The Legends: Smart Swedish Sonics

I like Sweden -- a lot. Including most of its exports: Ikea, The Sounds, WESC, Peter Bjorn and John, Björn Borg, Peter Forsberg, Henrik Lundqvist, and a musical-gem I recently came across, The Legends. Despite the plurality, there's actually only one person in the band who writes and records all songs, and his name is Johan Angergård. The Legends came out with a new album last week, Over and Over, and Johan has been in New York doing what he calls “a New York tour of concert dates."

“I figured it’d be fun to just play New York and play a bunch of venues in a city that’s really important, plus I think people in New York can really get, like and understand my music.” Thus far, this week, he’s performed at Bell House and Santos’ Party House. Tonight Johan plays the Bowery Ballroom and on Friday night he’s performing The Studio at Webster Hall.

The Legends’ music is filled with distortion and feedback, reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary Chain; yet softer tracks like “Monday to Saturday” feel like a bop of fun melodies, reminding me of the popular Peter Bjorn and John track, “Young Folks,” due to its vocal duet. Johan’s music has been around in Sweden for awhile, releasing on Labrador records. Yet, the thing is—and I found this out from the man himself—he doesn’t really tour often (which typically generates more exposure) and considers his music more of a bedroom listening party. “I actually prefer my recordings versus performing live. That’s how I like to hear it myself!” You’ll have to figure that one out on your own by checking out one of his shows.