Review: Sigur Ros

We sent a photog to Sigur Ros but they wouldn't let him in the Uptown so all we got is this YouTube video.

From the start of the show, the crowd that packed the Uptown Theater on Thursday made it clear that it was no fair-weather audience and that it was ready to pay rapt attention to whatever was on stage, even if it was a guy with a guitar singing in Icelandic.

The opening act of Thursday's sold-out Sigur Ros show was Helgi Hrafn Jónsson, who also plays trombone in the band's brass section. As a solo artist, Jónsson can be classified as a singer/songwriter of epic folk songs. Despite the language barrier and its unfamiliarity with his music, the crowd gave him plenty of applause, attention and encouragement during his set, which lasted more than 30 minutes. It was a sign of what was to come.

The Olsen twins appeared on the set list; so did the luxurious "Hoppipolla."

The headliner took the stage about 25 minutes later, and for the next 90 minutes or so Sigur Ros filled the place with gusts, gales and whispers of euphony. The proper band is a four-piece led by vocalist Jón "Jónsi" Birgisson, whose sky-scraping falsetto is a spectacle of its own. For some heavy embellishment, Sigur Ros brought along a small army of musicians, including a five-piece horn section that barged and marched into several songs, adding to the exhilaration on stage. The band's support also included the four women of Amiina, who added strings, drums, vocals and more visual embellishments to the show.

Sigur Ros' songs are suites of symphonic rock, excursions into soundscapes that swing and sway from moments of bright light and grand, heavy sounds (a bow growling across an electric guitar) to complete stillness cracked only by the tinkle of a keyboard or the sound of Jónsi's crystalline voice.

Critics (or disinterested fans) dismiss Sigur Ros as a progressive New Age band; and there's some substance to that perspective. But the merits of their music, and their live show, are formidable and undeniable.

The language barrier, oddly enough, deepens the music's rapture: Without lyrics to sing or contemplate, fans seem to lose themselves in the music, adapting it to whatever mood fills them at the time: joy, grief, melancholy. There is something viscerally redemptive about this band's sound that can soothe or arouse your emotional innards if you let it.

As it was during the band's previous show here two years ago, the crowd here was devotional. I'd never heard people "shhhhhhhh" somebody at a rock show, but it happened Thursday night. Like an audience watching the Kansas City Symphony, this one waited several moments until the last note of each song had been sung or played before erupting into cheers and applause. Business at the Uptown's bars must have been light all night; very few people left the room during the show.

When it was over, the band and all its hired hands lined up across the stage, held hands and bowed deep like actors in a play. Then they all stood and applauded an audience that was raining applause and cheers back at the band. This went on for several long moments, a loud, long and sincere expression of appreciation spoken in simple, universal terms.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[Jeff]

I have no problem with the show in general. They put on a very stellar, sharp production performance. However, something was lacking... mainly, the duration of the show and choice of setlist.

Sigur Ros has some very good stage/arena rock "anthems" in their catalog, such as Glosoli, Saeglopur, Milano, Gong, Untitled-5, Untitled-8, etc. They could have blown away the audience with a couple of those songs, but they instead played some of their quieter, lesser-known stuff (nothing from "()"??) As a result, most of the audience around me seemed to be fairly disinterested/unfamiliar with the material. Shame.

Also, what was up with the length of the show (only about 90 minutes)??

[Tim Finn]

The show was a little short; I was expecting another song. And this show wasn't as euphoric as their last one here, but as far as I could see people were into it and went pretty crazy for everything.

[Jeff]

Well, I was up on the balconey so maybe it was different on the floor.

I just think they omitted much of their more bombastic, dynamic material that would have been more fitting of a "rock concert". As such, the atmosphere seemed more subdued and reflective. I did think their renditions of Gobbledigook, Olsen Olsen were outstanding, though.

[Bryan]

That was really a superb performance. Does anyone know if they were recording the show for any particular reason? Imagine the snarky Pitchfork/Stereogum headlines if they released "Sigur Ros - Live in Kansas City".

[Matt]

They did play the first track off (), I want to say it was the second or third song they played. They did play a decent sized chunk of the new album, which I thought was fantastic.

[chris]

Nice review Tim.

From the looks of the photo of the setlist, they did cut the show short. I was sure we’d get at least a 2-song encore. I would have loved to have heard “Pop-song” (Popplagid). I was at the show in Omaha and was happy they switched up the setlist a little bit. I thought the performance of Gobbledigook was awesome and it’s almost worth the 10 hour drive to Bonnaroo and the $250 ticket to hear that as they end their set at 3 am. That performance will destroy ‘roo.

The coolest part of this show and the Omaha show the night before were the people gathered at the show. In Omaha we had a 2-hour delay because of Tornado Warnings. Before the show the crowd gathered in the basement of the Orpheum like FEMA was handing out water and MREs. Yesterday in KC I waited in line for 3 hours and no one standing 10 people in front or behind me was from KC. Most weren’t even from this time zone.

Admittedly it wasn’t the best show of theirs I’ve seen but being from KC and loving Sigur Ros it was a HUGE treat that they came to our city. The guy behind me flew in from Boston and had been to Iceland 5 times. I know as a city we get angry when Bruce or Madonna skips us, unfortunately we don’t spend too much time acknowledging how rare it is to get a Sigur Ros show. It helps to be on the path en route to Bonnaroo. Many people forget that the music scene extends well beyond the heritage acts playing at the Sprint Center.

Sigur Ros’ new album comes out in a couple weeks. You can stream it right now on their website, check it out.

-chris

[Tim Finn]

I really liked the new stuff, but, yes, it did take away something from the show. I thought this one was more dynamic, especially visually, but I'd have preferred more older stuff. They're a hard band to review because I only instantly recognize about five of their songs. So I just stand in the middle of it and let it wash over me.

[TK]

"So I just stand in the middle of it and let it wash over me."

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who does that...I like to do that even for songs i DO know, sometimes...

[Daniel]

This show was really disappointing, especially with the high bar set by their last show at the Uptown. Their performance was competent, but the set was thin and, well, pretty boring. Their slow, quiet songs are fine on the records, but obviously the loud epics are the reason their live show is so lauded--there just wasn't enough of them. They could have at least played "Popplagid." I feel kind of bad for all the people who flew in to hear what I think any fan would even admit was a really weak show.