Ida Maria at the Crocodile

April 30, 2009

Ida Maria ::: Photo By Josh

Sunday Night’s two-band bill at the Crocodile was sponsored by the End 107.7 and titled “Are You On The List?” Apparently all you had to do email DJ harms to get on the list. Sweet.

Lesli Wood’s new band the Redwood Plan had the opening honors and they didn’t waste the opportunity to pick up some new fans. Lesli was a natural front-woman behind the Les Paul for the now defunct Ms. Led, but now largely freed from guitar duty she positively bounces while handling the synth. She seemingly spends as much time airborne and dancing as with her feet on the ground singing. I would find out just a few minutes later that they were a stellar pairing with headliner Ida Maria.

Ida Maria was brand new to me before I’d heard about this show. But looking her up on her myspace page proved valuable, her attitude cut straight through the shiny production of tracks, and I decided I had to check it out. Her just about 45 minute set was both as punk and pop as I had hoped, swollen with unbelievably catchy teenage anthems of angst and discovery like “Oh My God” and “I Like You So Much Better when You’re Naked.” For the latter song one excited fan decided take the song’s advice after jumping on stage, making a scene of doffing his clothes before security got a hold of him.

Ida Maria’s herself though, anchoring the stage performance, was what was really catchy. Since the tender age of 14 she’s been behind the microphone in Norwegian punk bands, and while a few years have past the uninhibited spirit of youth is still strong in her delivery. Looking just as comfortable with or without the guitar, she worked the mic stand like a seasoned rock n’ roll vet without it looking trite or out of place, its presence at times a neck to strangle, at others a safety-blanket to clutch tightly. That she was able to stir a sizable portion of the front area of the crowd to movement and follow her example was I thought an achievement.

Ida Maria doesn’t have anything more for the U.S. scheduled right now it seems, but I suspect that won’t last long. You can pick her latest album titled Fortress Round My Heart, with the track “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” in stores now.