If you’re still stuck in 90s mode listening to “Lovefool”, by the Caridgans, it is time to get 
with the present. Nina Persson’s, of the Cardigans, current project, A Camp, has blossomed into a strong alternative pop group filled with lush instrumental landscapes and Persson’s distinctive voice that blends the best of Andrea Corr with Jenny Lewis.
Currently touring behind the release of the group’s second album (first in US), Colonia, A Camp played the Record Bar for a small but enthusiastic audience. Canada’s Gentleman Reg opened. The white-capped Reg sang indie rock tunes in a high-range voice that almost sounded falsetto, without really being falsetto. When his female keyboard player joined him on vocals, the group sounded a little like Los Campesinos if Brian Aubert of the Silversun Pickups was the singer in place of Gareth. The group was tight in their skills, but lackluster in their lack of movement and stage dynamic.
In contrast to the opener, A Camp made use of every inch of stage and treated each song almost as if it were a theatrical performance. Persson threw her arms up over her head, clutched her heart, and reached for the crowd in time with the music. Her husband, Nathan Larson, on bass would matched her twisty arm movements with dance moves as his own and guitarist Niclas Frisk, popped his collar and raised his guitar up high. Often their songs were constructed and presented in such a way that it would have been just as easy to have used A Camp songs to do a musical and movie instead of Abba.
Although the Record Bar is already an intimate venue, A Camp made it even more so by decorating the stage in hanging lanterns, partitions, and a sparkly sign over the keyboard reading “A Camp.” The Victorian decorations worked well with the feelings and emotions behind the music and when even the stage decorations were not enough, Persson’s would ask “Dr. Light” to bring down the lights even more. 
The set was a balance of songs off Colonia, A Camp and the soon to be released Covers EP (out June 9). While songs like “Angel of Sadness”, “Algebra”, and “My America” were crowd favorites, Nina Persson’s duet with opener Reg on “Golden Teeth and Silver Medals” was the heart of the performance. Holding hands and pulling each other close, Persson ended the heartfelt song about “how you can’t sometimes get what you’re hoping for, but you get second best and that can be fine” by resting her head on Reg’s shoulder in a tender moment.
A Camp ended with “Stronger than Jesus” before returning for a two song encore and genuinely thanking the audience asking them back and for saving them from the smoking patio. Perhaps continuing the theatrical trend or perhaps simply because they are one of the nicest and sweetest bands you’d ever see, A Camp completed the show with a bow and a curtsy.
Check A Camp out on tour and look out for their Covers EP on June 9th featuring covers of Daniel Johnston, Grace Jones, David Bowie and more.
Set List:
The Crowning
Love Has Left the Room
Frequent Flyer
Angel of Sadness
Walking the Cow (Daniel Johnston)
Golden Teeth and Silver Medals
I’ve Done It Again (Grace Jones)
Bear on the Beach
I Signed the Line
Algebra
I Can Buy You
Chinatown
My America
Stronger than Jesus
//
Song for the Leftovers
???
Photos by: Scott Spychalski
Nice one Bethany. I would have loved to see both acts in D.C. – but of course they were here when I wasn’t. Next time!