Last Wednesday I saw the best gig EVERRRRRRRR - I have to roll the R's because this band is from Iceland, regarded as one of the strangest countries.
My alltime favourite band Sigur Rós came back to Sydney - they were here last August and I missed them :( - and I saw them last Wednesday night. They were fantastic, so much so that I was almost in tears. I'd read reviews prior about their effect on audiences and was sceptical about reading people who were reduced to crying or curling up into foetal positions at their shows. Hmmmmmm, but guess what happened to me!?
Firstly, they had a string quartet, also from Iceland, called Amina supporting them. They were pretty good too. Their music was quite lovely, a nice introduction to Sigur Rós in terms of their delicate, lullaby-like quality....The group consisted of 4 women, all whom looked very pixie-like.....one had big, fluffy hair like Janet Frame in "An Angel At My Table". They all wore red dresses, looking kind of nerdy-like and bookish. I said to Ang that they were possibley the geeky girls in high school who practiced their violin and glockenspeil during lunchtime.......I bought their EP afterwards and it's really good! Looking forward to their album...
Well, when Sigur Rós finally came on stage, Ang and I were upstairs trying on the hoodies at the merchandise stall. As soon as we heard them we raced down to our seats (4 rows from the front behind the dance-floor). I felt shivers up and down my spine. The band appeared behind a white mosquito-net-like fabric which was drawn across the stage. The lighting was amazing as were the video projections thrown across the netting. It was like watching a show from another universe or planet.
Onto the music - which was so beautiful beyond words....Jonsi, the lead singer - well his voice is heartbreakingly beautiful. He sings mainly in falsetto, in Hopelandic (an invented language) and plays his bass with a cello bow. The combination of his sweeping, alien-like vocals with the eerie notes made from his unique way of playing his guitar are just glorious. I've officially got a crush on Jonsi now, which is allowed because he's gay. He's also blind in one eye, and in need of a good feed but I still admire him *heart*
They played a good setlist I thought - mostly from their latest album "Takk.." and a few songs from their earlier albums "( )" and"Agaetis Byrjun". They did however miss 2 of my favourite songs off "Takk..." which I was a bit disappointed with but oh well. It was pretty much a perfect evening. It has taken me days to come down from the high of the night so that I could even write this blog entry.
(photos not from my camera...nicked from the official website)
4 comments:
I am always curious if they remember their hopelandic lyrics when they sing live. Yes I also missed their last year concert and now this year. I remembered wondering what it would be like with their type of music playing live, will there be mass suicide performed by the audiences? Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of their achingly beautiful music, my favorite album is their two sausages kissing album (). I guess now I have to catch them when they come again next time. Thanks for the review.
B)
bummer...wish i had been there...one of my favourit bands :)
Robert
audience mass suicide??? haha...noooooo, well they played quite a few songs from their latest cd "Takk..." which cute Jonsi kept saying after each track. I didn't realise it meant "thanks" in Icelandic...
i'm still coming down from that gig. i'm sorry you didn't come along. you guys must see them next time they tour. let's all go together yay.
Hey Unky A! Natarii here :) Yes we really must get back into the way of skype chats. They always give me a giggle and brighten up my day. That was some hail huh? Totally looks like the snow we get here in Japanese Wagga Wagga. Can't wait for our catch up yum cha in December!!
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