Mimers Hus Performance

Again, so much to say about the concert. Where to begin?

From the top...

Anna met us at the hostel and we began our drive down to Kungälv for the concert. Anna just received her My Story CD today, so she didn't have much time to listen to it yet. We grabbed one of our copies and popped it in for the drive over.

Just a short while later, we were at our destination. No one had the exact address to Mimers Hus but we were easily able to find it because it's hard to miss if you have an idea what it looks like. The building is a one-of-a-kind structure, so it was easy to spot.

We jumped out and began walking toward the entrance. We first saw the library, then saw the cafe. One hall didn't lead us anywhere, so we walked back to the cafe and saw the theatre. Jessi opened the door and we were greeted with a wall of sound before we even made it through the second set of doors.

Rehearsal was happening and we had just walked right into it. Everyone on stage gave us a hearty hello when we popped through the door. We spent a little time taking photos and listening to the check, then we went outside for a few as well.

People started arriving early for the program and started to filter in about thirty minutes before the start of the show. I went around and chatted with a few people to get their expectations before the concert began.

The hosts for the evening introduced themselves and spent about ten minutes playing a game and the winner was going to get a copy of Jenny's book. The contestants were told to find someone in the audience with a certain characteristic (like red clothing or someone who could do twenty push-ups) and bring them back to the chair. Each time they had to go out, another chair was taken away. The audience had fun with it and the winner came away happy.

The host introduced the band and everyone walked on stage. They started with Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" and the concert was underway.

This wasn't exactly a pure concert, yet it wasn't a pure lecture either. It was a bit of a blend. It was more concert than lecture, though. It started out as a typical concert/lecture blend and the audience felt a little restless. It seems the plan changed after the first few songs. Jenny was about to read passages from the book but it seemed she changed her mind and threw that first plan out the window.

Instead, she described points from the book in short sound bites instead of long passages. Afterwards, she would sing a song that was related to a certain part of the book she described.

The playlist was also a little different than prior gigs from the previous two weeks. This one included "Bless the Broken Road", "Go Down Moses", and "Gotta Go" to name a few different songs.

I recorded short clips of each song, but my "thirty-second YouTube camera" decided it had enough and is not functioning at all any longer. Maybe it had to do with the hit it took on the pavement on Gustav Adolfs torg last week when I dropped it?! That's why it's always good to have two cameras. It works to your advantage though, since you get a few full clips instead of a few thirty second bites.

The audience was a little restless at the start, but after "Go Down Moses", they got into it and it picked up quite a bit. The audience got into it more and more as each song went on.

There were parts of the concert tonight where the songs and words hit me upside the head. I wish I had brought tissues. I started losing it during "Håll Mitt Hjärta" and completely lost it during "Bless the Broken Road". And let me tell you, it's no small feat to make me cry in public. Ask people who know me and they'll tell you I just don't do that... unless it's just so poignant or breathtaking that I just can't help it. Like tonight.

I'll write more about the whole concert in a longer report when I get back to the States shortly. I'll also write about the people I spoke with after the concert was over and let you know their thoughts.

After the concert was over, Jenny went out to sign CDs and books. We took a few photos and chatted with Simon, Staffan and David for a few minutes. We also chatted with Jenny after she was finished meeting people. We then made our way to the congregation house a little ways down the road.

Once there, we made ourselves comfortable and had a little something to eat. We also sat and looked on as some of the teens took part in a few of the youth group activites there this evening.

Simon was able to bring a box of CDs for Jessi and Anja. I was also able to buy the copies I needed.

Anja and I had the chance to speak with Terese Fredenwall this evening as well. She is very kind, humble, and has a bubbly and upbeat personality. Terese is going to Germany shortly, so Anja was teaching her a few useful German phrases and a few fun ones too. I also had the chance to tell Terese how much I've enjoyed her singing/songwriting skills. I'm sure she hears it all the time from other people, but it was nice to be able to say it face to face.

Jessi, Anna, and Anja said goodbye to Jenny while I was off wandering in another part of the building.

We all walked out into the nippy night air and another clear, starry night greeted us. As we were walking back to the car, Terese stopped and chatting with us again for a minute or two before saying goodbye.

Everyone jumped in the car, warmed up, and headed back to the city. We dropped Anna off at home and said our goodbyes until next time.

We're now back at the hostel and will be leaving in a few hours for one last concert and lecture.


The setting sun as we arrived in town.


Just at the horizon.


Signage.



The cafe on the right and entrance to the theatre on the left.


Advertisement for the concert.


Anja taking photos during rehearsal.


Somewhere up there, you'll find David Råsmark manning the sound booth.


Walking in on rehearsals.


Jessi and company have their seats picked out.


The house filling up with people.


Just before showtime.

People buying CDs and meeting Jenny


People meeting Terese.


Anna relaxing after the show.


Lights out on stage after the concert.


