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Swedes and Shoegazers At Johnny Brenda's This Fall

The Swedish are coming. No it’s not another Ikea joke. The most interesting musician to hit the American consciousness since Refused will be in the U.S. for a tour this fall. Emil Svanangen, also known as Lonely Dear, will be hitting Philadelphia on October 17th for a show at Johnny Brenda’s with NYC shoegazers Asobi Seksu.

The Swedish are coming. No it's not another Ikea joke. The most interesting musician to hit the American consciousness since Refused will be in the U.S. for a tour this fall. Emil Svanangen, also known as Lonely Dear, will be hitting Philadelphia on October 17th for a show at Johnny Brenda's with NYC shoegazers Asobi Seksu.

Lonely Dear has garnered all sorts of praise from the likes of Pitchfork, NPR, Spin and the New York Times for his Beach Boys-inspired pop sound. Not Beach Boys in the same way Animal Collective garners that same comparison, Svanangen is a straight up pop songwriter who uses massive instrumentation to his benefit.

Asobi Seksu is leading the pack of likeminded bands (Gliss, The Daysleepers, Rumskib) taking inspiration from the shoegaze sounds of the late 80s and early 90s. A show at JB's in the early spring was proof enough that they can run with the torch of My Bloody Valentine.

Related Links:
The Sounds of Seksu

Lonely, Dear's Lonely Noir

Mr. Lif at Johnny Brenda's