Árstíðir – Salzhof, Freistadt; May 4th, 2016
Getting to Freistadt was much more of an adventure than P. and I had expected. We had booked a direct train and were looking forward to nothing but chats and maybe some food for the four hours it was going to take us to get there. Apparently the Czech railways had other plans though and after two hours or so, we were told we’d have to get out three stops from there and take a bus to the next stop where we would get on the train again. It was all a bit confusing, but we did manage and eventually were back on the train. It even stopped in Freistadt – about one hour later than we had expected. It was raining heavily too so we decided to splurge on a taxi. Got to the hotel without further interruptions and had time to relax before going to the venue.
After picking up our tickets we were even allowed to reserve two seats in the front row and went over to the movie theater next door for a tea. When we returned we bumped into A. and A., whom I’d met in Munich and Erlangen. It was nice seeing them again and we chatted away until it was time to go in. The venue was lovely with high ceilings and lots of wood. 🙂 Once the concert started we found out that the sound and lights were great as well. Just about perfect. Before they started though we were told that we were only allowed to take pictures during the first two songs. It was a pity with all the nice lighting, but that is how it goes. It meant more time for me to enjoy the show without having to work. 😀
In the afternoon I had spent some time playing the original version of ‘Himinhvel’ (before it even had a name) to P. and then the in-between version ‘Julílag’ – it is unbelievable how much this song has evolved. I loved each of the versions so I am quite happy with ‘Himinhvel’ as it is, but sometimes it is fun to listen to the old one. I also played ‘Eris’ for her – such a shame that song never saw the light of day. There were others back then when the new band were finding themselves, but this one surely stood out. Anyway, it was even better now to listen to ‘Himinhvel’ at the show. It never ceases to amaze me. And it was only the start to a magical night.
The audience was mixed, but noticeably older than in Prague. I’m not sure why they attract younger people in the east and seem to have older audiences in the west, but I suspect it happens because they still get labeled as “Folk” which, even with the suffix “Indie-” is much too narrow a definition to describe their music. Whatever the reason, it changes the mood of the concerts. Sometimes the audiences seem more appreciative, because they listen in silence, but at other times it seems like a wall that is hard to crack. Then again, some of the music dos need silence to fully unfold and with an overly excited audience that is hard to come by. It is all about the right mix. This night was a good night though, with good vibes coming from the audience.
Both sets had a good mixture of old and new with one a cappella song each. They break up the flow nicely and show how well the guys can really sing (in case there was any doubt that is 😉 ). While I love these songs, I’m not sure I would enjoy a full concert or a full album of them. It is beautiful, but I’d miss the piano and the strings. Only in combination with those and their voices as a fifth instrument Árstíðir are the band I love. There are no complaints about the setlist that night. It was wonderful. There was no song that stood out for me especially, but they were all wonderful, played and sung very well.
It made me happy that they kept ‘Næturylur’ in the set. Funnily enough Daníel told us the song title was not translatable. So why did he translate it for us in Prague then? Little things like that always make me smile, just like the ever-changing stories they tell. They are never twice the same and that makes them what they are: good stories, living and breathing. ‘You again’ was surprising because Ragnar was taking over Karl’s lines. P. and I looked at each other when the familiar “And nothing seems so real” line suddenly came from a different direction than usual.
When it was over we agreed that it had been a great concert and a nice one before the break for P. Once again we hung out and chatted, trying to talk the guys into joining us for a beer, but they were too tired. The tour is clearly taking its toll and I’m glad they still come out to chat. Not wanting the lovely evening to end just yet, P. A., A. and I had our own little hotel room after party, sharing stories long into the night.
Setlist:
Himinhvel
Things you said
Someone who cares
Moonlight
Á meðan jörðin sjefur
Þér ég unni
Orð að eigin vali
Systir
Nú gleymist ég
Silfurskin
Ljoð í sand
Við dagsins hnig
You just have to know of me
Næturylur
Heyr, himna smiður
Shine
You again
Shades
Góða veislu gjöra skal
Heiðin
Árstíðir spring tour: 13 concerts down, 7 to go, next stop: Gaspoltshofen