gbg belongs to us a love letter in three parts. part I For us, geography and architecture are essential elements of pop. It may be slightly naïve, but I have to believe there's a way for pop music to prevent commercial takeover of public spaces, a way for pop to demolish shopping centres and make room for a city's inhabitants. The City, whether it's here or somewhere else, is yours. This small, simple project, named GBG Belongs to Us, is a selection of love letters to the places and the people who makes this town a lovely one to live in. To everyone who's heart skips a beat at the sight of an intersection, feeling dizzy at the amount of routes available, and to everyone who believe that a city is not just a home, it's a lifelong companion. Best, Mystic Rings The most mystic about these grass knoll circles, situated in Kings Park on the banks of the moat, is not why they once were percieved mystic (they were a piece of art), it's the fact that they have mysteriously dissapeared. Trams 3, 6, 9 to Hagakyrkan.
Roddföreningen An elegant tram stop dedicated to an elegant sport. For everyone who loves Guy de Maupassant, and his whimsicle, higher-than-life descriptions of Normandie parlour games and rowing trips. Trams 9, 11 to Saltholmen.
Prinsgatan 3 It's a bit off, 40 minutes or so outside the city centre, but it's well worth the trip since you might stumble upon Henning of TTA. A nice chap, always willing to lend an ear, or money. Tram 3 to Hovås. Change to bus 45 to Kungsbacka, walk. (but check first, lines differ during summer)
Favourite lighthouses The Swedish Lighthouse Society, with about 3000 members, promote and develop interest and knowledge of lighthouses, as well as working for their preservation and historical documentation. Not just a functional, technical aid to navigate, lighthouses have deep connections to our inner, romantizised Joel's fave, Väderöbod. A red pillar of light colouring the surrounding cliffs in warm purples. Lat 58, 33. Long 11, 02. Henrik's fave, Vinga. A classic, built in cut granite, fucking timless. Lat 57, 38. Long 11, 36. Frisör Almost every boy in town looks exactly the same from the neck up, and it's a great look if you ask me. Hasse at Landsvägsgatan is the only barber who still treats you like the gentleman he grooms you into becoming. I don't know if it's true, but a friend of a friend (a mod) supposedly takes the 5 hour train once a month from Stockholm to get a haircut by Hasse. Fucking amazing, innit? Deserted mansion On the edge of Delsjö Forest lies an abandoned house in the middle of an old pear grove. For years, it's broken attic windows have served as entrance point to dirt, seeds and rain, leaving the softest lawn you have ever felt growing on top of the hardwood floors. Jens, if you're reading this, you're more than welcome to write a song about this place. I've tried, but I can't write about forests. I don't know why, I just can't. Maybe it's because the forests of my childhood were dark, malevolent places. They seemed to be at the time, anyway. Tram 5 to Bögatan, southbound trails. Easter in Haga The seasonal decorations, colorful feathers hung in the trees, together with the echoes of noon church chimes on Good Friday, makes for probably the most Catholic feel you can get in this land, or so we imagine. Trams 3, 6, 9 to Hagakyrkan. Kalimera Run by at least three generations of happy Boat Club members. Impeccable. Greek cuisine. Trams 6, 2, 1 to Olivedalsgatan. Boozienda The door is always open, so don't waste your knuckles knocking. Home of Kristian Spång, the only vespa driver with a proper license in this town. One visit after a good night out evoked a doctor's ban from further association with the Boozeienda and a trip to rehab. "No worries" says Spång, "at my place there's no such thing as bad news". Tram 6, 1 to Prinsgatan Roadsign On the corner of Grönsakstorget, there's an unintelligible roadsign, faded into soft turqoise by the sun. Trams 11, 9, 6, 2 to Grönsakstorget. Clublife Housed at Ritz (possibly a hotel), Klubb Livet might be the only club in town that mix current dance music with Prefab Sprout and A.R. Kane. Rude barkeeps, empty wine cellar, but strangely I can't remember a single bad night here. Stranger still, a lot of horrid stories about me and a beer tap ciculate among the people I know. Well, it's not my job to separate fact from fiction. I'm a pop star, it's my fucking job 24 hours a day.You can't take vacations from this shit. Nearly every tram, to Kungsportsplatsen.
Prinsgatan 4 It's a bit off, 50 minutes or so outside the city centre, but it's well worth the trip since you might stumble upon Eric of TTA. Handsome fellow, big pockets. Tram 3 to Hovås. Change to bus 45 to Kungsbacka, walk. (but check first, lines differ during summer)
Water Lily Pond Located in the middle of the Faculty of Art campus area, the water lily pond became one of the most important places for us when we moved to town. Somewhere among the ever blooming rhododendron bushes, and surrounded by floating dandelion seeds, Air France was formed. It's like stepping into the set of a David Hamilton film, the light dim and soft, like vaseline on your shades. Trams 4, 5, 6, 2, 13 to Korsvägen. Hönö Windmill Probably one of the loveliest in the area. Bus 290 to Hönö Pinans färjeläge, change to ferry to Hönö. Haga Park Between Haga Church and the University Library, in the midst of Haga Park, there's a fountain we always end up in after a long, summer night on the town. It's quite a small fountain, so it's mostly just us and our dear frizzy friend Josef, floating belly up, watching people hurry off to work. It's a mixed sense of not wanting to belong to society, and not being let in. Trams 3, 6, 9 to Hagakyrkan. Tram tunnel Beneath the Carlanderska hospital, a tram tunnel connects Södra Vägen to Aschebergsgatan. Everyone except me take detours to avoid that cold, cave scented air that pours out of the tunnel's mouth. Trams 6, 8 to Chalmers Summer of Love Highly illegal parties held by our friend Victor in nature this summer. Lectures, workshops, acid. Anonymous love. Secret locations. Prinsgatan 56 It's a bit off, 90 minutes or so outside the city centre, but it's well worth the trip since you might stumble upon Liston of the Embassy. Always up for a laugh, always a trick up his sleeve, money too. Tram 3 to Hovås. Change to bus 45 to Kungsbacka, change to bus 46, walk. (but check first, lines differ during summer) Saltholmen Possibly the most beautiful place in the world. How many times haven't we been sitting on the cliffs, sipping Havana Club, looking out into the archipelago, trying to map all the coasts on the other end of the ocean. Trams 11, 9 to Saltholmen. Bönor & Bagels It's ironic we quit caffeine the day we moved to one of the most café dense cities in the world. The sweet scent of lilac is heavy in the air, and if you happen to sit down for a cup sometime around 11 a.m., Jesper the tail-less cat will demand your attention. Give it to him. You'll probably thank us later. Trams 6, 2, 1 to Olivedalsgatan.
The Barrow's Goldeneye This sea duck (it's Swedish name is Knipa, which also means "in trouble") is cheating death day after day. Every time he goes under you think it's for the last time. Makes you think seriously about life. Tram 5 to Lilla Bommen. Delsjön A Sherwood type forest, reaching endlessly it seems. Tram 5 to Bögatan. |