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Peter Morén, Björn Yttling, and John Eriksson must be the happiest indie rock group ever to earn pitchfork fame. They kicked off their Friday night show at the Gargoyle with a whistling contest to pick a guest star from the audience to accompany them on stage during “Young Folks,” the well-known crowd favorite. This playful game would forecast a jubilant mood for the coming show, which opened with a drawn-out and escalating intro to “Amsterdam.” This energy built by crescendo and back lighting would persist for the rest of the night.The uppity Peter bounced around the stage only stopping to croon into the megaphone-effected microphone, while Björn incessantly encouraged audience participation by clapping his hands together to the beat. The entire band even stopped playing during “Young Folks” to cry, “If you want to hear more, show it!” and they got what they asked for. They moved seamlessly through key songs like “Chills” and “Nothing to Worry About,” but if anything the audience was more pleased by these disruptive provocations.
A highlight of the night was when they rocked out to Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven,” tipping their hats to St. Louis’ legend. Peter seemed at home in this genre, and it became apparent where the band’s inspirations came from. As though to prove some modicum of energy remained after their intense set, they closed the show with “Objects of My Affection,” following “Paris 2004″ and “Big Black Coffin.” Compared to their recorded work, the quality of sound seemed enhanced in the live setting, and it was clear how they have earned such a following of most ardent fans. But for as much fun as the audience and I had, it was clear that the happiest young folks in the room were Peter, Bjorn, and John.