Vikings Invade!....Pop Vikings!

Sahara Hotnights; The Hong Kong, Marit Bergman
@Mercury Lounge
New York, NY – September 10, 2005

The Nordics invade New York: A show full of Scandinavian acts (I believe all Swedish) and a crowd of full of Scandinavians as well (with notable exceptions Ric Ocasek of the Cars and James Iha of the old Smashing Pumpkins hanging around…look at me, I’m the Scenester Page guy now!) The thing about Scandinavian popular music…it tends to be extreme…either death metal terror groups or sugary pop so sweet your teeth falls out. The Hives ushered in a change of pace – balls-to-the-walls, Rolling Stones inspired rock n roll and punk (though even their first album was unrestrained noise). The Sahara Hotnights originally fell into the same punk field…but have since become an 80’s pop redux. Their live act is in some ways a by-the-basics pop delivery – predictable and soft. But they do it well…and they do belt their hearts out on more than occasion. It’s good clean fun. Penultimate act the Hong Kong have a cute name but are too droll. Another Swedish act with a blonde girl lead singer and an all-guy band, their songs have no punch. Too much disco/pop Blondie and Nena and Pat Benatar and Kim Carnes. The first act of the night that I caught, Marit Bergman, had me fooled. I was so used to seeing Bands, I forgot that there are still acts out there that go by the name of the lead singer – as in, she’s a solo artist. Marit is a solo artist with SEVEN band members (horns, tambourines, organs, two guitars). The music? Ska-pop. Think early No Doubt crossed with Reel Big Fish and their ilk. She’s got a great voice and a likeable personality…but it was a weird night of pop music rather than rock n roll. Change can be good though.

- Update from way beyond in the future: The Hong Kong were not from Scandanavia, they were from New Orleans and they were/are based out of New York. And I re-evaluated them and like them, especially one song "Not Getting Better".