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Sigur Rós
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venue: Avalon, Los Angeles
date: 2005-08-12
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Iceland's Sigur Ros arrived in Los Angeles on August 12th to showcase
a few songs from their new album, Takk (Geffen Records), translated as
"Thanks." The show sold out as soon as tickets went on sale.
Lucky fans who were able to get into the show at the Avalon were not
disappointed. From beginning to end, Sigur Ros offered up a
mesmerizing and emotional display of their new material, alongside a
wide array of older material. The band emerged onstage behind a
cascading semi-transparent sea of red, while perfectly situated back
lights projected silhouettes of each member. As the opening notes of
Glósóli began, the sheet was lifted, exposing the band to eager fans.
I'll venture to say that while few, if any, in attendance could
translate any of the lyrics, the affect of Jónsi's delicately
beautiful vocals made its impact, coupled with his intense use of his
violin bow against his guitar. The added texture of keys, guitar, and
drums from the rest of the band and strings by all female band, Amina,
(who opened up the show) resulted in an emotional landscape of
melodies and a mood that is difficult to convey to those not in
attendance.
In the midst of Viđrar Vel Til Loftárása the band and audience came to
a complete standstill, for what seemed at least half a minute. Not
one utterance was heard as the audience remained captivated by the
power of the music and moment (that is until one idiot screamed and
broke the magic silence). A few songs later, a young girl beside us,
who had been excitedly expressing her joy after each song, turned to
her boyfriend with a look of awe on her face, eventually fainted, and
had to be carried out.
As the show neared its end, the sheet was lowered again, and a
brilliantly choreographed display of lights and images engulfed the
white backdrop. The silhouettes of Sigur Ros and their instruments
were again projected in majestic grandeur, one at a time, in hurried
intermittent flashes, bringing their music to a climactic close.
Sigur Ros will be making their way to Sweden in early Novermber and
you'll want to experience their sounds for yourself. Check out the
below dates for their full European Tour schedule:
finland
house of culture, helsinki (29.10.05)
house of culture, helsinki (30.10.05)
sweden
circus, stockholm (01.11.05)
norway
concerthouse, oslo (02.11.05)
sweden
concerthouse, göteborg (03.11.05)
germany
kulturpalast, dresden (05.11.05)
paladium, köln (06.11.05)
netherlands
013, tilburg (07.11.05) venue | tickets
england
brixton academy, london (09.11.05)
scotland
corn exchange, edinburgh (10.11.05)
ireland
olympia, dublin (11.11.05)
england
philharmonic, liverpool (13.11.05)
birmingham academy, birmingham (14.11.05)
france
elysŻe-montmartre, paris (16.11.05)
transbordeur, lyon (17.11.05)
zenith, montpellier (18.11.05)
portugal
coliseum, lisbon (20.11.05)
spain
teatro coliseum, madrid (21.11.05)
/Audree Lau
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