Pitchfork

What with all the chatter about Sweden on this here website, it's easy to forget that other Scandinavian nations made a serious Stateside splash in 2006 (an indie-sized splash, but still). Among them: Denmark, who graced us with Pitchfork faves Figurines and Mew, as well as Under Byen ("Oh'nah Boon"), who've been kicking it for a while now and released Samme Stof Som Stof (Paper Bag Records) last year to generally positive reviews.

The octet-- comprised of four boys and four girls, which means they'll kick your band's ass at square dancing-- finally makes its way to the U.S. and Canada this spring, playing a spate of shows throughout March which climaxes with some SXSW appearances. What's more, they're bringing along one hell of a secret weapon in their quest for Scandinavian domination: Sweden's potty-mouthed chanteuse Frida Hyvönen, who will open most dates, sharing coy, heartfelt balladry from her 2006 U.S. re-release, Until Death Comes (Secretly Canadian).

Frida's previously mentioned poodle-dance soundtrack hits shops across Sweden on January 24, thanks to the Concretes-run imprint Licking Fingers. It's called Frida Hyvönen Gives You: Music from the Dance Performance PUDEL and there's no word quite yet on Secretly Canadian's U.S. release.

Under Byen:

03-02 Boston, MA - Museum of Fine Art *#
03-05 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
03-06 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
03-07 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa *
03-08 Toronto, Ontario - The Mod Club *
03-09 Pittsburgh, PA - Andy Warhol Museum *
03-10 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom *
03-11 Columbus, OH - Wexner Art Center *
03-12 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub *
03-14 Norman, OK - Opolis *
03-15 Austin, TX - Emo's (SXSW)
03-16 Austin, TX - TBA (SXSW)
03-17 Austin, TX - TBA (SXSW)
03-18 Los Angeles, CA - Knitting Factory *
03-19 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *|
03-21 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey

* with Frida Hyvönen
# with El Perro del Mar