Jessi taking pictures of the three of us.


More people meeting Jenny. She's somewhere in there.


Wonderful Staffan Birgersson and awesome Simon Petren.


Meet David Råsmark. He co-wrote "Living in a Circus" and plays bass on "My Story". He also worked the sound for the concert this evening.


At the congregation house and people waiting in line for food.


Lots of food - and candy!


Jenny at the congregation house signing CDs.


The main hall in the congregation house.


A youth group leader at the church, I think.


Time to go back to the city.


Downtown with the newly installed sightseeing wheel.


The Stena ferry. Almost back to the hostel.


And back for just one more evening.

The last time you did this...

Once the first two interviews were finished up, Jenny stopped by the the table and offered us something to drink again. We thanked her and said, "Yes, please!".

Jessi got an espresso. Anja got fizzy water and I got some tap water.

During the second interview, a woman from the office came in and placed a plate beside Jenny. The plate had a sandwich and fruit on it. Once the interview was over, the sandwich and fruit were still sitting there.

Somehow, the plate migrated to our table.

Jenny asked if we were hungry and we said we were slightly hungry, so she grabbed the sandwich and started slicing up pieces for everyone. She grabbed some plates and there we were, having a little snack and chat with Jenny.

It seems everytime Jenny and Jessi meet, Jessi ends up getting an offer of food. Today, Jessi mentioned a memory from the last time they met. Jessi mentioned that the last time this happened, it reminded Jessi of the song "Let Us Break Bread Together."

We chatted about general things, about the website, the album. Anything that came to mind. Jenny did most of the chatting. And we were totally ok with that. At one point she mentioned this fact and asked us about ourselves and our lives. So we chatted a bit about that too.

Jenny asked if we wanted anything for the website or the blog. Yes, please! I asked her to make another little clip for the blog. I mentioned the light problem last time and Jenny grabbed the lamp hanging over the table and directed it towards herself. She made such a face and such funny comments, I couldn't stop laughing. I had a hard time composing myself again actually film the clip.

So, here is the clip: Jenny saying hello and talking about her day today:



We were finished eating and there was another interview coming up that Jenny had to attend to. This one was a live interview with a radio station via phone.


A live interview on the phone.


But, before that happened, she taught us an icebreaker game. We didn't have time to play it together, but Jessi and Anja gave it a little go afterwards.

The game goes something like this: One person puts a toothpick in between their teeth. They come up with a noun and tell the person to their left. They tell a verb to the person on the right. The person with the toothpick in between their teeth then says the phrase to a fourth person. The fourth person then has to guess what the first person actually said.

When Jessi and Anja actually tried it out, I was laughing so hard I could barely take pictures. Then, Jessi has the bright idea to take two pieces of gum and make teeth.

Here is visual proof of their antics:





So, the office was about to close and Jenny had to go to rehearsals. We went back out of the office and onto the street. Jessi mentioned the fact that we hadn't been able to get ahold of the album yet and Jenny proceeded to open her suitcase. She pulled out three CDs and handed one to each of us. So very very cool.

We thanked her and she again apologized that we weren't able to into the Expressen XL event. We said our goodbyes until the next time.

Whew! And that was today...

Now we're back at the hostel with our albums! Been listening to it since we got back and it's marvelous! We're trying to decide which songs we like best. Difficult!



The three of us with our album and single!

Hope you enjoyed the reports from today. :)

Really?? Really!

Jenny jumped in the front seat of the cab and we piled into the back seat. So, there we were. In Stockholm. In a taxi cab. With Jenny.

Yeah.

I was a bit stunned by the turn of events, so I was a tiny bit silent. Ok, a lot silent. The other two weren't saying much either. I finally peeped out some questions about Stockholm proper and a few questions about how interviews work. And suddenly, we were at the building.

This time, Jenny took the elevator and we ran up the stairs. Jenny sang and we ran. We could hear her voice echoing through the stairwell as we ran our way to the top.

That's a fun thing about being around Jenny. She is always singing or humming a little something. She was singing along with Alicia Key's Falling while we were in the taxi cab. Imagine that, would you? Fabulous.

So, the journalist was waiting in the office when we arrived. Jenny and the interviewer made their introductions. They moved into a glass office to do the interview. There was a woman who was interviewing Jenny and a man who was going to take the photos. The interview lasted for about thirty minutes or so and the photos about fifteen, I think.



The first interview taking place behind the glass.

We sat in what looked like a breakroom. It had a few tables and chairs. It had a coffee machine and a full working kitchen. There were newspapers on the table and an espresso machine. We sat at one of the tables and chatted while all this was happening.


Anja hanging out.


Jessi relaxing at the table.

Once the interview was over, Jenny asked us if we wanted some coffee but we said we were ok.

A second journalist showed up a little while after. This time, the glass office was taken up by someone else. The journalist set up office right next to us. He and Jenny sat at one table and we were just a few steps away at the second table.


