Returning to Berlin for their first concert in a proper venue, the Cardigans stimulated a minor frenzy in musical circles, many of which overlap when it comes to this Swedish band. Looking at the band work through the opening number, you'd think it was the Who or Fugazi bobbing, kicking, and jumping about. Close your eyes and the sound is utterly incongruous: silly melodies based on a skipping guitar and a tiny organ.
After the opening two songs, Nina Persson addresses the sell-out crowd for the first time: "We are the Cardigans. We are from Sweden. We are not easy listening if that's what you were expecting."
As Henry Miller could help to explain about the tiny blonde chanteuse, "Hers was the typical cold seductive charm of the Northern woman in whom prudery and lasciviousness battle for supremacy." Except that the battle rages largely in the audience for, though she seems without vulgarity of her own, the audience is certainly affected by a deeply carnal star presence. Impossibly earnest, cheeks highlighted with dimples, twirling one arm in a spritely indie-dance, the singer bewitches the audience with absolutely no effort, or rather - even more astonishing - while steadfastly refusing to do so.
"This is an indie-pop song." The Cardigans run through one of their brilliantly peppy tunes. "We're so indie that I hope you don't confuse us with Oasis," says Persson with the first and only hint of irony displayed by the band. The Cardigans sprinkle their big singles "Carnival," "Sick & Tired," and "Hey! Get Out Of My Way" through the set, not bothering to save them for the encore.
You keep expecting them to cover "Puff the Magic Dragon" but instead they do Thin Lizzy and Ozzy. They turn in a medley of their own "Celia Inside" and "The Boys Are Back in Town." Such whimsy delivered with utter sincerity is rare.
The five Cardigans exit the stage amidst a lingering rasp of guitar and bass that results from a minute of rock extremity tacked onto the end of one of their infectious but harmless songs, but are beckoned back for two encores. Taking the stage for the second encore, Nina Persson explains, "We don't know any more songs. So we're going to borrow one from our good friends Black Sabbath. It's called `Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' and it's *really* serious."
