When a week ago I was on my way back home from Göteborg it was the day when there was the second Göteborg show. It felt very weird that I was flying away while PG was on stage, so after getting back home I quickly rescheduled my tour plan – not to feel too depressed again, haha –, because Halmstad #2 wasn’t in my original plans to attend. But what a good decision it was to go and see this concert too! It absolutely topped the first Halmstad gig! Both the band and the crowd were in top shape and worked very well together.
The crowd reactions were cool, last night you could also feel that all Halmstad people are proud to have such an artist as Per, born here. Everyone enjoyed themselves both on and off stage, the audience was singing and clapping along the songs. The anecdotes were also appreciated with laughter and applause.
Before Det hjärta som brinner Per told the anecdote about Gyllene Tider playing on this stage in 1979 when they were invited by Ulf Lundell on his Ripp rapp tour. Just like yesterday, Mr. G remembered the small mugs on stage which he thought contained water, but after drinking from them it turned out it was vodka.
After Micke N-S brought Per his ukulele on stage, PG told the story of how he got hold of his first ukulele. He read in a magazine that George Harrison from The Beatles had tons of ukuleles. Per thought it’s a good idea and he also bought an ukulele. He joked that they sold 3 pieces for 300 SEK, it was in a basket at the checkout, just like Dumle (chocolate-covered toffee) usually is. The same day he wrote a song, the only song he wrote on an ukulele so far. He said he has no ambition to write another one. Haha. Tuffa Tider is always fun to hear live. When the band finished the song, Per stood up and took a round around his chair to sit back. He said they had seated gigs in summer and 4 of 5 in the band had problems with their back after that. Christoffer added they had prostate problems too, so now they have to sit. Everyone laughed.
Before It Must Have Been Love, Per asked the audience what they think about the fact that it’s soon Christmas. The reaction wasn’t too positive from the crowd’s side. However, whole Halmstad is covered with Christmas trees all around the streets, on the main square, there is Christmas music playing all day in town, the Christmas lights are also up and beautiful.
Before Min hälsning Per told he thought to finish with the next song. He said it’s Monday after all. The audience wasn’t happy about the idea, of course. Haha. After telling he wrote this song originally for Gyllene Tider, he introduced MP, responsible for the sound at the show. The crowd was cheering him loudly. Christoffer started playing a different song though, so Per stopped and told him it’s not that song. Chris said there are so many from the past 43 years. Haha.
When Per & Co. went off stage for the first time, the crowd gave a standing ovation and didn’t stop clapping their hands until the band was back on stage.
After Listen To Your Heart – dedicated to Marie and Pelle –, the crowd didn’t stop clapping for a longer while. Per put his hand on his heart and thanked the audience for their response.
After the first encore it was standing ovation again and all in the crowd wanted more. Obviously, the gang wanted more too, so they came back for the second encore.
Before Sommartider Per stood up again and he didn’t even have to suggest the audience to stand up too, we all were up on our feet by the time he would have finished the sentence. At last, a crowd that stayed standing for the very last song too. Before När alla vännerna gått hem, Per said he hopes to meet the audience again. Someone shouted „in Kalmar”, haha. Mr. G appreciated it.
After PG & Co. took a bow and waved goodbye to the audience, they were also applauding the crowd and then Per stopped at longtime fan Sandra Knospe and asked her (not loudly, but writing the number in the air with his finger) if it was already her 300th show. Not much left until then, but her 300th will happen in Malmö.
Next stop is Karlstad on 8th December!
Setlist
1. Kung av sand
2. På promenad genom stan
3. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång
4. Småstadsprat
5. Min plats
6. Tycker om när du tar på mej
7. Det hjärta som brinner
8. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta
9. Varmt igen
10. Tuffa tider
11. Juni, juli, augusti
12. It Must Have Been Love
13. Vilket håll du än går
Band introduction
14. Här kommer alla känslorna
15. Min hälsning
Encore 1
16. Födelsedag
17. Listen To Your Heart (dedicated to Marie Fredriksson & Pelle Alsing)
18. När vi två blir en
Encore 2
19. Vid hennes sida
20. Sommartider
21. När alla vännerna gått hem
Photos in the article are taken by Patrícia Peres.
Per after the show:
Thank you Halmstad for a truly amazing Monday night. So proud to be part of this band. So blessed to get this feedback from you guys and gals. Wow!!! Speechless! /PG.