Pages tagged “i'm from barcelona”

Colossal band doesn't want to grow up

"In my heart, still a kid,” Emanuel Lundgren sings on Who Killed Harry Houdini? the new album by Swedish group I’m From Barcelona. In fact, he sings the line in two different songs.

The first time is on “Mingus,” a contemplation of an old friend who’s  settled down in suburbia with a wife, kid and “four-wheel drive.” With horror, Lundgren reacts, “Oh my god.” He sings the line a second time on “Rufus,” a plea to an imaginary 10-foot dog from the singer’s childhood to come and rescue him from the fate glimpsed in the earlier song. He wants to make an escape worthy of Houdini, his childhood idol. He’s not ready yet to be a conventional adult; in his heart he’s still a kid.

While there are few statistics to back this up, a large chunk of the bands in this world assumedly started when three or four friends get together in a garage or a warehouse or something and just start jamming. Emanuel Lundgren wasn’t having any bit of this. No, he thought, “I like this sound, but it needs about 25 more people.” And with that, I’m From Barcelona was born.

In April, everyone's favorite band with nearly 30 members sporting somewhat unpronounceable names will hit the road. (The names are unpronounceable for ignorant Americans who don't speak Swedish, like this writer. How does ones pronounce an "o" with an umlaut anyway?)

Touring in support of its upcoming album, I'm From Barcelona will coast hop during April, coming in like a lion and out like a lamb.

The question plaguing us is, "How will this enormously oversized band actually manage to travel across the ocean, through the United States, and back again without losing any members?"

We thought on it, and now we are pleased to present The Top Five Ways I'm From Barcelona Will Travel Safely Across Continents.

5. Velocipede. Since there are too many members to fit into any normal means of transportation, why not rent a velocipede to get across the vast continent of the United States? However, if they choose to use these awesome looking bicycles, they should be warned: they might have to move their California shows until July. The fastest the bikes can go is 5 mph.

4. The 30-seat stretch limo. If moving those shows doesn't work, the group could always travel in style, sipping on Cristal as they head cross-country in a ginormous limousine.

3. Air Force One. George Bush wouldn't mind, right?

2. 30-seat parlor car. The members of I'm From Barcelona could pretend that they're characters in the best Western ever (Maverick, of course), and rent an old-school parlor car. They could play poker and maybe get held up by some hold-overs from the Wild West. Billy the Kid's great grandson or something.

1. Rickshaw. The rickshaw would be the perfect mode of transportation for a 30+ member band! They're cheap (they'd need about 10 of them), they'd give the members an excuse to exercise as they continuously trade off between sitting and pulling, and they're totally quaint. Very hipster.

You can thank us later, I'm From Barcelona.

Dates:

April:
24 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ First Unitarian Church
25 - Hoboken, N.J. @ Maxwell's
27 - Indio, Calif. @ Coachella
28 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ El Rey
29 - San Francisco, Calif. @ The Independent

May:
1 - Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Masonic Temple
9 - Brussels, Belgium @ Nuits Botanique
10 - Diksmuide, Belgium @ Ten Vrede

July:
3 - Kristiansand, Norway @ Quartfestivalen
4 - Oystese, Norway @ Bygdalarm
18 - Poupet, France @ Les Arts á la Champagne
19 - Étang de Thau, France @ Festival de Thau

Related links:
Paste: I’m From Barcelona loves Britney, plays shows
ImFromBarcelona.com
I'm From Barcelona on MySpace

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.

The demise of Britney Spears may have isolated her fan base, but at least she has 29 Swedish fans. Sort of. I’m From Barcelona’s b-side and tribute “Britney” will be available on the group's digital single “We’re From Barcelona”-the second off the band's debut Let Me Introduce My Friends-at the end of July.

The ensemble band will also get its first U.S. passport stamp to come play in the States. Unfortunately, if you’re not from the Windy City or Big Apple, you can't catch them live:

August:
4 – Chicago, Ill. @ Lollapalooza
5 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ McCarren Park Pool
6 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Southpaw

Related links:
ImFromBarcelona.com
I'm From Barcelona on MySpace
IFB Live Performance of "Treehouse" on YouTube

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.