It’s
not often that a band all the way from snowy Iceland grace the stage of The O2
Academy Bristol. The blissful Of Monsters and Men played this venue as part of
their 10 date UK tour. Their debut album My Head Is An Animal was released last
year and peaked at number three in the UK, number one in Ireland and Austria
and a succession of other high positions across the globe.
The
band, who have been together since 2010 were signed to Record Records after playing a number of dates in their native Iceland
and being invited to perform on the radio station Iceland Airwaves.
It was
an opportune time to unleash their brand of thoughtful and beautiful folk music
upon the world, in the wake of bands such as Mumford and Sons and The Lumineers,
our ears were ripened to these dulcet and sensitive tones.Their
singles ‘Mountain Sound’, ‘Little Talks’ and ‘Dirty Paws’ were received with a
burst of adulation from the crowd. The six-piece frequently interacted with the
audience in their very Icelandic manner, being softly spoken, thankful and
humble.
Co-female
vocalist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir,
sounding much like a softer Florence seemed almost startled by the crowd, but
her rendition of ‘Skeletons’ by The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s was unexpected and
chillingly superior. They had hired a young, blonder haired girl to tour with
them, and every five minutes she would change instrument, from a big drum to an
accordion to a trumpet.
Co-male vocalist Raggi" Þórhallsson was
also a pleasure to behold, a favourite moment was when he told the crowd, “This
song is about a very tall man, a lake and a house, and it’s called...
Lakehouse.” As a band, and their music says the same, they seem very innocent
and unspoilt, possibly a product of their rural and simplistic upbringings in
Iceland. It must have been a culture shock to tour the UK.
Of Monsters and Men were played absolutely
blinding set, and there was a strong sense of pleasantry and peace amongst the
crowd. On the way out, all that could be heard was how amazing they were live,
and how it more that exceeded people’s expectations.
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