Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust: With Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly

The following post is from our newest Beats & Eats Blogger, Meg Sullivan, a lifelong friend and unwavering music festival sidekick, who currently resides in Chicago. We both experienced Sigur Ros for the first time together at Bonnaroo 2008. Both of us walked away emotional, moved, and inspired. As soon as we got back home, we both went out and purchased their documentary, Heima, and watch it often. Meg was able to see them again in Chicago for which I am infinitely jealous, but offered to share with us her personal perspective. (Photo: Meg [left] and myself rocking out at the Chicago Reggae Festival, August 2008. "Legalize It!")

Sigur Ros at the Chicago Theatre: Wednesday, September 24, 2008

With A Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly; translated from the Hopelandic words Meo Suo i Eyrum Vio Spilum Endalaust, or better known as the title to Sigur Ros' newest studio album. Sigur Ros is currently on tour with this CD, whose title describes the absolute experience that they are.

For those not familiar, Sigur Ros is a four-piece Icelandic post-rock band that has an unsurpassed heartfelt and ambient sound. In their songs you will hear electric guitars, violin and cello bows, as well as piano melodies, all perfectly orchestrated together. The band is known for front man Jonsi Birgisson who sings in an angelic high pitched voice with a lot of reverb, creating an ethereal sound. He sings the majority of his songs in Hopelandic which is a combination of the language from Iceland and his own vocal gibberish. In this, the vocals become simply another complex instrument to orchestrate together. With the language barrier this allows you to really focus on the aesthetics of the music and the mood it inspires in you. The songs of Sigur Ros are so open ended that anyone can relate to them and reflect within.

When I was getting ready to see this show at the Chicago Theatre, I was holding it up with very high expectations. I saw them perform this summer at a stellar 1 AM set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival. I realized here that seeing Sigur Ros perform is what you would expect and much more. For those of you who have heard Sigur Ros before, imagine how you would feel listening to the CDs and then imagine seeing the spectacle of recreating those sounds in live action with absolute clarity. This first Sigur Ros show I can't put into words other than saying that it was surreal. The state of mind that their live performance instilled in me as I was laying in the grass gazing at the Tennessee stars is like nothing I have ever experienced. At one point I managed to come back to reality and look at my friend, Ashley (yes, the author of this blog), who has never really heard anything by Sigur Ros before. She was completely mesmerized staring at the stage with a tear rolling down her cheek. She went to the show to pass some time before Ghostland Observatory and Kanye West and ended up being pulled into the music with the rest of us. We left the show with a teary joy that we will never forget.

I, of course, could not wait to see them again in Chicago. I had a few reservations beforehand, primarily based on the audience. Usually more orchestrated and less rock shows create more chit-chatting and other distractions for those who really want to fully listen to the music. I must say that I was completely wrong in my preconceived notions of the crowd. It seemed like everyone was intimate, engaged, and very appreciative. During the middle of a song, there was a good five second pause in which the only thing you could hear was the quiet sounds of 4,000 breathing. Simply breathtaking.

The show consisted of a catalog-spanning set list, showcasing the band's shifts through the years. The set began with the swaying song Svefn-g-englar. This song works as one of their typical opening numbers as it acts as a memorable "calling all to the show" anthem. A personal highlight for me was when halfway through the show, two great songs: Hoppipolla/Meo Bloonasir and one of my personal favorites, Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur were played back to back. A lot of this playing was done strictly by the light of these little incandescent orbs that floated around on stage. These orbs would brighten along with intensity of the notes creating a truly magical atmosphere. The show ended on a high note with their recent single Goobledigook. This fast paced song, full of acoustic guitars and thumping percussion was performed by a dozen tribal drummers on stage. The audience was instructed to clap along with the rapid pace. At just the right moment, bright colors of confetti fell down into the entire theater creating an Icelandic snow globe. The band played a two song encore, Illgresi and Untitled 8, ending the show at just around two hours and fifteen minutes.


After the encore, the band members came down on stage and bowed while receiving a standing ovation. Walking out of that theater, most people left with an awed silence and satisfied look on their faces. Sigur Ros is a unique band that may not be for everyone, but I encourage all to at least give them a shot. And if by any means you have a chance to see them live, go and you will not regret it! Those who do will leave with a buzz in their ear and a new found appreciation for music.