Concert Review: Peter, Bjorn and John at the Granada

BY IAN HRABE

It’s funny what a hit can do. Two years ago, I literally could not walk down Mass Street without hearing Peter, Bjorn and John‘s whistle-wielding surprise hit “Young Folks” blasting out of some boutique or pizza place. Suddenly, the song was everywhere. From clothing commercials, to sports video games, to Grey’s Anatomy, to a sample in a Kanye West track. Rather than recreate the success of “Young Folks,” with this year’s Living Thing, the trio abandoned the anthemic sing-a-long pop of its breakthrough record, Writer’s Block. Going into the Granada on Friday night, I was curious to see how the sparsity of the new songs would carry over in a live setting.

While the hyperactive antics of the three Swedes was entertaining to watch, half of the set was made up of songs sapped of anything close to engaging. Opening with Living Thing‘s first single and most upbeat tune “Nothing to Worry About” was a good call, but following it up with the album’s weakest song, the Paul Simon-esque title track, gave the impression of a band treading water. And someone should tell Peter Morén that no matter how many times he runs, jumps and trots across the stage like a wind-up toy it’s not going to make boring songs any more interesting.