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Dec 06, 2010 By Laura Studarus Photography by Wendy Lynch Redfern Web Exclusive

As opening comedian Tig Notaro helpfully pointed out, the crowd gathered poolside at the Hollywood’s SkyBar at the Mondrian Hotel wasn’t comprised of their average weekend clientele. “This is where we all go to meet our friends on Saturday night, right?” she asked, gesturing the bevy of fish-out-of-water hipsters. Chalk it up to the powers of Jens Lekman—his fans will follow him anywhere, even into the steamy under-belly of Los Angeles posh nightlife.

Lekman—flown out for a one-off gig—delivered a stripped down set comprised of his commanding croon, acoustic guitar, and charmingly self-deprecating stage persona. Forced to strip down his lush orchestral songs, “Kanske Är Jag Kär I Dig,” became a chance for an audience sing-along, while classic “Black Cab” was a slowed-down, melancholy take. “Try to shake that ice a bit more quietly please” he begged the bartenders. “Or maybe in tempo with the music, please.”

In addition to a handful of classics, Lekman also dipped into his unrecorded catalogue including ode to his time living down under in Melbourne, “Argument With Myself,” and a (sure to be a hit) song about stalking actress Kirsten Dunst when she came to Sweden. Sadly, Lekman explained, she was unable to get into the Gothenburg club where he was laying in wait due to a lack of VIP lines. Perhaps even more tragic was her lack of attendance at the Mondrian gig—yet another in a line of missed connections. (Judging by the faces of many girls in the crowd, many hoped Dunst’s loss was their gain.)

The set was capped off with several backing-track assisted songs, including “Opposite of Hallelujah,” which included not only Chairmen of the Board sample, “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” but coordinated dance moves. Closing out the encore in circular fashion was another version of “Sipping on the Sweet Nectar”—this time with DJ Victor Sjöberg holding down backing duties on a laptop as Lekman shook a tambourine and frolicked (airplane style) in the few feet of “stage” afforded to him. Having given a master class in charming over the course of 12 songs, Lekman then retired—beer in hand—to chat with his fans.

Setlist:

1. Sipping on the Sweet Nectar (solo)

2. Kanske Är Jag Kär I Dig

3. New Song: An Argument With Myself

4. The End of the World is Bigger Than Love

5. New Song: (Theme: “Being with someone when your heart is not.”)

6. New Song: Waiting for Kirsten

7. Black Cab

8. Gold Key

9. Opposite of Hallelujah

10. Into Eternity

Encore:

11. Maple Leaves

12. Sipping on the Sweet Nectar (with DJ Victor Sjöberg)

(www.jenslekman.com)