Anneke van Giersbergen & Árstíðir – Markant Uden; March 12th, 2016

After the concert I was asked if I didn’t get bored, seeing the same show with the same jokes and setlist several times. It was an honest question, not an assumption. My honest answer was that there are times when I feel I’ve seen enough shows and may need a break, but that I’ve learned to notice the little differences between concerts. Nobody sings or plays exactly the same every night and every story or even joke, not matter how often it is told is entirely the same. It’s the changes I live for, the subtle differences in atmosphere, in the mood, the performance, in my own feelings and reception of the concert. It’s the ability to tell how the guys feel and how sometimes, their mood shifts with the audience response. Little things and special moments, brief exchanges, recognition and above all, always, the concert as a whole, the piece of happiness, of beauty, of wonder I carry home with me at the end of the night. Music is the most addictive drug I know and I keep coming back for more. 🙂

Compared to the other concerts I’ve seen on this tour so far, I would not describe the show in Uden as outstanding or especially memorable, but by no means I want to belittle this concert. It was beautiful and for me personally it was a night of revelations, even though I find it hard to describe it as a whole. Of course there were the odd moving or funny or otherwise memorable moments like the retelling of how the ‘Heyr, Himna Smiður’ youTube video came about when not only Linda got a small moment in the spotlight for filming it, but someone in the audience had to shout out that he was there. 🙂

The audience was less responsive than the previous night, but not less appreciative. I had a seat on the left again, but ten rows back this time which gave me a nice new perspective. Somehow, rather than hearing the songs as a whole, this was a night where I noticed all the different parts. Anneke’s strong, clear voice, raising above the music, the soft strumming of Daníel’s guitar, Gunnar’s background singing in several languages and alway spot on, melodies flowing from Guillaumes cello, Ragnar’s fingers dancing across the piano and last but not least Karl’s violin playing, essential for so many songs. It was lovely.

At times, I was lost in the music, at other times, lost in thought. It was a night that felt like a family reunion, because Linda was there and we had not seen each other in almost a year. So many memories came with it and a few new ones were made. I can’t remember all that many details, but the concert still sticks with me as special for personal reasons.

Afterwards, there were lots of hugs and sharing a round of Salmiakki with the guys before we had to say goodbye. Back in my room, under the stars I could see through the skylight above my bed, I thought about how far we’ve come and how much this band and everyone connected with it means to me. There are no words to describe how much I love these guys. Still smiling, I fell asleep, dreaming of more concerts to come.

Setlist

Solveig’s Song
Everwake
Russian Lullaby
Het Dorp
A Simple Song
Þér ég unni
Shades
Circles
Four years
Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)
When I am laid in earth
Lost in you
Leaves
Bist Du bei mir

Heyr, Himna Smiður
Pavane

Verloren, Verleden tour: 4 concerts down, 8 to go. Next stop: Groningen