LA-based “Stuff White People Like” author, Christian Lander, thinks white people don’t dance at concerts. He’s clearly never been to an Asteroids Galaxy Tour concert. Hopefully he’ll come on out next time as he lives nearby.
Asteroids Galaxy Tour combines the soprano vocals of Mette Lindberg with the good old-fashioned neosoul stylings of bands with big, fat horn sections like Average White Band and Tower of Power. But the music adds its own sparkling sunshine pop twists, but with some elements of loneliness and love in the lyrics.
Lyrics are peppered with space references like “Satellite,” "Suburaban Space Invader," or “The Sun Ain’t Shinin’ No More.” There are even space-sounding keyboard effects a la 1980s. The overall effect is fun, party music that makes you want to shake your booty.
Other people have had doll versions of themselves made, but Lindberg already looks like a Barbie without any assistance. Beauty can often be a dismissive quality among indie rock performers, but this doll has real talent. She co-writes songs with producer Lars Iverson.
The band has steadily built a following in the US after opening for Amy Winehouse and Katy Perry. They also appeared at Filter’s Culture Collide Festival. The band rotates around her, often with different people for each tour. It’s like she’s the sun and they are minor planets.
That effect translates into the audience, which was packed with dudes up in the very front row. Being that it was Valentine’s Day, there were lots of lonely hearts there. But the music made the lonely forget their troubles and just dance.
Mette Lindberg was the perfect cure. Girls want to be her, and guys want to date her. Wait, this is LA, some of the girls want to date her, too! She strutted her stuff onstage with a big red heart stuck on her arm knowing this full well. She also makes it fun but taking a photo of every audience and posting it on Facebook.
The band doesn’t get tons of airplay here, but they were on KEXP live. And Mette Lindberg was featured in Elle Magazine online.
The current lineup according to Facebook is:
- Mette Lindberg (lead vocal)
- Lars Iversen (bass, keys)
- Miloud Carl Sabri (trumpet, keys)
- Mikkel Baltser Dørig (guitar, keys)
- Rasmus Valldorf (drums)
- Rasmus Fribo (Percussion, keys, sax)
- Sfen Dam Meinild (sax, keys)
The only wish here is that she would be super-careful with her voice so that it lasts. At times she sounds a touch hoarse. She’s gifted with a large and expressive range. It would be a shame to see any of that lost to the demands of touring. With so many singers losing their voices of late, it’s a very real issue.
Her pale skin and blond hair pick up the lights and make for beautiful shots, so please enjoy them to the left. They have a new album out called Out Of Frequency - yet another space age reference. Catch up with them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheAsteroidsGalaxyTour and Twitter @TheAsteroids
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