The Ballroom Band - Open Minds (2012)

The Ballroom Band is the house band at Mosebacke / Södra Teatern in Stockholm. Once a month they perform a waltz (as in »The Last Waltz«). There are always guest artists invited as accompanists. In 2011 there were, among others, Christian Kjellvander, Staffan Hellstrand, Anna Stadling, Idde, Uno and Johan Johansson.

The band consists of Martin Frontman (is the name taken? who fronts vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica), Pelle Andersson (songwriting, organ, accordion, mandolin, piano and choir), Jonas Lönngren (guitar and lap steel), Clas Lassbo (bass) and Peter Hjerpe (drums). Veteran Jesper Lindberg supports the band with his banjo and pedal steel. The band members are probably not that well known to the general public, but they have been part of the lineups of great Swedish artists such as Stefan Sundström, Anders F Rönnblom, Ola Magnell, Miss Li, Totta and Lars Winnerbäck.

»Open Minds« is the sequel to 2010's »Christmas Time In the Trailer Park«. The opening title track almost sounds like soft garage rock if it weren't for the persistent plucking of the banjo. The following »The Jester« is much closer to »Music From Big Pink« which the band mentions as a favorite record.

Then we get a really enjoyable country duet in »Every Single Flower« where guest Anna Maria Espinosa shines.

Maybe they should invite the Willy Clay Band to their club, one thinks after a few listens to »Mr Observer«.

»Please Help Me Now« and »Free To Be Me« roll on. This is followed by a song that strongly indicates that The Ballrooms Band's members spent their dog years on the road before settling down at Mosebacke, namely the fine ballad »Hotelrooms & Minibars (Sleepless Nights With Pay TV)«.

In »Hell I Love You« it is time for Edith Backlund to be a guest duet partner. At first I think that this melody would have been fun to hear in Swedish with Perssons Pack, but then Edith Backlund's strong singing instinct makes me miss Kirsty MacColl instead. Also like nostalgic »On My Mind« and closing »Wahoo« full of blues pastiches and with a rewarding meeting between harmonica and violin.

In total, the album contains 12 tracks with solid playing and good variety, and it would clearly be fun to be at Mosebacke one evening when they are hosting, but the new album will do just fine for so long.