Chokladfabriken 11272008: You know how some musicians look naturally cool on stage, like they’re born for that one purpose? Thursday I found myself in Malmö, Sweden, attending the new regular club night, Club Hot Chocolate, and it became a night where stage presence played a leading role with two impressive and one crap examples on stage.

I honestly don’t recall ever watching a more forced attempt to be an amazing and cool live band than Swedish indierock seven-piece The High Fives. They were on second, following a great set by local girl-group Skilla (more on them later), and they were determined to kick ass. They’ve probably talked at great length about how to, psyched each other up to go out there and be totally amazing. But that’s just not gonna cut it, when you lack that certain something, the rock star fish-in-water type charisma if you like. When it doesn’t look natural.

At best you’re entertaining, at worst you’re ridiculous. The High Fives came closer to the latter, forcing performance and energy before what it’s really all about (the music, if you’re wondering). Class example was their trumpet player who looked borderline psychotic, obviously having a very set idea of how to act cool but suffering under a severe lack of basic motor skills needed to carry it out in even a semi-elegant way.

It’s a fine line, I know. The opposite isn’t fun to watch either, but this was just way, way over the top…

Way up there on the elegance scale you find Danish As In Rebekkamaria, the electropop solo project by indierock outfit Lampshade singer Rebekkamaria Andersson. A born diva she is: Compelling, sexy, flirtatious and an excellent singer with a voice of her very own. And what’s more, you absolutely believe in her, believe that this is not a show put on. Although it did seem a little like another day on the job their lower levels of performance are at least good. Because of Rebekkamaria, but also because of her extremely competent band and great songs – not least ‘She Lion’, ‘Dominator’ and ‘Yours Truly’.

Also a born diva is Skilla (Photo) lead singer and violinist Nina Christensen. Sharing a lot of Rebekkamaria’s characteristics she delivers the Swedish all girl group’s songs with a powerful, theatrical nerve you can’t help but be drawn in by. I couldn’t anyway. Completed by Elin Hörberg (keys, harmonica, vocals), Vanja Gottlow (bass), Lisa Godin (guitar, vocals) and Amanda Savbrant (drums, vocals), Skilla have released two EP’s (‘Or Die’ and ‘As In The Book’) and a full length, self-titled debut (2008) with their excellent theatrical folk music.

As good as they were live, there was one disturbing element in their good half hour on stage, namely Nina Christensen’s long monologues between songs. Connecting with the audience is a good thing, but as with The High Fives above there is a fine line to walk. Too little can throw an audience off as can too much. It was a minor flaw, however, because when a band got songs like Skilla’s ‘Song In December’, ‘Sun In The End Of Today’ and ‘How Will Anyone Know’ plus a lead singer like Nina Christensen you can forgive a lot.