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Little Dragon In Concert

By Martika Finch
Published August 13, 2012 at 10:13 AM PDT
Swedish electro group<strong> </strong>Little Dragon performs at the Prospect Park Bandshell Aug. 10, 2012 for Celebrate Brooklyn.
1 of 10  — Swedish electro group Little Dragon performs at the Prospect Park Bandshell Aug. 10, 2012 for Celebrate Brooklyn.
Swedish electro group Little Dragon performs at the Prospect Park Bandshell Aug. 10, 2012 for Celebrate Brooklyn.
<p>The group is anchored by lead singer Yukimi Nagano's one-of-a-kind, soulful voice.</p><p></p>
2 of 10  — The group is anchored by lead singer Yukimi Nagano's one-of-a-kind, soulful voice.

The group is anchored by lead singer Yukimi Nagano's one-of-a-kind, soulful voice.

Nagano's fiery spirit brought down the house as she bounced about banging on unique acoustic and electronic percussion instruments.
3 of 10  — Nagano's fiery spirit brought down the house as she bounced about banging on unique acoustic and electronic percussion instruments.
Nagano's fiery spirit brought down the house as she bounced about banging on unique acoustic and electronic percussion instruments.
Drummer Erik Bodin relentlessly kept the momentum up with both a drum set and electronic drum pad.
4 of 10  — Drummer Erik Bodin relentlessly kept the momentum up with both a drum set and electronic drum pad.
Drummer Erik Bodin relentlessly kept the momentum up with both a drum set and electronic drum pad.
The Prospect Park Bandshell crowd was at capacity.
5 of 10  — The Prospect Park Bandshell crowd was at capacity.
The Prospect Park Bandshell crowd was at capacity.
The band has collaborated across genres with the likes of the Gorillaz, SBTRKT and Big Boi, but its experimental evolution is best experienced live.
6 of 10  — The band has collaborated across genres with the likes of the Gorillaz, SBTRKT and Big Boi, but its experimental evolution is best experienced live.
The band has collaborated across genres with the likes of the Gorillaz, SBTRKT and Big Boi, but its experimental evolution is best experienced live.
The band's percussion equals its heavy synth elements.
7 of 10  — The band's percussion equals its heavy synth elements.
The band's percussion equals its heavy synth elements.
Nagano brought the crowd to a standstill on the atypical slower number "Twice."<br /><br />
8 of 10  — Nagano brought the crowd to a standstill on the atypical slower number "Twice."
Nagano brought the crowd to a standstill on the atypical slower number "Twice."

Celebrate Brooklyn is a 34-year-old free concert series in Prospect Park.
9 of 10  — Celebrate Brooklyn is a 34-year-old free concert series in Prospect Park.
Celebrate Brooklyn is a 34-year-old free concert series in Prospect Park.
NPR Music recorded a number of shows at Celebrate Brooklyn this summer, including sets from Jimmy Cliff, Sigur Ros and Calle 13.
10 of 10  — NPR Music recorded a number of shows at Celebrate Brooklyn this summer, including sets from Jimmy Cliff, Sigur Ros and Calle 13.
NPR Music recorded a number of shows at Celebrate Brooklyn this summer, including sets from Jimmy Cliff, Sigur Ros and Calle 13.

Swedish electro group Little Dragon has been remixed countless times. Their soul-infused dance songs steal scenes in primetime TV shows. They've collaborated across genres with the likes of the Gorillaz, SBTRKT and Big Boi. But their experimental evolution is most impressive when it unfurls live — as in this set that brought down the house at Celebrate Brooklyn.

A band whose varied percussion equals its heavy synth elements, Little Dragon makes innovative fusion pop with the occasional dub creeper. In faster and choppier numbers, touring keyboardist Arild Werling (filling in for member Håkan Wirenstrand, who was back in Sweden with his family) hit all the '80s synthpop signifiers, even channeling Devo at times. While drummer Erik Bodin relentlessly kept the momentum up with both a drum set and electronic drum pad, bassist Fredrik Källgren Wallin added the structure for lead singer Yukimi Nagano's one-of-a-kind voice.

Nagano's fiery spirit mesmerized the crowd as she bounced about banging on acoustic and electronic percussion instruments many have never seen the likes of. While practically everyone couldn't help but move, Nagano brought the at-capacity Prospect Park Bandshell crowd to a standstill on the atypical slower number "Twice," which showcases her impressive lower range. Little Dragon doesn't perform the well-known trip-hop-inspired song very much anymore, but they made an exception for this show.

Set List

  • "Looking Glass"

  • "Ritual Union"

  • "Test"

  • "Brush The Heat"

  • "Shuffle A Dream"

  • "Please Turn"

  • "Runabout"

  • "Precious"

  • "Summertearz"

  • "Little Man"

  • "Nightlight"

  • "Crystalfilm"

  • "Feather"

  • "My Step"

  • "Twice"

    • Credits

    Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin. Audio Mix: Crispin Anderson/Courtesy of Little Dragon. Special thanks to Celebrate Brooklyn and BRIC Arts.

    Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

    Tags
    musicrock
    Martika Finch