Swedish indie pop hopefuls Shout Out Louds were formed in Stockholm by childhood friends Adam (vocals), Ted (bass), and Carl (guitars) in 2001. Soon after they were joined by Eric (drums) and Bebban (vocals, keys) and began writing songs. The first three they wrote formed the basis of their first demo tape. The songs caught the ear of Filip Wilén, the owner of Sweden's Bud Fox Recordings, and he quickly signed them. The group spent 2002 writing more songs and in December recorded four of them for a debut EP, 2003's 100°. The group's high-energy, ultra-melodic sound was in place from the very beginning. The band toured around Sweden and Scandinavia following its release and followed up the EP with two singles, "Hurry Up Let's Go" and "Shut Your Eyes." In October of 2003 the group released its first album, Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, to great acclaim in Sweden. They band spent 2004 touring, releasing singles ("Please Please Please," "Very Loud/Wish I Was Dead," and the Oh, Sweetheart EP) and getting signed to Capitol in the U.S. The American version of Howl Howl Gaff Gaff was released in May of 2005. The album is made up of songs from the Swedish release plus some of the early singles and EP tracks. A tour of the U.S. with indie darlings the Dears and airplay on The OC helped boost the band's profile.

Our Ill Wills
Merge Records
9.11.2007

 

Please Please Please
EMI
2.20.2006

The Comebacks
EMI
9.12.2005

Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
Capitol
5.24.2005

Set in the makeshift and mirrored, carnavalistic round house, Spiegeltent, Shout Out Louds' performance on Monday testified that midnight in July is no time to lay low. Aptly named, the modish, Nordic-pop the band delivers feels like a euphoric scream from a lonesome rooftop. Live, precisely delivered songs from 2005's Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (Capitol) and the upcoming Our Ill Wills (Merge) were decidedly crafted with the same arrangement, emotion, and melody as their studio counterparts. As for all those Cure comparisons, look no further than Adam Olenius's spellbinding voice.

It'll always be a wonder how frozen Swedish studios and practice spaces bare some of the sunniest set music going today. No use mulling it over, however. What matters is, the Shout Out Louds and their prize winning music found Baeble on a sizzling' summer evening on the East River.

www.shoutoutlouds.com