jasonkaiser@aol.com
i have never gone to see a band solely based on critical praise, but i did just that
last night at the 9:30 club. i hadn't heard a lick of sigur ros's music, so i wasn't
sure what to expect, but i'd read a lot of reviews, and decided to give it a try.
i was blown away by their performance. the music was gorgeous, as was the imagery
(especially the birds on the wire). the use of a violin bow to play the guitar was
both audacious and simple, and there was one song where the lead singer was singing
into his guitar--that made me gasp. their mesmerizing performance proves that music
is the truly universal language, for i couldn't understand a word of the lyrics but
was greatly moved by the melody of them, their intensity and timbre. i also loved
their completely fourth-wall presence; they didn't pander to the audience, trying
to win them over with witty chatter.
having seen the sugarcubes twice, bjork on her own, then gusgus twice, i gotta give it up to iceland! i hope they win over some new fans like myself with their powerful show!
btw, the members of the album leaf were conspicuously standing around outside after the show; i spoke to the drummer as i unlocked my bike, and he said that they were having a great time on tour, but hated playing the beacon in ny; "it's a beautiful theatre, but the stage hands were a pain in the neck". as i'm in theatre, we briefly chatted about experiences at union houses, where stage hands have a very particular set of rules. the drummer was also curious in where to go and what to do; it seems that both groups need a little direction in how to enjoy themselves after the show. he said, "where are we?", and i said, "oh, you're in shaw [that's the neighborhood]. this ain't san diego, is it? there's no jack tripper here!" we laughed, and i was on my way...
the mood of many of the songs was consistently slow and calm, which was nice, but
it did start to get old towards the end. then, that last song, the "pop song"...i'm
still at a loss for words trying to describe it to people. the fact that the whole
show had been pretty calm until the end of that song made it that much more riveting+intense.
it reminded me of some live pink floyd shows from 1969-70 (ummagumma live disk).
(jasonkaiser@aol.com)
djdrexel@hotmail.com
my name is eric, i live just outside dc and i'm a big fan of sigur ros. i was at the
show here in dc last night. the best way i can describe the feeling i had several
times last night is you know that feeling you get in your heart when you find out
someone you love has just died. i had that feeling over and over again. it was the
weirdest feeling i've had a show. i guess i would say the show was sadly beautiful.
(djdrexel@hotmail.com)
jc
every time i visit dc i am more impressed by the city, especially its music lovers.
sigur ros took the 930 club's stage to cheers followed by a hushed silence. i've never
seen such regard for a band that even when some silly babblemouth opened their face,
at least 5 people in their vacinity would shoot them glares to shut their trap. jonsi
was milling around the hall during the opening band's set and seemed to go virtually
unnoticed until stage time. people were audibally gasping at his vocal histrionics.
does anyone know the title of the song played to birds perched on a wire on the screen
show, it sounded like a cover, or sigur ros rendition of radiohead's 'the tourist.'
the closer was mammoth. and yes its true, three bows! as the boys took their instruments
everyone in the hall raised their hands for an eruption of applause that just didn't
stop. anyone there - what song was being played when somebody's cell phone started
squawking? that performance won't be forgotten for a long time.
(jc)
