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Thomas Dybdahl performs at Songbyrd Music House on Feb. 5, 2019. (Photo by Andy Jillson)
Norwegian singer-songwriter Thomas Dybdahl brought his soothing folk sound to DC for a solo performance at Songbyrd Music House recently. A small yet enthusiastic and devoted crowd welcomed Thomas to the dimly-lit stage in the basement venue at Songbyrd.
MØ (Photo courtesy RCA Records)
Last fall, Danish pop star MØ released When I Was Young (a new EP), and then she announced a joint North American tour with Norwegian producer Cashmere Cat. The duo booked a date at 9:30 Club on Monday, Jan. 22, and that sold out — so they booked a second date on Tuesday, Jan. 23. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!
Aurora performs at the 9:30 Club on Monday, Oct. 31, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Aurora Aksnes was fighting a cold. But she was feeling scrappy, and her voice sounded strong, so she barreled ahead at the 9:30 Club Monday night.
At one point, the petite but determined Norwegian songstress shook her fist in defiance, as if to rally against her cold although she was truly rallying against emotional distress, as depicted in many of the songs from her debut album, All of My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend, released by Glassnote Records earlier this year.
Aurora Aksnes performs at U Street Music Hall on April 21, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Earlier this year, petite Aurora Aksnes gathered a large crowd into booming U Street Music Hall for a show packed with big ideas.
This time around, Aurora, the sensational Norwegian singer-songwriter, is performing at an appropriately larger venue, where the stage at the 9:30 Club is sure to provide a better platform for her artistic expression and the accompanying concert hall a better space for large crowds.
So come out on Monday, Oct. 31, to see Aurora as she sings, bounces, dances, and pantomimes along to the darkly glorious songs of her debut album, All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend, released in March by Decca Records and Glassnote.
Following songs like “Runaway,” “Half the World Away” (an Oasis cover!), “Conqueror,” and others, Aurora released a sixth single, “I Went Too Far,” from the new album. You know an album has legs when it can support six singles!
Watch the official music video for “I Went Too Far” by Aurora on YouTube:
Parklife DC reviewed Aurora at U Street Music Hall on April 21. (Revisit our full review and pictures here.) After seeing her, I said, “Although petite in size, the Norwegian folk popstar, who goes by only her first name, has a big voice that fits her ambitious songs of flight or fight. She also has a habit of physically moving where her music takes her. This somewhat off-kilter acting out of her own words and melodies might readily draw some comparisons to her fellow Scandinavian artist Bjork.”
I added, “Aurora’s folk pop is as spritely as she is, but it does carry dark overtones of struggling to find yourself, to be free, or to fight.”
You’ll want to be free for this show on Monday! Tickets are available online.
Aurora
w/ Dan Croll
9:30 Club
Monday, Oct. 31, 2016
Doors @7pm
$20
All ages
The Sounds (Photo courtesy Reybee Inc.)
Ten years ago, the undeniable album of the year was Dying to Say This to You by The Sounds.
It was the second album from the Swedish quintet, and it blasted a whole in the existential dance floors of our lives with its unabashed new wave power. And for a while, lead singer Maja Ivarsson was the It Girl and everything was good – that hair! that voice! that attitude! those high kicks! (Hey, she’s got a Modesty Blaise tattoo, you know!) Being Swedish never looked so good. (…and that’s saying something — being Swedish always looked good, right?)
The Sounds will tour to mark the 10th anniversary of Dying to Say This to You, and they will stop at the 9:30 Club on Monday, Nov. 28 as part of that tour.
Need I ask? Watch the official music video for “Tony the Beat” by The Sounds (guest starring Steve Aoki!) on YouTube:
Here at Parklife DC, we also are big admirers of keyboardist/ guitarist/ songwriter/ wunderkind Jesper Anderberg, who I had the pleasure of interviewing in 2013 when The Sounds last toured the United States. (Read that interview at We Love DC!)
“We realized earlier this year that it was 10 years ago that we released our album Dying to Say This to You and embarked on a journey that took us on tour around the world for almost two years straight,” said the band in a statement to fans. “This was a magical time in our lives and we shared it with so many of you. Now we like you have gotten a little older, some have gotten married, had children, and it has been many years since we’ve hit the road.”
The tour launches Nov. 15 in Salt Lake City, and it visits the 9:30 Club on Nov. 28. Zipper Club and My Jerusalem are along for support. It’s going to be amaaaaazing! Tickets are available online!
The Sounds
w/ Zipper Club, My Jerusalem
9:30 Club
Monday, Nov. 28
Doors @7pm
$25
All ages
Aurora performs live at U Street Music Hall on Thursday, April 21. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Aurora Aksnes is a powerfully expressive performer.
Although petite in size, the Norwegian folk popstar, who goes by only her first name, has a big voice that fits her ambitious songs of flight or fight. She also has a habit of physically moving where her music takes her. This somewhat off-kilter acting out of her own words and melodies might readily draw some comparisons to her fellow Scandinavian artist Bjork.
Aurora (Photo courtesy Glassnote Records)
Norwegian singer Aurora Aksnes has been taking the US airwaves by storm with the release of her debut full-length album, All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend (released March 11 via Decca Records), and her subsequent television appearances leading up to a North American tour that stops at U Street Music Hall on Thursday, April 21.
To no one’s surprise, our local show has sold out! And those who have tickets will enjoy the 19-year-old Aurora’s lyrically rich art-pop sensibilities. She likes to sing in metaphors relating to battles with songs like “Conquerer” and “Warrior” and often takes a look at the dark side of the human condition with songs like “Running with the Wolves,” a song of escape, and “Murder Song (5,4,3,2,1),” a story of a mercy killing perhaps but ultimately about loss.
Ultimately, where Aurora makes her mark, however, is with her voice, unique in its haunting timber.
Watch the official music video for “Conquerer” by Aurora on YouTube:
Said Aurora in press notes on the song, “I know that I’m very sensitive. In many ways, I’m weak. But if you’re weak, you’re also very strong. Because you need to work a bit harder to survive as well… You have to find the conqueror in yourself at first, I think. That’s what I think about in the song. It’s just a person who hasn’t realized that yet. That person is still trying to find the conqueror in someone else. You have to find the conqueror in yourself to land on your own feet. You are the only one you need to survive. Then other people will make your life a good life as well. It’s important to be strong in yourself.”
Singer/songwriter Tor Miller from New York opens for Aurora. The show is sold out.
Aurora
w/ Tor Miller
U Street Music Hall
Thursday, April 21
Doors @7pm
$15
All ages
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