CHRIS WALKER VS. BANDS AND BOOZE, THE SECOND ROUND: PETER, BJORN, AND JOHN

Sometimes you hear a song and get the feeling it’s going to be great within the first few seconds. That’s how I felt when I heard Peter, Bjorn, and John’s stellar single “Young Folks”. It was so upbeat and forward moving it was undeniable. I quickly put it on repeat and gave it a solid slot in what is an otherwise always changing play list.

Sweden’s very own Peter, Bjorn, and John have been around for a while and I’m not going to lie – I hadn’t heard of them until the release of this year’s full-length album, Writer’s Block. Oh well, no better time to discover them than now because Writer’s Block is the trio’s most comprehensive release to date. It’s the first time all three band members have taken on vocal/songwriting duties and although you’d think it might be a clusterfuck, or clashing of egos, it’s the exact opposite. Rather, it’s impressive feat of musical craftsmanship – almost perfect. Each member showcases his musical prowess and ability in just the right doses; from “Young Folks” to “Amsterdam” to “Paris 2004” to “Let’s Call It Off” to “The Chills”, everything on this album glistens.

It’s funny how I go from talking about Grizzly Bear’s enveloping Yellow House to Peter, Bjorn, and John’s Writer’s Block with the same esteem because they’re so different. To me, Peter, Bjorn, and John’s Writer’s Block is a pop album, of the purest sense, brimming with hit singles – but not the JoJo kind, the good kind – that endure and maintain appeal because they’re so catchy yet never actually become “singles”. What I’m basically trying to say is the album is a fantastic listening experience.

Peter, Bjorn, and John are Peter Morén (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboard, percussion, harmonica), Bjorn Yttling (production, bass, vocals, keyboard, percussion, guitar, string arrangements), and John Eriksson (drums, vocals, guitar, keyboard, percussion). Today on Bands and Booze, band members Bjorn and John talk about the importance of looking great even when you feel like shit, locking boring people on roofs, the best places to get a drink in Stockholm, and why you should get 4 to 5 drinks at a time when drinking in Amsterdam.

So, let’s get right into it: what’s your favorite alcoholic drink when you’re on the road, or in general?

Bjorn Yttling: White wine is always good for you.

John Eriksson: Boddington’s Smooth Ale or Heineken are great but on the next tour I will drink tea.

Good picks. Is there any alcohol you've ever been burned by in the past and refuse to drink now?

BY: Not really the alcohol itself, but some of the blenders. Like Schweppes Russian. When me and Peter shared apartment many years ago, we had a party with different vodkas and only Schweppes pink stuff to mix with. I puked on the balcony, while Peter came as far as ridin’ the subway train into town before throwing up. The nice part is that we both had some overdone glitter make-up on. Look good – feel bad.

Very important, I understand. So, the new record, Writer’s Block, is thoroughly enjoyable and “Young Folks” is an awesome single. My favorite track off the album is probably “Let’s Call It Off”; that song just does it for me. What is your favorite song to perform live?

BY: We like to play all the songs of course, but the favourite right now is “The Chills”, we just redid that in a kraut rockish version. People tend to look really good dancing to it, too.

JE: “Up Against the Wall” is also enjoyable because it always ends in a different way. One time it ended with me falling off the stage.

Nicely done. You guys are in the middle of a pretty extensive European tour; do you have any good drinking stories from the road?

JE: One time when Bjorn and me was in London we went to this party that was boring. We went up on the roof and there were some boring people so we turned back, locked the door to the roof and went home.

That’s hilarious. Now, on Writer's Block all three of you took on writing/vocal duties and the end result is a beautiful combination of talent. If there was going to be an alcoholic drink called the Peter, Bjorn, & John how would you make one; what would the ingredients be?

BY: There is one! But I can’t remember what’s in it. Do you John?

JE: Yes, it was...no...I can’t remember. I think it was something with Rum...

What is one of the best places to hang out and get a drink in Stockholm?

JE: Ugglan is great!

BY: Yeah, and I think Gondolen is good, it’s some 100 [meters] above ground in the center of Stockholm. Great view, great drinks, great food. Sometimes a little stiff crowd, but you can pretend it’s your older relatives or something.

JE: Sjöhästen in Hornstull is nice when you want to relax and talk and Tranan is more noisy but also good.

Do you have any good drinking stories from any of those places?

JE: Yes, at Tranan I played a gig with Swedish singer-songwriter Nicolai Dunger and everybody in the band was very drunk. It sounded strange I think and I missed the tambourine the whole time.

I've heard one of the greatest sights to see in Sweden is the women; are Swedish women truly as beautiful as we Americans have been led to believe? I heard it has something to do with Vikings, please explain if you can.

BY: Can’t really explain what you heard about the Vikings. I think it’s all a matter of good air not genes. You guys have to cut down traffic.

So, one of the new songs is called “Amsterdam”; I know that place is often the home of many wild times. Do you have any quality stories from Amsterdam?

BY: You always have to watch out when you’re in Amsterdam - they got 40 million bicycles and some trams too. The beers are really, really small so you better buy 4-5 at the same time.

Note taken. If you’ve had a rough night out and need to recover for the next day’s travels, what is your ultimate hangover remedy?

BY: Steal a pillow from the hotel to use in the van, eat mushroom omelets, drink some water and pretend you feel great!

Have you been listening to any good albums, aside from your own, lately?

BY: Of course: Camera Obscura, CSS, Jeans Team, Joe Meek, ESG and Jenny Wilson.

JE: Konk, Hanna Hartman, Ariel pink, Broadcast, Zongamin and Kool Keith, of course.

Are we going to see you guys jump across the pond any time soon and play a US tour?

BY: Hope to come soon after New Years.

I hope so. Well, all right, that’s it; we’re done. Just one last question, the most important question of all, which are better: ninjas, pirates, or Vikings?

BY: Ninjas. Best clothes.

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For European tour dates, MP3, and more information – as always – follow the links below. In addition, make sure you watch the “Young Folks” video. It’s pretty cool and actually sort of creepy.

Peter, Bjorn, and John Official Site.

Peter, Bjorn, and John on MySpace.