The second interview.

What a boon to be able to see the process from the inside. I always wondered how it all worked and to get an inside view into the process was a very cool thing.

We sat back and listened to the questions and answers. The interview was about 30 minutes long or so. Once it was over, the journalist said he would send the finished product over in a few hours. I suspect we'll see this interview in the next few days.

First stop: Expressen

Yep, we stopped by the Expressen building before Jenny was going to sing for the XL show. Jenny gave the guard a heads up, yet the guard wasn't quite prepared. The guard called upstairs and we were given the go-ahead. Jessi went through the door, then it locked up on us. Anja was stuck in the middle of the revolving door, which was quite funny. I thought so. She probably thought otherwise.


The Expressen building.

We went back to the guard and she remotely unlocked a second door for us. One that opened like a normal door. Thankfully.

A man named Christian greeted us. He worked for Expressen and first thought we were the backing vocalists. Ha HA! Well, Jessi could surely pull it off...

We were told Jenny and company were running a little late, so we sat down to wait. Simon was already there, and he said a quick hello. Jenny came in just a few minutes and waved a fast hello. Terese and her friend Elin introduced themselves and sat down for a minute or two to chat with us.

Things were hectic and frantic at this point. Everyone had to go into the room to rehearse, so we waited on the couches.

It was exactly one o'clock and Christian was running around like crazy back and forth between different places. We were waiting for someone to tell us it was ok to go inside, but that ok never came to us. We likely should have asked but we waited there instead thinking someone would allow us in.


The Expressen staff loved their coffee machine. I think the entire staff stopped by at least once during the hour we were there. ;)


A sideways pic of some office cubicles.

We heard the performance of the two songs from the outside. We then saw Simon and Terese and Elin leave the room. They said a quick goodbye to us and left.


Behind that grey door is the very small Expressen XL Room. Jenny said the room was quite small. The one side of the room they were facing had cameras embedded in the wall.

Jenny came out a bit later and asked us if we were able to get in. When we said no, she looked a little confused. She then apologized and said she thought we were able to see something. She told us she was rushing because she had another interview and she was supposed to be there now!

She started down the hallway of Expressen's newsroom. We were still sitting when she said to us that we could come with her. We jumped up and joined her. We rushed down the halls and I took one last look at the enormous newsroom with all the journalists sitting at their computers looking at their papers in the bright light of the office.

Christian thanked Jenny and we jumped into the elevator. We were all carrying large bags and there were four of us. We barely fit in this tiny elevator but we made it. We asked Jenny how it went and she mentioned that she messed up some of the lyrics.

We jumped off the elevator and back through the revolving doors that didn't work for us the first time. This time, they worked perfectly.

Outside, a taxi cab was waiting. I asked Jessi, does she mean we're going to go with her??

XL Live today

Don't forget to tune into Expressen today at 1 PM CET to see Jenny playing live online!

Getting Ready

As most of you already probably know, the new Jenny Berggren website is up and running with sound clips from the new album. If you haven't seen it, take a look!

As for us, we're getting ready to go out and see what fun we can find today!

Time to Sing!

Thanks to Radio Prime who interviewed Jenny and Michał (from aceofbase.pl) who captured the interview, we're in our hostel room rocking out to "Dying to Stay Alive". We've put the song on full blast and it's echoing throughout our room. Awesome! It's being played over and over and over again. We're singing along with the chorus and enjoying every minute of it!

Sing with us now! I'm just gonna be dancing woah oh oh...

Two concerts in one day!

I was able to see two of my favorite singers yesterday. One concert in the early morning and one concert later at night. How cool is that?

I've uploaded a few clips from the morning concert with Jenny, so here are a few from Maria Gustin Bergström's evening concert:





I asked her if she's ever considered singing in English and she said she had translated one song. She said it's a matter of getting a good translation. Her lyrics are very well crafted, so I can understand how she would want to keep the integrity of the song intact after a translation. I hope she finds an excellent translator and gets to work. Would be cool to hear her sing in English as well.

Jenny says hello

Now that there are a few videos on Youtube, here's a little hello from Jenny from Karlstad:



I apologize for the bad lighting.

Also, Jakob and Jenny played several songs from the album for us again. They hooked up Jakob's iPhone to the church sound system and asked us which songs we wanted to hear. We chose Air of Love, Going Home, Dying to Stay Alive, Spend This Night, and Natural Superstar. We couldn't stop listening.

Ah, it was incredible to sit there and listen! We could feel the beat and the bass running right through the building. There were a few other people in the church with us and they couldn't help but also get into the groove of the music.

It's just a few days until My Story is released and it's so hard to wait, even though we've been able to hear several of the songs. Maybe it's harder because we want copies of the songs we just heard. It's almost here though, and I think many of the Acers out there will be quite pleased with what they hear.