SFist Reviews: Jens Lekman @ Bottom of the Hill
by Moses Namkung
In the middle of his second consecutive sellout show at Bottom of the Hill on Tuesday, Jens Lekman gave his own "gentle response to all the Prop 8 bullshit going on": his standout song, "Postcard to Nina". Between verses, the Swede explained an anecdote relating to the song: a story about the time he was in Berlin and briefly became heterosexual for his lesbian friend Nina, who introduced him to her father as her boyfriend because, of course, she didn't want her father to know about her girlfriend. Got that?
Anyway, the song captured Jens in a nutshell; the awkwardness, deadpan wit, and odes to love. And he's able to thread all of this in with dreamy melodies that wax nostalgic while sampling seamlessly. By the way, Jens confessed that before he saw Milk and knew who Anita Bryant was, he bought one of her albums at a thrift store, then proceeded to "sample the shit out of that record."
"Sorry for my homophobic samples," he said.
It's okay, Jens, we know you didn't mean no harm.
Overall, Bashful Jens has really blossomed as a performer. Backed by bass, violin and drums, his tight-knit set was a good half of Night Falls Over Kortedala as well as a songs he said he hadn't played in a couple years, "Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song" and a Boyz II Men cover, "Water Runs Dry."
After the show, Jens ventured to BOTH's back to greet fans, posed for photos, and autographed at least one asthma inhaler.
Setlist:
1. I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You
2. The Opposite of Hallelujah
3. New Directions
4. Black Cab
5. Your Arms Around Me
6. The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love
7. Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig
8. An Argument With Myself
9. Postcard to Nina
10. Maple Leaves
11. Into Eternity
12. Sipping on the Sweet Nectar
-- Encore --
13. Water Runs Dry (Boyz II Men)
14. A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill
-- Second Encore --
15. Shirin
16. Rocky Dennis' Farewell Song