6 years ago, exactly on 10th July, Gyllene Tider played the very same venue in Helsingborg, Sofiero Slott. Per also played here 2 years ago on his Swedish solo tour. What I remembered from those past Helsingborg concerts is that people love to have a picnic there and they love to sing along and they are loud. My memory served me right and the crowd hasn’t changed over the years. Many were queueing for long hours just to reach the best picnic spots inside, hardcore fans were queueing for the front row. Everyone to their own. The crowd didn’t change soundwise either. They are still loud and happy to sing along. The only thing on the negative side is that people get drunk very easily in Helsingborg and then they start being pushy and rude. The security guys did a great job in the front and either convinced the pushing ones to behave or they took them out from the crowd. This way unfortunately, there were quite some moments when we were more occupied with what’s happening around us than what’s on stage.
Sofiero Slott being a huge venue, I was surprised that there were no side screens this time, so I don’t know how much those in the back saw from the concert. But they were probably happy with their meals, eating on their blankets and listening to fab live music.
Regarding the setlist I had high hopes the guys would change it vs. Malmö, because there was a live soundcheck at 5 pm and then besides Det hjärta som brinner and Vandrar i ett sommarregn they played Puls and Billy too. I wouldn’t have expected that both Puls and Billy would make it to the setlist though, but it did happen. Puls was introduced simply as a song from the 80’s and was performed right after Det hjärta som brinner. Billy was the first song played in the first encore. Yeah, the first song in the first encore… Which means Skrot och korn got kicked off of the setlist. Too bad, but Billy was very much welcomed.
I really like the fact that there were no exact same setlists so far on the tour and I hope it stays like this. The guys should play as many of their songs as possible on their last tour. I’m also impressed that the setlist didn’t get any shorter. Knock on wood! There are 24 songs now, so 1 extra compared to the first 3 shows.
This was the first concert from the 4 so far that I saw from the right side. The whole gang was visible, no one was ”hiding” behind someone else’s back. Only Micke Syd was less visible behind the drums, but the sound of his drumming and him coming to the front for 3 songs compensated us. When he came to sing Låt denna trumslagarpojke sjunga! and told he wouldn’t sing Min tjej och jag on this tour, he also mentioned that he and his wife celebrate their 14th anniversary next Saturday. The audience cheered him loudly.
The guys and girls up on stage were very fit again. They enjoyed some days off before this sold-out show that probably helped them being more relaxed. I mean mentally relaxed, because physically they were quite energetic and powerful. Per was bouncing around a lot and the girls were doing the twist in the background. MP was very much into this concert again. It’s awesome to see him enjoying to be there and playing his guitar. Anders and Göran hardly move, but they are masters of their own instruments. Micke Syd is as cool behind his drumset as in the front of the stage.
When the guys left us after Tylö Sun, the crowd started singing ojojojojoj and soon the boys and girls came back on stage. Before the second encore everyone felt one song is definitely missing, so the audience started singing Sommartider and yep, the gang came back. While everyone on stage had their instruments with them, Per was standing there without a guitar, so he said into the mic that all he needs is a guitar. Then Micke N-S, his technician rushed in and gave him a guitar. Micke Syd asked the audience to applaud the guitar guy. Haha.
After saying goodbye for one last time in Helsingborg, Per tried to throw some of his remaining picks to the crowd, but they didn’t fly too far so he left some more on his mic stand. Micke Syd thought he would help Mr. G out and he took off all the picks and threw them to the crowd. Per was laughing.
Åsa was there this time too and she filmed a lot. It’s always so lovely to see how much she still enjoys her husband’s music. Let’s hope the little clips will show up soon on any social media site handled by PG.
Next stop is Skövde, but before that, everyone gets one day off.
Setlist
1. Skicka ett vykort, älskling
2. Juni, juli, augusti
3. Chrissie, hur mår du?
4. Det hjärta som brinner
5. (Hon vill ha) Puls
6. Flickorna på TV2
7. Vandrar i ett sommarregn
8. (Dansar inte lika bra som) Sjömän
9. Det kändes inte som maj
10. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång
11. Tuffa tider
BAND PRESENTATION
12. Låt denna trumslagarpojke sjunga!
13. Kung av sand
14. En sten vid en sjö i en skog
15. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta
16. Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly
17. (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet
18. Tylö Sun
Encore 1
19. Billy
20. Det är över nu
21. Gå & fiska!
Encore 2
22. När vi två blir en
23. Sommartider
24. När alla vännerna gått hem
All pics in the article are taken by Patrícia Peres.
GIG #4 SOFIERO, HELSINGBORG. Alltid kul att komma till vackra Sofiero. Tack alla för att ni hjälpte oss med ett minne för livet. Fantastisk kväll, picnic all around, ni är bäst!!!! /GT