Lonely Dear is a band from Stockholm Sweden that San Diego was blessed to see thanks to Andrew Bird.  While Bird was working on his latest album, he wanted a part to sound like how Lonely Dear does it, so someone else suggested they simply send the song over to Stockholm for Lonely Dear to add their part.  Lonely Dear is actually mainly one man, Emil Svanängen, whose latest album, Dear John, the last of a series of five just came out last month.  His music is indie pop mixed in folk and includes some high singing, even to Bee Gees style.  In Andrew Bird's words, "They have that melancholy but inspiring thing going on."

Emil was dressed the nicest of the bunch on stage, complete with suspenders.  His music was intimate and epic both at the same time and sometimes from one to the other.  Usually there was a rise to the music and a loud thick sound of climactic energy for the finish.  The third song, Ignorant Boy, was a treat.  Emil asked the audience if they were a singing audience which they replied in the affirmative.  He said he would give the signal (a thumbs up) for them to do their thing.  He started out on guitar and did the vocal part for them to repeat, a series of la la las.  It took a little push from him to keep the crowd going, but when it was happening the sound was amazing.  Not too loud, but just enough to be decently heard from where I stood, the front crowd members (mostly female) who participated added a very moving and beautiful part.  Emil spoke his approval with a "very nice" and then told them they'd have to sing louder on the next section which mostly overpowered the crowd singing. Still, this sort of thing is not often attempted and even less successful, but it was pulled off nicely this time. 

The crowd was joking in between songs, shouting out things like "I love Swedish Fish" and Emil joked around as well, letting us know his band made a rule that he could only tune once for a show, but he was going to tune again anyways.  "Watch them suck," he told us.  The band to crowd interaction continued throughout the show.  He let us know we were the first San Diegans they have seen.  Also once, while music began, but before he started playing himself, he told us how people usually clap while he drinks water for this song and of course they did.  During the end of the next song he said, "I don't know if I should do this" then proceeded to do a funny little diddle on his guitar for the finish.  The crowd clapped loudly after and he thanked us for spoiling them. 

At one point Emil played without any microphone off to the side and the crowd in unbelievable respect was absolutely silent and still in perfect attention.  It was so insanely eerie how quiet it was that I was shocked how loud anything I did sounded.  So often and in much smaller crowds there will be at least a few people in the back chattering when the music becomes quiet enough for them to carry a conversation.  I think this had some factor in that it was an all ages venue with no one drinking, but that is only an assumption.  I know there was at least one rude person somewhere, because earlier a woman put on headphones and was listening to some other music, and loudly!  The people near us turned and told her to turn it down which she did, but how disrespectful. 

Emil thanked the crowd more than once during the show and let us know that their CDs were available out in the lobby, pointing in not quite the right direction.  After this, on the last song, Soma stayed true to expectations and the speakers were crackling.  At least most of the set was error free.  This did not stop Lonely Dear from putting on a good finish to a great show.  They definitely qualify as "Special Guests" and whoever came too late to see them were fools to miss out on such beautiful music.