Show: Of Monsters and Men & Sóley
November 21, 2012 in Featured, Shows by Kelsey
On November 19th at the Orpheum Theatre, Of Monsters and Men and opener Sóley exhibited the diverse musical talent Iceland has to offer.
Through ambient songs, Sóley undoubtedly displayed her pianistic talent. Though she played with two musicians, the music was clearly a solo project. Her captivating utilization of echoing created an experimental sound.
Contrary to Of Monsters and Men’s usage of various instruments such as trumpets and accordions, the keyboard fueled Sóley’s music almost exclusively.
From Of Monster and Men’s initial song, “Dirty Paws”, the enthusiasm exhibited by the crowd and the band was remarkable. The band frequently instructed the audience, who always complied, to clap and sing along.
To the delight of any fan, the band played all 12 songs from their debut album, My Head is an Animal. In addition, they performed a cover song by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and a new track.
The audience was electrified throughout the entire concert. Every song was performed fervently, creating an interactive, exhilarating experience.
The strength of the music was the blend of the vocals of Ragnar Þórhallsson and Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir. The beauty created using these two voices is unparalleled. The two vocalists’ collaboration was especially powerful during the band’s most commercially successful song, “Little Talks” as well as “Lakehouse” and “Sloom”.
The band made the brilliantly unexpected decision to not play their most popular songs during the encore. Playing songs such as “Little Talks”, “Mountain Sound”, and “Kings and Lionheart” in the middle of the set invigorated the crowd. The audience reveled in every moment of these numbers.
The encore ended with “Yellow Lights” which Hilmarsdóttir described as a lullaby. Ending with such a calming song, especially one that displayed the talents of both vocalists, was a wise decision. The audience left relaxed and inspired by the performance.
Of Monsters and Men’s Boston performance was impeccable; displaying the Icelandic band’s staying power in the American music scene.
