Review: PETER JÖBACK, HUMANOLOGY CONCERT at Radio Hall

Radioprogram Musikplats Stockholm with Peter Jöback presenting his album Humanology

Each Friday there is a free live concert at the Radio Hall in Stockholm. It is arranged by and part of the the program "Musikplats Stockholm" in channel P4, which is one of the public service channels. There is no tickets, but a first come first served system so you need to be on time in order to get at seat. The doors are opened at 12.20. The concert this Friday was with Peter Jöback and his band with Frida Öhrn on backing vocals. It was the first time Peter presented his new album Humanoloy as a pop concert, with a simple setting., as it only has been part of this PopTheatre currently running at Circus in Stockholm.

The songs are amazing at Circus, but there they are enhanced byt the ensemble and the beautiful lights and image designs that become part of the songs. But how do the songs work on a smaller stage and with easier lighting and without the cool slideshows etc?

As Peter is very popular it was a long line of people waiting outside the doors to Studio 4, hoping to get one of the 150 available seats. Everybody did not get a seat, but some had to sit in a studio next to watching the concert on screen. But we had arrived on time so we got good seats inside Studio 4. At first, there was a brief interview with Peter behind the stage, before the band and Frida Öhrn entered the stage it was a break for news. Then the program leader Fredrik Eliasson came in and presented Peter. The first song was "Rushing Into Love" followed by "The Mask." Peter and Fredrik talked for a little while and then we heard the very wonderful song "Call Me By Your Name". A song that Peter inspired writing after watching the movie with the same name. It is not part of the PopTheatre at Circus so it's the first time it was played live for an audience. It is one of the best tracks on the album and it was even better to see it live. Soft piano, Peter's emotional voice and a very good lyric which grabs you from the first note. Peter later told us that he liked Bond and wanted to make a Bond-inspired song and based on that the song "What If Tomorrow Never Comes" about Peter's father was written. A song that I loved the first time I heard it on Circus. In the show is has great light design and a superficial slide show with fires which add a great visual add on to the song. But the song is so strong and powerful so it worked just as well on this little stage with no special effects. No matter of the size of audience or stage setting, Peter sings with such energy and dedication that he always captures his audience. The last song in the broadcast was "The Shape Of You". After the broadcast ended they played "Addicted" as extras.

And did the songs worked in a pop concert style? Yes absolutely! Peter mentioned that they really enjoyed playing in the band so there might be a tour in the springtime. The audience seemed to like that idea. The songs on Humanology are incredibly good and it really feels that Peter loves to sing them and they are so good live. Hope they decide soon and release concert date so we know what to do in our spring!

The concert is available on P4 in Musikplats Stockholm. Begin at about 1:15 pm in the log-in section.

https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/1175391