The guy in the smoke

Due to sickness, Panorama missed the concert opener at Røkeriet, with the legendary euro-arabic superstar Natacha Atlas, (who entered the stage at 9:15 PM). But it was no lost when we still got to see Magnet.  To the occasion expanded to a full band, including the DJ-duo Floora.

He placed Bel Canto in the shadow
While Bel Canto got ready in the somewhat larger venue next door, Røkeriet, Magnet was already well underway in his set. And with what the audience witnessed from the little stage at Sardinen, there was no way they were going to leave for Bel Canto in at the other hall. The expression of Magnet, is of a much larger calibre, than what Anneli Drecker and Nils Johansen (Bel Canto) has to offer. Something that their latest long-player proves.

That's why Panorama's choice of concert seems right: Magnet is definitely and artist of the future, while sadly Bel Canto more and more is like a name of the past.

He's getting attention
Magnet is an artist we've grown to know. From the band Libido, as well as his debut as a solo-artist through the album Quiet & Still from 2000. Still it seems that it's not until now that things are taking of for the exile-Bergensian (Bergen, a city in Norway), whose home is now in Scotland.

Superband
This night Even Johansen has a few local heroes in his band; Tarjei Strøm (Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren band) on drums, Jørgen 'Dupermann' Træen on electronics and the DJ-duo Floora, with David Aasheim in front. Together they complete the mellow country music of Johansen, and creates something that will work perfectly well in a more massive stage format. This band also manages to lift the music of Magnet to a higher and more mature level than we've seen before. At the same time Magnet moves out of the one-man-band role.

Visual show
Tonight's set was a mix of old and new material, with a certain weight on the EP Where Happiness Lives, which is released in Great Britain these days, to brave reviews from the press. The light-technician made the show a much more visual than what we are used to from Sardinen. In the first part of the show Johansen & CO, was completely covered in dry ice, which underlined the fact that this is the guy in the smoke. 

Electro country
Furthermore, Magnet mixes his already catchy country with elements from the electronic and hip-hop camps, and recreates a unique expression on stage with Johansen's strong voice constantly in the centre. 

Some people in the hall did complain that the volume was too loud, but most people stayed wanting more when the band left the stage. Johansen ended up returning solo and performing a great version of the classic Thin Lizzy song Dancing in the Moonlight, which also appeared on his debut album.

Nice
All in all this was a really nice concert from Magnet and his band. His set made it clear that this is a guy with lots of goodies in the bag that we still haven't heard. Magnet is without doubt a name we will hear more from in the future.