Sweden’s newest dance chanteuse, Lykke Li, has had a good couple of years. Just 18 months ago she was opening up for El Perro del Mar at the cosy venue Schuba’s. Since then she’s headlined three packed Chicago shows, including Friday night’s Lollapalooza aftershow at Bottom Lounge. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in that time, it’s that Li only gets better with time.

As she has at every American stop, Li entered the stage and began singing a quiet version of “Dance, Dance, Dance” off of her debut LP, Youth Novels. After the second verse, her band chimed in and Li thrashed the drums as though she’s banging out the show’s finale, not the opening number. The band worked its way into the b-side “Everybody But Me”, which somehow manages to be a heartbreaker you can sway to and a lowkey dance number you can groove to. Much of Li’s appeal stems from her ability to exude confidence while sounding meek. Never was this more apparent than on her cover of Kings of Leon’s “Knocked Up”, which featured opener Miike Snow. You believed that she wanted to start a family with her lover, even though her voice suggested it wasn’t the best idea.

Li tried out a new song (listed on the setlist as “Silent My Song”) that didn’t depart much from Youth Novels‘ material, but had enough promise to suggest her next record will avoid a sophomore jinx. The real power of the show came in the last half of the set. Her cover of Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” was somehow exciting and fun but not gimmicky. It was a clever way to segue into the closer “Breaking It Up”, easily one of 2008’s best songs and a track ripe for dancefloor remixes. Through a megaphone she threatened, “If you’re going abroad I can’t help you / If you’re crossing the street I might be there” as audio of a children’s choir kicked in and set the audience into a fit of excitement. The rapt audience clapped and jumped for the next four minutes and displayed the most enthusiasm I’d seen all day — and that’s including seeing several bands at Lollapalooza.

The encore consisted of Kleerup’s “Until We Bleed” (a track Li provides vocals for) and the bittersweet “Tonight”. She implored, “Won’t you let me go, let me go tonight?” No sooner had she finished the note than she waved her arm and walked off the stage. The set was 60 minutes, including encores, but it felt like a major player’s show. When she played Empty Bottle in October, she had a raw but endearing quality to her. In February, she was more polished but still learning how to command a crowd. Last night, she proved herself a strong headliner with a stellar band. She’s supposedly taking some time off after this extensive tour ends and will begin working on a new album. It’s at testament to both her material and her stage presence that I’m already looking forward to her return.

Setlist:
Dance, Dance, Dance
Everybody But Me
I’m Good, I’m Gone
Hanging High
Little Bit
Silent My Song
Complaint Department
Knocked Up (Kings of Leon cover)
Let It Fall
Window Blues
A Milli (Lil Wayne cover)
Breaking It Up
Encore:
Until We Bleed
Tonight
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Categories: Concert Reviews
Tags: CoS at Lollapalooza 2009, Lykke Li