Árstíðir – Café Rósenberg, Reykjavík; February 9th, 2017

Ever since I went there for the first time, Café Rósenberg has been a special place for me and seeing Árstíðir there is always on top of my list. In fact I think I might not have missed a gig there since 2014. Last night’s concert was extra special though. Everything about it was right and not only did the band play beautifully, they had a few surprises in store as well. I smiled all the way through, listening with my heart and soul. It was a great night.

Less than two weeks ago Ragnar told me about tonight’s concert and I was like “Bloody hell, why did you not tell me this earlier?” Then I checked flights, found an affordable one and knew I had to be there. Maybe it was because I will not be able to make it to Russia in March, maybe it was because when I left Reykjavík at Christmas it felt as if I might never return. Whatever it was, I asked at work to use my overtime for this and to my surprise the wish was granted. Phew! So off I went to Reykjavik, from Düsseldorf this time and arrived around noon to grey skies. No rain though and enough time for a walk before I set out to the venue hours before the concert was supposed to start.

When I arrived they were just finishing soundcheck, so I sat down at a table further back, got a tea, took out my computer and worked a bit. When they were done, Hallgrímur came over to say hello and we hugged. That was a good start. Gunnar walked by to go out for a smoke so I said hello. He was surprised and happy to see me. We hugged and he updated me on the status of my song. 🙂 I moved to the table in front of the stage and Daníel smiled at me in passing. After a little while, Ragnar came over too. We hugged and chatted for a while. 🙂 The guys left, I had dinner and worked on until the café filled up and the band returned.

They started at, as Ragnar put it, “Icelandic nine”, which is comparable to the academic quarter, just not as precise. 😉 In addition to Hallgrímur on cello they had a woman I didn’t know yet on violin. As soon as everyone had taken their place, there was music.  First song was ‘Silfurskin’ and with the first notes I started smiling. It had been less than two months since the Christmas concert, but I had already missed the guys. The first happy sigh of the night escaped me. 🙂 Gunnar made an announcement that included something about Café Rósenberg, but other than that I only understood the name of the songs and that ‘Nú gleymist ég’ was next. Even bigger smile. I already knew then I would not take any pictures. I just couldn’t. It was way too enjoyable to allow for any distraction from the music.

Daníel asked us how many of us do not speak Icelandic. “OK, then I’m gonna repeat everything Gunnar just said” and explained that they had started at the Rósenberg in 2008 and loved coming back there. He announced ‘Passion’ as a song they had only played once before. Well, technically three times, but who’s counting? 😉 The song had evolved since the last time I heard it. I could not pinpoint the details, but it felt more powerful than the last time around and it was great even then. This was already shaping up to be a great concert. 😀

‘Ljoð í sand’ was next and Gunnar had already forgotten all about speaking English again, but maybe it was only Daníel who had planned to do that. 😉 Anyway, it made me remember how this was one of the first songs I fell in love with more than four years ago. I am still enjoying it. ‘Moonlight’ was quite lovely too and it’s never been one of my favorites. 😉 Ragnar explained something about the next song, who wrote it and that they played it at the Christmas concert or at least that’s what I thought he said, but it’s not like I actually speak Icelandic. Gunnar put the microphone closer to the front of the stage and got a good laugh, because it lead to a loud cracking sound. It sounded very familiar too, but I am not sure I actually heard it at the Christmas concert. Either way, the song was beautiful – they all sang perfectly. 🙂

More talking where Gunnar switched to English eventually and told us they are performing new songs to get feedback, positive or otherwise. 😀 Just like ‘Passion’, ‘See you later’ had changed since Christmas – for the better. I loved it, the singing, the arrangement, the strings, everything. It is such a treat to get to hear work in progress from them so often. <3 I certainly hope these two songs make it on the new album! Once in a while I need a reminder of why I love this band so much and this night, every song they played served as one. 🙂

Before ‘Systir’ Ragnar played a few chords on the piano and told us they were C major, E major, A major and G major, but I have no idea what else he said. I’m assuming it might have been something about their usage of minor chords in many songs (at least it sounds to me as if they use more of those, but what do I know?). As usual, it could have been anything and I’ve given up on believing that one day I’ll know enough Icelandic to understand. 😉 ‘Systir’ is one one my favorites. I can never get enough of it.

