Nanna B at KB18

In Kødbyn on November 18th, 2012, I was treated to the completion of a chapter of musical discovery. In October 2012, I heard on Urbanlife Radio.se (Scandinavian Soul) a track called “Sum O Sometimes” by a Danish artist, Nanna B.

The vinyl’s scratchy intro, the horns and the voice were compelling. I was immediately struck by a tightness and soulful feel combined with a summery, hopeful tone.

When the album became available for free digital download, I was there. I missed an earlier performance and was very disappointed in myself, but would I get a second chance? The 28th of November was just that chance.

I was expectant. Could she be this good live?

I had been replaying the album since I downloaded it, singing it while riding around Copenhagen on my Raleigh Tourist Deluxe, jammin’ it up to anyone who would listen and even chatting with Nanna herself on Facebook. (I am not a stalker—honest!)

After performances by DJ Staxs, Rewolmer, and Damp, the crowd was ready.

Nanna B was there with her trademark feather headpiece (see album cover) and Run DMC gold rope chain. So was her full band consisting of Thomas Lund (bass), Mathias Sommer (Keys), Jakob Winther (drums), Jeppe Vingum (Guitar), Sofie Dalsgaard, and Louise Aisin (back-up singers), with guest rapper Nappion also boarding the KB18 stage.

From the opening intro to the final encore, Nanna held the audience transfixed. “Sum O Sometimes”, the naked a capella “I Can’t Fall in Love, People”, and the track with Nappion rapping were the standout moments of the gig for me. That is not to suggest for a second that the rest of the set was substandard by any stretch of the imagination. It was and is all good!

The evening was complete. I bought my copy of the album. It was not indeed to be played but to sit in my collection, pristine, as a reminder of that special evening.

My old Raleigh had other plans. As I placed it on my back rack, the album was so very heavy that my bike crashed to the ground. I must have been on the same kind of high, as Nanna must have been after such a great performance. I convinced myself that it did not matter about the damaged cover since the content was so excellent.