CMJ 2008 Coverage: Lykke Li at the Bowery Ballroom

Those of you only familiar with Lykke Li‘s mid-tempo tunes such as A Little Bit or Dance, Dance, Dance are in for a treat when seeing one of her gigs. I was expecting an almost acoustic-like set but was happily surprised to realize how how energetic her live set really is.

Industry folk and fans alike packed in to see the lovely 22 year old Swedish phenom’s headlining CMJ gig with notable openers Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and Friendly Fires. Cameras, fingers and hips snapped along as Lykke flailed around the stage pounding drums and tambourines, singing through a speakerphone, dancing on top of speakers, and dropping it to the floor while hitting every note beautifully.

Highlights for me included: Let it Fall, I’m good I’m Gone, A Little Bit and her cover of the Tribe Called Quest classic, Can I Kick it? Lykke got the crowd hyped up when she chanted Obama then jumped into the crowd like a rock star. I held her mic as she maneuvered her way back onstage to bid the crowd farewell. Although this is my first show of the week, it has raised my standard for CMJ shows in 08!

MP3: Lykke Li – A Little Bit (CSS Remix) or zShare