out of money, sick of playing in smoky clubs (this was pre-smoking ban) and Dora had insomnia. I’d just been fined £100 because a CCTV camera had caught the back wheel of my car on the very edge of a zebra crossing when I stopped for one minute at midnight in South End Green to use a bank machine that turned out to be out of order. At least I got a good lyric out of it! I had to balance the hate with the love though, because I do love the place and I can never stay away for long.



I approached Murray with the idea of creating a video that highlighted the bitter-sweet sentiment of the lyric. The only animation reference I gave him was that I had in mind the very frenetic style of animation used in the Rhubarb And Custard cartoons when we were kids. In terms of content I suggested that some of the video be very literal interpretation of the lyric, but that he should feel free to depart from that at will, which I think he did beautifully. He came up with the photo/animation idea and drafted a rough storyboard, most of which wound up in the finished piece. In terms of the techniques, let me quote Murray: “All the stop motion photos were taken around London, and I added the drawn 2-D animation using After Effects.”

I started travelling to Canada in the early 90’s and fate took me back there again and again. I emigrated to Toronto unofficially in 1997 but wound up back in London for a spell in 2006. The song was written at the end of that period. In London I always felt surrounded by people in a way that I don’t here. Life is much more laid back in Toronto. I feel less pressure to work all the time, and perhaps because of that freedom I probably work a lot more. And we have actual seasons in Toronto…you know, really hot in Summer, really cold in Winter… You can’t beat London for cultural diversity though. I was always spoiled as to what to do on any given evening. Not so here, although the Toronto Fringe is on right now which is brilliant. Also, the quality of the food here’s generally not as good as in London. Not so much the restaurants, but the stuff you buy in the supermarket. Similarities? They both have an equal number of fantastic people and idiots, they both have beautiful green spaces for me to walk my dog, and you can’t get a decent bite to eat after 10pm in either town.

I would have to say the most memorable London venue I played at was the old Marquee club on Charing Cross Road. I was still in school doing my A-Levels but was having a lot of fun playing in a band called Vodka Rubber Legs and when we got booked into the Marquee I couldn’t believe it. It was a club I went to all the time to see my favourite bands. We were opening for a couple of well-known bands and the place was pretty packed. Incidentally we had a song called Hampstead Queen which was a lot of fun to play. Last I looked the Marquee was a hip wine bar called The Moon Under Water. More than anything else I miss the record shops I used to go to. Almost all of them are gone now. The internet pulled the rug out from under them…it’s really sad. And Jade Boulangerie in South End Green. It’s changed hands and names…still looks the same but you can’t get the ham and cheese croissant any more. I cry.

<a href="http://lukejackson.bandcamp.com/album/and-then-some">Come Tomorrow by Luke Jackson</a>

The entire process of making this album was one of following my intuition. My philosophy was that so long as I could afford to do something, if an option was there I would explore it. I was invited to record at the studio in Sweden by my friends there. That was an incredible opportunity. Some of the ballads called for string arrangements and I’d had some contact with Robert Kirby before (when I mounted an ambitious Nick Drake tribute night a few years earlier), so the option to get in touch with him to write the string parts was there, and I took it. I never thought he’d say yes, but I’m an “if you don’t ask you don’t get” kind of person, so I asked. Robert’s string parts called for nine players, and Christoffer (my producer) frequently uses the young players from Malmo’s Opera Orchestra. So yes, I went to a lot of trouble to make a great-sounding record, but it wasn’t as expensive as you might imagine, and the result was a record I could never have produced working at home with a digital set-up. Do I think it paid off? Absolutely. I set out to make a great record that would reflect who I was as an artist at that moment, that would present my songs in the best possible way and that would stand the test of time. I’m pretty certain I accomplished that. I had no commercial goals when I made this record. I knew I’d probably wind up releasing it on my own label with no support, and considering I’ve done everything on my own, I’ve reached a lot of people. The music industry is imploding on itself right now. It’s like a slow-motion train wreck. People have stopped buying music. It’s not the time to be putting out independent records, and it’s certainly not the time to be judging your self-worth as an artist by how much money your music generates.
Luke Jackson (Popsicle)

Martinique European Tour - Concert Nr.11: London

4.5 London, Carling Academy Islington

Back at the hotel and waiting for some room service. My belly is at the point where within two minutes it will start doing noices and hurt so lets hope someone knocks pretty soon. Ok the gig then……nice…..very nice. Nice venue with two floors and the floors were pretty crowded tonight giving the whole atmosphere a sweaty touch. Thank you for a very nice greeting when I entered the stage, you are really starting to spoil me ;) and I love it.

Someone said that Justin Hawkins from the group The Darkness was in the audience tonight. I hope so, he is a great singer.

Tried a new song tonight called “My Love” which we added to my set. Sounds a bit different than the others and has a more up tempo feel to it. It´s a shorty though, 1,5 minutes I think but it´s a good 1,5 minutes for me.

Helena was really kind to me today, letting me sleep until 14.00 and really letting me get in touch with my fatigue which I met in one of the dreams I had (pretty nice bloke). So before my performance I was feeling a bit low pulsish like everything moved in slow motion. (–Knock knock room service.) I tried to increase the pulse before entering and it may have worked a little bit. I didn´t fall asleep anyway.

Many guests backstage tonight although not in my movies.

