Where does a person get all that energy from? That’s a question that comes up several times during Miss Li’s concert at Avicii Arena. She darts between the piano, different parts of the stage, and big show numbers without appearing the least bit tired. And it continues like that, almost all the way to the end.
Linda Carlsson, known to us as Miss Li, celebrates 20 years as an artist with the tour Nu som då för evigt. A lot has happened since she broke through with her jazz-influenced piano pop. The music has changed, the productions have grown, and the audience has become larger. But that slightly unruly personality remains.
After an eleven-minute delay, the concert starts. Miss Li stands on a bed behind a curtain that disappears to reveal the evening’s stage setup. Right from the start, it’s clear that both time and money have been invested in the production.
And it sure looks good. Really good, actually.
During the evening, the visual features follow one after another. A long table with candles is rolled in, and Miss Li is joined by dancers who take their place around the table. At another moment, she swings in a large crystal chandelier above the stage. Add several hefty showers of confetti and you start to understand the scale.
But it’s when she leaves the big stage that one of the evening’s finest moments occurs.
On a smaller stage in the middle of the arena, she draws audience song requests from a box. She talks, jokes, and sits down at the piano. Among the requests is Lars Winnerbäck’s Om du lämnade mig nu.
It’s a moment where all the grandeur takes a back seat. No advanced effects are needed. Just Miss Li, the piano, and a song that gets its space.
Back on the main stage, the cavalcade of hits continues. Småstaddrömmar, Komplicerad, Utan dig, Hälsa Gud, and Instruktionsboken are just a few of the songs passing by during the evening. It’s only when they come in such rapid succession that you truly realize how much music she’s managed to release over the years.
One of the strongest moments comes during X. Much of the nearly packed Globen sings along to the words about being worth so much more. Miss Li barely has to do anything to get the audience going. She listens and responds with a satisfied "precisely."
The band also does a great job. I’m particularly struck by the guitar playing and a few really nice touches on the saxophone. The choir helps give the songs extra weight.
And then, of course, there’s Miss Li’s ability not to take herself too seriously.
During a costume change that she performs out among the crowd, the zipper refuses to cooperate. There’s a bit of a tangle before she concludes that it will have to do anyway. Then the concert continues as if nothing happened.
Towards the end, she brings out some of the older songs in a medley. Oh Boy gets new life on the smaller stage, and Miss Li manages both to play the piano and headbang. It’s hard to believe she’s been going for almost two hours.
But the evening has one more surprise in store.
Suddenly, Petter appears and together they perform Lev nu dö sen. Hands shoot up in the air all around Globen and it’s a really great end to the evening.
What detracts from the overall impression the most is the sound. On several occasions the soundscape becomes muddy and certain details get lost in the mix. It doesn’t ruin the concert, but it’s noticeable often enough to be annoying. It’s especially a pity given how much work has been put into the musical arrangements.
In a smaller venue with better acoustics, the concert would likely have been much better served. Here, the lavish production and the large song catalog sometimes have to contend with the arena’s acoustic limitations.
It’s hard, however, to complain about Miss Li herself. She offers a concert full of humor, unexpected twists, and a stage presence that keeps the audience engaged all the way through.
It’s a solid four. Not a perfect concert, but an evening with many memorable moments and an artist who still seems to be having a really good time at work.
