March 2003
Division of Laura Lee: Traveling Band
By S. Appel
"We had a good time on our last tour,
but this one
is going to be different."- Jonas Gustafsson
| So there's this band you might have heard of called Division of Laura Lee who hail from
Gothenburg, Sweden. There's four of them, Per, Jonas, David, and Håkan, and together they make some of
the most bad-ass, devilishly twisted, frenetically paced music out on the current
rock 'n' roll landscape. Need some proof? Pick up a copy of their full-length, critically
acclaimed debut, Black City. Or better yet, check them out live and be prepared
to have your socks rocked off. Currently, the DVSN boys are on a whirlwind tour with
their eyes set on world domination. Luckily, we caught up with them while they were on
their way there and learned a thing or two in the process. |
Jonas Gustafsson |
The so-called "Swedish Invasion" tag incites a collective rolling of the eyes.
Almost every article that mentions DVSN lumps them in with fellow countrymen The Hives,
The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Soundtrack of Our Lives, et al. Singer/ bassist Jonas
Gustafsson just shakes his head and says, "I hate it". "It's so bad," agrees David
Ojala, guitars. "It's like when they used to call everything [in Seattle] grunge." That
doesn't mean the bands don't get along with or support one another (after all, Kalle Gustafsson of
Soundtrack did produce Black City). It just doesn't mean there is a "scene". So maybe
it's not so much an invasion as it is an awakening for the rest of the rock music-loving world.
Since most of the bands mentioned in the "Swedish rock" articles have been together for
years (DVSN was born in '97), it's not like they all bloomed overnight, all at once
(like many bands in NYC). Basically, the media spotlight is just shining on something
that's always been there. |
This is their first time headlining a tour in the US.
DVSN has supported the Hives, T(I)NC, and Haven during previous engagements but this time,
they're not only topping the bill but also filling clubs to capacity. David looks at the packed rooms in
awe. "This is unbelievable. We're just some band from Sweden. Back at home, 30 people
will come and see us." Jonas is much more matter-of-fact. "It's okay," he says, as if he
expects nothing less.
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