Last song of the set was ‘Friðþægingin’. Daníel announced it and commented that it didn’t have the easiest name,  Gunnar explained it was the most complicated Icelandic word after ‘umferðaröngþveiti’ – that felt like an inside joke for all those who had been to a gig on their tour with Anneke last year. 😀 Having the song back in the set after airwaves made me happy. It was a great version too, they even had an invisible drummer. I loved the powerful baritone guitar most though. 🙂 Speaking of which, they had a new one, that I first mistook for a guitar until I realized it only had four strings. Thus ended their first set.

Set two started with tree bar stools standing in front of three microphones. Gunnar said he hoped the Icelanders didn’t mind if they spoke English and to complain if they didn’t like it. He announced they wanted to try something they had not done in a while and go back to their beginning with just the three of them playing a few songs acoustically. He played his new little guitar, Daníel the regular guitar and Ragnar the new baritone. They started with ‘Ages’, which was amazing like this. Next was ‘Látum okkur sjá’ the song I had wanted to hear at airwaves so badly. <3 I recognized it right away – more happy sighs from my side.

Gunnar explained that the small guitar is nicknamed guitarlele, but he didn’t like that name. Apparently it is a nice instrument to play and it does have six strings. 🙂 He also asked us to give a round of applause for the owners of Café Rósenberg who give young and upcoming musicians a chance to play. Last song in the acoustic set was a cover of the Crosby, Stills and Nash song in Icelandic. Awesome! It reminded me of their gig in Stuttgart where they had done something similar, but with the piano in the mix. This was better and showed that they can play on their own like they used to in the early years.

Hallgrímur and the violin player joined them again for the remainder of the show. As if they had not treated us to enough surprises already, Gunnar announced another new song: “The goal of making music is never to excuse yourself, but we did do the final arrangements a few hours ago.” He said they might make excuses later and Daníel added “or ask for forgiveness”. They didn’t say a name, but Ragnar told me after that the working title is ‘The Circus’. No matter what the name is, I immediately loved it. It has instant hit potential for my list of favorites. A melody that felt familiar right away, as far as I understood lyrics that spoke to me, great arrangement too. Wow, just wow! <3

Ragnar looked at his mobile and joked that he almost got the lyrics right. 😀 He announced the next song was going to be ‘Himinhvel’, but Gunnar told him it wasn’t. 😀 Instead, they played ‘Someone who cares’. This concert truly put me in fan heaven. 🙂 ‘You again’ is always bittersweet for me and it was that night too – more sweet than bitter this time though. ‘Himinhvel’ followed, still as beautiful as it was the very first time I heard it. I love how this song has evolved from a beautiful string piece into what it is today and it was brilliant every step of the way.

It could not believe it when Gunnar said they had only one song left. He thanked us for being so quiet and listening, even though there was beer. He was right, the audience was unusually appreciative and nice. ‘Things you said’ ended the second set. Ragnar introduced Hallgrímur and the violin player, but I didn’t catch her name. They all took a bow together which was a bit difficult because Hallgrímur had no place to stand at first. Minor details, soon taken care of. What a great night!

We cheered and clapped for an encore. “You want to hear one more,” Daníel asked when they returned. Someone commented “Two more!”. I agreed, but since everything has to end some time, they gave us only one. I wondered if they might dig up ‘Kill us’ or play ‘Shades’. It was the latter – a brilliant, powerful ending to an amazing show. The only thing that could have made this better would have been more songs. 😉 No complaints though, none at all. I loved every minute of it!

I hung out for a while and bumped into M. whom I had not seen earlier. We chatted a bit, I met a German friend of hers and we talked some more. The guys packed up and it was time to say goodbye until the next time. I have no idea when that will be since I cannot make it to their gigs in Russia or the next one in Iceland and other than that they won’t be touring elsewhere until the new album comes out in the fall. That is the plan anyway. If the new songs are any indication, it is going to be amazing. So I’m more than willing to wait for more concerts until it is ready. I hugged them goodbye and left. On the way home, I saw Northern Lights – the perfect end to a perfect evening. <3

Setlist:

Silfurskin
Nú gleymist ég
Passion
Ljoð í sand
Moonlight
Icelandic a cappella song
See you later
Systir
Friðþægingin

Ages
Látum okkur sjá
Með hallandi höfði (Crosby, Stills & Nash cover)
The Circus
Someone who cares
You again
Himinhvel
Things you said

Encore
Shades