The best way to read this review is the same way I’m writing it, by listening to Sigur Ros live on NPR. Especially since it’s the exact same set they played in San Diego and at the Hollywood Bowl.
A few months ago, on the day tickets went on sale, I scored a couple great seats for Sigur Ros at the Hollywood Bowl. A few days later I got a message from TicketBastard saying my card wasn’t working (go figure) and that I needed to call them. This gave me some time to realize that I wasn’t really in a position to drop over a bill on concert tix. Luck have it, my friend Steve, had bought 13th row center seats for the San Diego show at Copley Symphony Hall and they were only $32.
We arrived just in time to catch the opening act, Amina. Four Icelandic gals who might be the younger female clones of Sigur Ros. They use the same approach to creating sounds with fun instruments like vibes, saws, little pianos, and whatever else happens to be lying around. It worked exceptionally well in a symphony hall. Even the slightest sounds could be easily heard. As they looped through each track the pace seemed to quicken and eventually led to a keyboard driven near-dance piece. They brought to mind how Sigur Ros gained popularity opening for Radiohead then branched out on their own. Hopefully Amina will do the same.
After a quick little walk with some new friends I returned to my seat right before Sigur Ros hit the stage. The show started with the first couple tracks off Takk, their new album (listen to it here). As, “Glosoli” grew in strength I closed my eyes and felt my heart beat pacing faster. Soon enough drums were blaring and Jónsi’s voice was echoing throughout the hall. Whoa, wasn’t expecting such an all out opener. Gathered myself for the rest of the set and listened as they covered a large portion of the new Album and some of the best tracks off Ágætis Byrjun. Amina returned to the stage after a few songs and successfully backed Sigur Ros with strings and whatever other sounds were needed. I won’t go too much into the each track because listening to the link above is a much better way to appreciate what they’ve created. With a bunch of creative lighting, backdrops, video and screens casting shadows, they easily kept everyones attention. Once it was all said and done, both bands returned to the stage while clapping their hands to thank all the fans in attendance. A much deserved standing ovation was returned with bows, smiles, and waves of gratitude.
The next morning I checked my email and my friend Martin had worked out a deal for me to take Bessy up to the Bowl to give away Ice Cream backstage for the Sigur Ros show the following night. I instantly jumped at the chance. I arrived at 5 o’clock to a bunch of parking attendants who we’re waiting in the hot sun for the rush of cars about to hit ’em. Handed everyone some treats then slowly made my way to directly behind the main stage. I was a little nervous because, due to short notice, I had a limited supply of treats. The crowd of Bowl workers was forming and I couldn’t blame them. Free ice cream on a hot day before a big show, who wouldn’t be happy. Worked out a bit of food and drink in exchange and hung out with Timothy while waiting for the show to start.
About ten or fifteen minutes before Sigur Ros was to hit the stage at their largest show in the US, Jónsi, the lead singer, walked up and starting asking a bunch of questions about what type of music I played on the truck. I fired up my generic Ice Cream truck music CD and flipped through a few tracks while he listened intently. I guess he’d done a bunch of research on old time ice cream truck music and was having trouble getting good recordings. I tried to talk him into recording something for the truck but wasn’t all that successful, can’t hurt to ask. How cool would that be to roll around town playing custom Sigur Ros Ice Cream music? Tried to offer some cream or a fruit bar but he wisely didn’t want to risk anything so close to the big performance. Handed over a copy of my movie and some stickers then, as he was walking away, I realized how calm he was. Too cool.
Timothy and I headed up to our seats and I just closed my eye’s and went into dreamland for an hour and a half. It might have been a very similar set to the one I had seen two nights before but it felt different. The Hollywood Bowl is a sacred place and there’s a certain feeling I get everytime I see shows there. Maybe it was just being outside relaxing on a beautiful end of the summer night. Hung out for a bit afterwards, grabbed a beer on the rooftop, then it was time to roll.
As I was making my way back to Long Beach on the 101, I thought I got a flat tire. After a bit of inspection I found that my rear U joint had broke. Great. What do you do with a broken down ice cream truck in the middle of downtown LA at 1 in the morning? I decided that taking side streets all the way home would be the best way to try to make it without having to get towed. At 2:30 in the morn, two blocks from my house, the U joint finally gave way dropping my drive line onto the asphalt. Slammed it into neutral then dragged it into the closest non street sweeping parking spot. Luckily I was able to get it fixed up the next day and back on the road for the Clap Your Hands, National show. What a night.
