Taking 5 is a series of short interviews with random people I run into. A few weeks ago I ended up at this space in downtown D.C. owned by Gibson Guitars for some sort of meet and greet event before the Peter, Bjorn, & John show. If you are worth your weight in indie salt or self-identify with the term "hipster," then you probably know who they are.
If not, you probably know them as "that Scandinavian-sounding band that does all that fucking whistling." I chatted a little bit with Peter about the current tour and how awesome Sweden is. I also did my best to resist making any Ikea-related jokes… but really, later on I swear I saw John using an AGNE as a drum stool.
Peter in the middle. Not pictured: Bjorn & John
You guys just got into town, did you do anything last night?
We just had Ethiopian food, and we actually went and saw a Neil Diamond cover band at the 9:30 Club because we got in for free.
Hahaha really? Were they good?
Uh… it was fun. I wouldn't call it "good" but… there were a lot of people there.
Can you tell us a bit about who is opening for you guys tonight?
El Perro Del Mar, she is Swedish and really good. So it's all Swedish bands and so there's gonna be a lot of Swedes there tonight.
So what was it like touring with Depeche Mode? [Ed. note: Their last tour was spent opening for DM]
It was ok, I thought it was gonna be less fun than it was but people were really into it -- into us, so we didn't really expect that but it was good.
Right now we're hanging out in a space owned by Gibson Guitars, do you guys have some sort of sponsorship with them?
Yeah we have like an endorsement, we get half price and some stuff.
Do you have any sweet clothing endorsements too?
Um, bits and pieces here and there.
So, no awesome sponsorships with totally sweet Swedish labels?
No, more like, in other countries. I mean, you get stuff at festivals and now and then like, I got this sweatshirt from a store in Sweden.
Yeah, I like that. Who's that by? [Ed. note: No really, it was a rad complicated cable-knit/fisherman type sweater, the kind you'd get from S.N.S. Herning]
Nudie, they also make good jeans.