Big name bands, and even many small name bands, do not play New Zealand and if anyone bothers, they go to Auckland and leave. (The exception to this rule is the Foo Fighters who love it here and even play the South Island.)
What we are left with is tribute bands. The Elton v. Billy Tribute Show? The Prince Tribute show? The Bee Gees Night Fever Tribute Band? Yes, yes, and yes. Matt wanted to see the ABBA approved tribute band, Bjorn Again. For you non-ABBA fans, ABBA stands for the first names of the band members, Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid. Hence, the play on the name Bjorn. Matt is a huge ABBA fan. When we went to Stockholm, he insisted we visit the ABBA Museum. Yes, there is indeed a museum dedicated to ABBA and I have to admit, it was a blast.
I am not a big ABBA fan. I like some of their songs, but I did not particularly care for them when they were popular, mostly because they were impossible to escape. How many times did they play “Fernando” on the radio? It felt like every five minutes. Same with “Dancing Queen.” Every song rotation it had to include an ABBA song. I just wanted them to go away.
But fast forward and here is my husband the ABBA fan. So I agreed we could go and see Bjorn Again. For me as an average human being, it was an okay experience. But there was just something weird about watching these people pretend to be ABBA. The weirdness came from the idea that this was not a cover band. This was full out reenactment and some people in the audience were weirdly enthralled. In the photo above are two young girls partially obscuring the picture. They were dressed in ABBA style and singing along with abandon. I have no problem with singing with abandon but they were acting as if Taylor Swift was standing in front of them.
I reasoned to myself that re-enactors play people all the time. If Hal Holbrooke can play Mark Twain in a one man show for decades (which I saw), and if I can enjoy actors who interpret Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, well, then why not a band?
I have to admit I am still not convinced. But living in New Zealand with limited options for entertainment, I guess I better get used to tribute bands.
A Yank Among the Kiwis 