photos
setlist:
svefn g englar
glósóli
ný batterí
fljótavik
við spilum endalaust
hoppípolla
með blóðnasir
inní mér syngur vitleysingur
e-bow
sæglópur
festival
hafssól
gobbledigook
all alright
popplagið
i need to briefly describe the whole weekend to try to illustrate how good the experience of seeing sigur rós play in iceland really was.
after arriving in reykjavík early on the saturday evening, the rest of the night was spent getting my bearings and doing a little exploring of the city including some lovely bars and bistros. the next day began with a walk across town to the geothermal beach. this was followed by visits to perlan, the national museum, hallgrimskirkja and the harbour amongst other things. reykjavík came across as a beautiful, closely knit, friendly city with plenty to see and do. all day though i was getting more and more excited about the concert.
the venue was laugardalshöll, a sporting arena around a 30 minute walk from reykjavík city centre. i think the capacity on the day was around 3,000. i was slightly concerned beforehand about reports on some forums of poor sound quality but thankfully i found the sound to be great once the support band, for a minor reflection, began playing. i liked what i heard from this band when i saw them in blackpool earlier on the tour and they were very good again this night. reistu þig við, sólin er komin á loft.. has become quite a favourite song of mine and i recommend anyone give the album a listen.
sigur rós were truly amazing. the band seemed to play with an extra intensity that i have not seen at their shows in the uk (if you can believe that is possible!). i know a lot of people disagree but i think seeing them as a four piece on this tour has shown just how good a band they actually are. the music had depth and detail as usual and jónsi's voice was superb throughout, particularly whilst holding that note in festival for that extra bit longer!
every song was played and received with real emotion and i've never heard glósóli, hoppípolla, festival or hafssól sound so good. e-bow and all alright wrenched at the heart strings and popplagið, played in part behind an artificial waterfall in the arena, will stay with me forever.
i have to mention the crowd too, who seemed a lot more respectful than audiences you get in the uk. there was no loud talking during the songs, everyone actually appeared to be listening to the music.
the next day was spent seeing some of the wonderful landscapes iceland has to offer with visits to gullfoss, geysir and the great atlantic rift at pengvellir national park. to top the day off i even bumped into orri outside a restaurant next door to my hotel! the only thing left to do on the final day of the visit was to have a swim in the blue lagoon on the way back to the airport.
all in all then one of the best experiences of my life for a number of
reasons but the main one was the part played by the truly wonderful
sigur rós.
(keith goss)