Backstage:


This is how it looked through my eyes tonight:



Neil Curran recorded a video:

Martinique - I heard strange things at night

For the first time in many weeks Helena and I watched a movie together. Like a real long movie with a budget behind it. Not Youtube or a vacation super 8 film or anything like that. Just a plain normal movie in colour with sound. In the hotel here in London we saw Slumdog Millionaire. A really good movie which I recommend to anyone that hasn´t seen it. If you´ve already seen it it´s not the same I believe, but I really don´t know now do I just called to say I love you.

Thank you for all the messages on myspace. I haven´t got the time to be there that much so I won´t be able to answer your questions there i´m afraid. Love lifts us up where we belong …

The day of in London me and Mr X went to look for an electric bass that i´ve been interested in a while now. We went to Denmark street which was packed with guitars and basses. Found some cool Vox guitars and a Vox bass but I didn´t go for it. Waiting for the perfect Fender precision or an early 80s Tokai. No luck this time but it was fun to see all the ladies.

Now come on and sing with me boy!!!


All the ladies in the house come on let me hear you say WEOO!!!?? All the girls in the house come on let me hear you say WE WE OO!!!??


Is there a princess in da house then let me open your blouse and come on and let me hear you say YIIIHAAAA!!!??

In the evening we ate in a classic british pub with Helena. Everything was cool until about 18.00 when the place got crowded in 5 minutes by grey-haired men in suits. Some after work or something so we flew.
Helena had her first ever Guinness (it was my second ever, we´re no beer drinkers). Mr X had his first ever Staropramen.

Helena went to see the play War Horse which she thought was really great. It´s about a boy and his horse. The father sells the horse to the first world war and the ffoy heads off booking for it. I mean the boy heads off looking for it. Really well done and the tears were flowing this evening.

I stayed at the hotel searching for a good club sample cd on the internet. There are quite a few out there folks. And that was about it. Baaaaaaaa.
Martinique Josefsson (Sandy Mouche)

Comments by fans:

You were absolutely fantastic as always ! Great video on the audience btw =)
C ya in Sthlm x2



You were good tonight, and filming the audience was a really good idea! Hope Helena liked the flowers ;) See you Amsterdam.

2 May 2009

The Party Crasher Tour - Concert Nr.10: Gent

2.5 Gent, Handelsbeurs

Per Gessle had a doorbuster of a concert here in Gent last night. And we mean that literally. According to TDR, "It was difficult for the staff to get people intent on proceeding forward to move backwards, so when they did manage to get one door open, there was enough pressure placed on the other door as it was opening to cause the unmistakable sound of cracking wood to be heard throughout the lounge."

The show started with support-act Martinique, who performed (singing, playing the guitar and even doing the elecric-boogie) a number of his songs. Also worth noting is that, in TDR's opinion, the selection of music played before the show and during the intermission was excellent. And then suddenly the music stops and all hear the sound of birds, soon to realise they were listening to an excerpt from the title theme to 'The Sound of Music'. The globe on stage turned a bright orange and then Per and the Kids mount the stage.

In a surprise addition to the set list, "Hey, Mr. DJ" was added just after Per had introduced the band. Helena, with a huge smile on her face, looked out at the audience, then over at Per, and began the song's now-familiar introduction. The crowd of "crazy fans" cheered wildly!

Martinique European Tour - Concert Nr.10: Gent

2.5 - Gent, Handelsbeurs

One of the best moments on this tour is when i´m leaving the venue with Mr X.


Sitting side by side in the mini bus we head out into the night, in a new unknown town with all of it´s lights flashing by. He looks at me and then he falls asleep holding my thumb. We keep driving. I´m complete.


Many of my fans in forums all over the world…..no………many of you have been wondering about……..no……….some requests have been made and that is why…….no……..I thought it would be a good post to explain what i´m wearing on my left wrist. Well it´s a rosary that belonged to my grandmother. When she passed away it was given to me. So every night when I perform she is with me on stage looking out for me and making sure i´m doing a good job. She especially enjoyed Warsaw since she was born and have lived there.

On her funeral one of her favourite melodies was played. It´s called Il Silencio and has become one of my favourite melodies too. I´m thinking of doing a cover of it.

Sitting in the dressing room in the dark just after my apperence. Great experience this evening. Wow I have never been welcomed like this ever =) You who were there (many from Argentina and Spain in the first row) thank you! You made my night very special and it was nice giving you the high 5 before i left the stage.

Tried a Sandy Mouche song this evening since many of you understand French. It was “Le Mistral” which I thought went well. Someone even shouted Sandy mouche! =) And thank you for all the waving! You make me a much better dancer =)

So tonight me and Mr X are waiting for the band to finish because we are all driving home together since we live in Brussels. Goodnight and thanks again.

Doesn´t make sense + backstage (long, sit down while watching):


Oh but wait, it doesn´t stop there. I´m right now at the hotel in London finishing this post. After the show I went out to meet the fans with Per and the band. Not that I was expecting anyone to ask for my autograph, I thought it would be nice to film a little. But hey hey it´s never to late to become a mega star over one night and that is just what happened to me.



The fans:


There once was a totally normal guy filming in a room, wait for it….


and wipps, he became a mega star:


Some of them tried out a few of my robot-rubber moves, you go go go guys:


I met Lars-Erik, the man behind Daily Roxette and he told me that he reads my blog (Yihahh) and he gave Mr X a nice Winnie the Pooh pin.
Martinique Josefsson (Sandy Mouche)