Terra live@Nefertiti (Gothenburg): Review

Terra doesn’t want to become Sweden’s favorite rock band, but unfortunately, they’re already well on their way. The fact that Terra still picked out such a small venue as Nefertiti for their release party tells us two things. Either all big venues were booked or it’s a deliberate choice. I want to believe in the latter.

Ok, here’s the situation. Terra is one of my favorite bands. But since you probably don’t wanna read about how this “magical evening” made me thrilled I’ll do my best to be as objective as I could. Therefore, I spent the entire walk to Nefertiti lowering my expectations.

It’s going to be too crowded. No, I don’t own any Terra shirts or vinyl records. No, I wasn’t already a fan back in 2016 when they released Terrarism. And I definitely didn’t shed a proud-dad tear when they performed on Musikhjälpen last winter. Memories are unreliable, I’ve probably just dreamt it. However, I do have about ten friends who were genuinely sad when they found out that tickets for Terra’s release party sold out in just a few minutes. But that’s on them.

Something that can be objectively stated is that it is sunny and +24 degrees when I enter Nefertiti, walk under the hunching brick arches, and up to the stage where I pick a spot that I think will help my objectivity a little somewhere in between the 40-year-olds and the 18-year-olds. But as people begin to fill up the venue, I realize there aren’t any 40-year-olds. Those being quick enough to get tickets in time all seem to be younger than 25. After about 20 minutes of waiting in a, by all means, hot crowd, Terra takes the stage. And what an ‘objective’ experience this will be!

“Sålde av gitarrerna och växte upp, 10 000 timmar i en gaffeltruck” [Swedish is a weird language, we know; “Sold my guitars and grew up, 10,000 hours on a forklift”], Karl begins preaching from the stage. Like a lonely and vulnerable member of the congregation I already have a hard time dodging the words of the pastor. He must be singing about my life.

After “Lilla liv” comes the crowd-pleaser “Din spegel” followed by the incel-repellent song “Kackerlacka.” The crowd starts indie-bouncing as if they had choreographed it in advance, like indie kids do. When the next song starts, “Aldrig bli mig själv,” my rigor mortis gives way, and I join in. “Kött och blod” is the next song, just two weeks old, and the reason the concert is called a release party. Although fresh off the shelf, everyone sings along. Unfortunately, the sound system starts acting up during “Här kommer natten.” But it’s quickly fixed, and during the songs that follow the concert reaches its first peak. “Sällsynt” and “Tack och förlåt” both sound incredibly good, the latter slightly better.

After another peak, “Svarta lådan,” the band thanks the audience and walks off the stage. But the audience quickly calls for the encore, and the night ends with a trio of hits: “Ingenting om dig,” “Underbara saker,” and “Levande.”

Apart from a couple of dips, the energy level is maxed out throughout the concert. Everyone loves all of the songs and sings along the whole time. So even though I can barely see the band during the show, it’s impossible not to be affected by the energy from the music and Terra’s devoted fan base. At least I want to believe that’s the objective truth about the evening.

Objective or not, this evening proved to me what I had been proven several times before. Terra is one of Sweden’s best live acts. Why? I didn’t see a single disappointed (or even unaffected) face. Even the most bored part of the audience, the people in the back, made comments like “For me, Gothenburg is a Terra concert” and “One of Sweden’s most underrated bands.” And I can’t do anything but agree.

I’m prepared to bet all the little money I have that none of the concertgoers left Nefertiti even the slightest bit disappointed. Sure, someone may have been ghosted. Someone may have had their clothes ruined by spilled beer. But no one regretted their decision to see Terra tonight. And that’s why they will inevitably become Sweden’s favorite rock band.

Peak of the evening:

Tack och förlåt

Dip of the evening:

Rottweiler

Setlist:

1. Lilla liv
2. Din spegel
3. Kackerlacka
4. Aldrig bli mig själv
5. Kött & blod
6. Här kommer natten
7. Sällsynt
8. Tack och förlåt
9. Alla förlorar
10. Rottweiler
11. Svarta lådan
12. När du drunknar
13. Ingenting om dig
14. Underbara saker
15. Levande

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Reviewer: Julius Marstorp
Photos: Andreas Ljungman

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Terra pages