Thursday night was the spring premiere of LKPG HA HA! although it seemed a little bit perverse to think in terms of ’spring’ as I waded through knee deep snow to get the PA system into the car. Publicity has been fantastic and it seems that Corren have finally got fully behind the idea that having a vibrant independent comedy scene in Linköping is something worth supporting.. or at least writing about.
A couple of days before the show, Palle and I were interviewed for their cable channel ‘24 Corren’. God knows how many people watch it, but I have to say that I was really impressed by the journalist who came and filmed us. She ‘got it’, didn’t ask any ‘what’s your favourite colour?’ type questions and best of all kept in the comparison of stand up comedy being like chlamydia. You can watch the clip here.
The smooth start to the season was not to be. With just two hours before showtime, I set up the PA system, turned it on to soundcheck and heard… silence. Panic stations, knobs twiddled and switches flicked.. but nothing. Palle and I ran round the corner to the music shop and told them of our ‘akut problem’. Amazingly, and bless Musik Börsen in Linköping, the manager of the shop happily lent us an amplifier….”just bring it back tomorrow morning”. Sometimes, living in a small town has its advantages.
The night of the premiere was part filmed for a reportage for SVT’s Östnytt, so there’s more TV to come. They were mostly interested in Palle and Karin Adelsköld (who originates from Linköping) and clips will be posted on the blog in due course, I promise. Karin is a rising star of the stand up scene and a seasoned PR hack. Palle on the other hand may have allowed the rush of fame to go to his head a little. It may be the TV interest, but I think it also has something to do with his newly established Facebook group ‘Vi som älskar Palle’. Anyway, when Palle got onstage, his mind went blank, he floundered for a minute or two, then finding his feet managed to make a ten minute spot last about half an hour. A stand up taboo… especially when you are first on…
The other comedians were great: Karin Adelsköld, who I haven’t seen before was very good and used a lot of local reference.. although refused to be drawn as to whether she had ever snogged Lars Winnerbäck as a teenager. Johan Grundén got the crowd whipped up in the second half with his laddish humour and Uddevalla brogue. The headliner was none other than Mikael Koppelman, bank employee exterior, stand up superhero underneath, who has that gift of charming the audience while keeping them in stitches.
Premiere over and sighs of relief all round.
