Results tagged “sigurros”

Sweden is a country like no other. Somehow, its disparate raw ingredients, a few of which include a rich history of inclement weather, rule by Vikings, close-knit communities, and welfare states, have created some of the most affable, accomplished, and worldly people on the planet. Melding influences as varied as those that shaped his homeland, Emil Svanängen (under the pseudonym Loney Dear) creates some of the most beautiful and epically arresting music found anywhere on the globe. Like his fellow Scandinavian brethren Sigur Ros and fellow countryman Jose Gonzales, Loney Dear brings the world intricately crafted emotive music on a larger-than-life yet incredibly personal level.

Sigur Ros never fails to put on a good show. Unlike Jamie Lidell--whose gimmicky, disjointed full-band set at the Showbox on Friday left us longing for his solo days--Sunday night, the Icelandic quartet delivered a serious yet ethereal show, as always. Something that never fails to impress us is the graciousness of a Sigur Ros audience. There are always magically organic moments so quiet and weighty that no one breathes, lest they break the silence and ruin the moment. For those who saw the show at Benaroya, Jón þór Birgissin's effortless alien falsetto was well on display, as was the band's rock instrumentation, covering songs from their new album, as well as their previous releases.

John's band, in light of America's financial misfortunes, will be returning to the home-made recording studio to use our economic meltdown as inspiration for new songwriting material.

Even if you're going to tonight's John in the Morning at Night, Friday's best bet is DJ/blue-eyed soul man/gold lamé bathrobe-wearer/consummate performer Jamie Lidell, along with opener Janelle Monae at Showbox. Jamie also has an instore at Easy Street Queen Anne this evening at 6:30 p.m.

...if you're willing to pay way more than face value.

What the hell is it about Iceland? How can a cold and tiny isolated nation with only 300,000 people be responsible for so much weird and wonderful music? From Björk to Sigur Rós to Múm (who will be appearing at Neumo's in October, btw), Iceland's got a strong presence on the indie scene. Hmm...there must be something in all them hot springs.

Watching

Tuesday 31st, Halloween Night

Has Seattlest mentioned that we are in love with Sufjan Stevens? Yes, we love him, but it's totally not in a sexual way. Though we certainly appreciate his boyish good looks (and nicely toned arms), for us to touch someone with such wide-eyed childlike wonder would surely make us a pedophile. More than anything, we'd love to hold him close to our bosom, thereby protecting him from the cold, cruel world. Still, when a man attempts a project even he knows he's not going to finish---creating an album per state of the union, and on each chronicling the state's feel via extensive research, personalized lyrics, and elaborate folk orchestration---well, we kinda hafta fall in love with him. Especially when he chooses as his second state the place of our birth, and the big single off the album is about our hometown.

SIFF runs a tight ship. Even though their Face the Music party at Neumo's last night had a bajillion bands on the bill---all of whom were doing ~20 minute sets chockful of covers, as a tribute to musicians featured in films at the festival--- somehow they were actually running ahead of schedule. How often does that happen at a regular rock show, let alone one with eleven musical acts? Somebody must've been cracking the whip. Truly, this slavedriver should be commended.

For the second time in a week, Seattlest found ourselves enjoying some live music, even though we didn't have a clue as to what the songs meant. Last Wednesday it was Sigur Ros, and yesterday it was Dungen (pronounced "doon-yun"), a Swedish band that plays what everybody's terming "folkrockpsych" due to its decidedly '70s throwback feel. Hipsters and hippies alike have been drooling over this album for a while now, which the diverse crowd at Neumo's reflected completely. The mostly male audience was full of white belts *and* dreadlocks, as well as a smattering of old dudes and music nerds who just wanted to hear some hardcore jamming. They would not go home disappointed.

Since there is nothing we like more than technology and music (okay, that's a lie, we like smores more, but it's bikini season, so we'll hold off), we were delighted to find Icelanic band Sigur Ros has a Flickr account that they are updating while on the road. Admittedly, the band's Flickr account is not the most interesting photo set on the site, but we still think it's pretty great that bands are willing to take the time to post their photos. We are delighted bands are embracing new technology and social software and we think it provides a great treat for their fans.