Show Recap: Sigur Ros [Chicago Theatre; Chicago; 9/24/08]

Watching a Sigur Ros live performance is pretty much akin to going to church. It is a profoundly spiritual experience, and if your faith is at all wavering or you've fallen off the religious map, Sigur Ros is the sort of band that'll have you believing in God again. Profound waves of pure bliss washed over the entire audience during their show at the Chicago Theatre on Wednesday night, and looking at the faces of people leaving the building after the set, you couldn't find one that wasn't glowing with satisfaction. Yes, like a cigarette after the best sex of your life, the smiles were ear to ear and the eyes were filled with life.

But let me start with the band opening for Sigur Ros, otherwise known as Parachutes (featuring Jonsi's boyfriend as one of its members). To be clear, since apparently there are about 10,000 other bands with the name Parachutes, this collective is from Iceland (home of Sigur Ros) and have that same majestically beautiful sound so many of us are looking for in a band. Their Myspace page is here. To be perfectly honest, I was kindly not informed (the information was not made available on most of the internet, aside from some Sigur Ros-related sites I clumsily forgot to check) that there would be an opening band for Sigur Ros, though normally that's assumed. When Parachutes emerged on the stage and started playing, I somehow suspected that this was Sigur Ros doing a song I had oddly never heard before. The music sounded remarkably similar and the singer sounded quite a bit like Jonsi, though he didn't quite look the part. After my initial confusion though, and figuring out that this band actually sang songs in English, I went on to be thoroughly impressed with their live performance. They're more subdued and don't quite have the canyon-sized guitar parts of Sigur Ros, but calling them close cousins with fellow Icelandic bands Mum and Amiina wouldn't be out of line. Currently Parachutes only have a split 10" vinyl-only release to their name, but it became clear from their 45 minute set that they're destined for much bigger things. This is another dreamy post-rock band out of Iceland to get excited about, so most definitely give their tunes a listen or buy them online.

As for Sigur Ros, there's remarkably little I can say about their performance that isn't summed up in that very first paragraph. From the dimly lit acoustic-based songs to the brightly-lit joyful confetti fest that was "Gobbledigook" all the way through epic closer "Popplagið," Sigur Ros delivered with a performance for the ages. Raves have been coming in from all over the country about this live show, and naturally there's great reason to be so excited. If you think the experience of listening to Sigur Ros at home on CD or through mp3s is exhilarating and gorgeous, you should try being present when the band is recreating those sounds right in front of you. Jonsi's vocals were spot-on, and the use of a violin bow to play guitar contributes to those huge melodies we all hold so dear. I also want to make special mention of the drumstick used on the bass guitar during "Hafsol" as well as the traditionally underrated harmonium which contributed to a good few songs.

In terms of the set list (see below for that), the band threw together some of its classics across their entire career along with a fair mixture of new material. Granted, a few of my personal favorites were missing from this show, and indeed I may have gone into cardiac arrest had they played them, but what was actually played far overshadowed what wasn't. It was less about the actual song choices and more about the aesthetically beautiful experience of watching this band perform for 2 hours anf 15 minutes. I almost had an out of body experience and that was without the use of any substances aside from the singular beer I was drinking at the time. There was magic in the air for this show, as I imagine the experience is similar for those attending other dates on the tour. If you have tickets for an upcoming show or have the possibility to buy some (many dates, including this Chicago show, are/were sold out), there's not really much else I can recommend more...except for maybe My Bloody Valentine (which I'll give all the details on their Chicago show after it happens this Saturday).

P.S.- If you weren't already aware, Sigur Ros is performing as a four-piece on this tour, meaning they're without their traditional orchestral assistance (which has typically been the ladies of Amiina). I can't tell you how "different" the show was compared to past ones, as this was my first Sigur Ros experience. Rest assured by my review above that I most certainly enjoyed myself and can only wonder how much the extra instruments would've enhanced that.

Set List - Sigur Ros @ Chicago Theatre 9/24/08
Svefn-g-englar
Glósóli
Ný batterí
Untitled 6 (E-bow)
Fljótavík
Við spilum endalaust/Með suð í eyrum
Hoppípolla/Með Blóðnasir
Inní mér syngur vitleysingur
Festival
Svo Hljótt
Heysátan
Sæglópur
Hafsól
Gobbledigook
**Encore**
Illgresi
Untitled 8 (Popplagið)

Sigur Ros- Untitled 6 (E-bow)
Sigur Ros- Untitled 8 (Popplagið)
Sigur Ros- Fljótavík (left click)

Buy "Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" from Amazon

Labels: concert, sigur ros