A perfect setlist, a trip through all albums and singing to the cows backstage

Posted on by

Árstíðir – Cstlefest, Lisse; August 4th, 2024

Castlefest is always nice, for people watching as well as the music. I was there for three days, but really cared to see only one band, Árstíðir. They played in the last day in the afternoon and their show made it all worthwhile. It was a pretty much perfect setlist and a lovely concert overall.

The festival started on my birthday, but I skipped day one, because I wasn’t interested in any of the bands playing then. Day two and three were nice, even though I never managed to meet my friends (we were hindered by terrible cell service). I enjoyed walking around, looking at all the market stalls, admiring people’s costumes and listening to music here and there. Ran in to Guillaume and Jean-Samuel on the third day and chatted for a while, but did not meet anyone else I knew until Sunday. Finally, with the prospect of Árstíðir soon being on stage, everyone gathered in front of it. I was happy to meet G. and talked to her until showstart. Ragnar said hello during sound check and soon it was time for the guys to hit the stage.

“Hello Castlefest!” Gunnar greeted us and told us that this was one of their favorite festivals to play, but first he noted that they used to be more in this band, because inexplicably, Ragnar was missing. Jokes ensued about the backstage being really big and wondering where he got lost until he finally arrived. The started with three short, “medieval sounding” a cappella songs and after the first one, Ragnar apologized for being late and told us about a saying in Iceland that means if something starts of bad that everything after would be great. He also explained that the first sog was a romantic one, but didn’t sound like it and the second one was a lullaby, but didn’t sound like it either.

They ended with a drinking song before they called Guillaume and Jean-Samuel on stage. It was a great start and a preview of the a cappella album they are currently working on. A beautiful version of ‘You just have to know of me’ followed and I found myself sighing deeply. I had really missed them and loved every second of it. ‘Ljóð í sand’ was next and anyone in the audience, who had not been fully attentive yet, was drawn in by that song. It has some special magic. 🙂

Daníel told us about writing the next song in Karlovi Vary and how they stayed up until it was finished. It was ‘Someone who cares’. I remembered when they first played it all those years ago. Still one of my favorite songs. The instantly recognizable piano into told me it was time for ‘Nú gleymist ég’ – another one I can never get enough of. <3 All of their music has a special place in my heart. but some songs even more so.

Ragnar asked who spoke Icelandic and a few people raised their hands. He spoke about how at Castlefest all languages blend together and with bands form many countries playing there, he can always tell the meaning, even if he does not know the meaning. For him music speaks the language of the heart and ‘Passion’ is a song about the heart. It was lovely. ‘Mute’ followed, feeling intense with the underlying heartbeat and creating an eerie mood. It fit the feeling talked about in the song.

Ragnar mentioned that their name means seasons and they chose it because in Iceland life differs with the seasons and how winter is the time for writing songs, when one alway wonders when the sun comes back. Of course ‘Hvenar kemur sól’ followed. Such a soothing and beautiful song. Danél told us they were having a horrible summer in Reykjavik and how the summer right here was perfect in comparison.

Guillaume and Jean-Samuel left the stage  and the rest of te band gathered arond one central microphone. Then Ragnar told us how they played a song backstage and the cows in the field came and listened. We were later to see a video of that on Instagram. They continued with the lovely ‘Glitský’. The others returned and joined them for ‘Land míns föður’ and did a great job. They ended the acoustic set with ‘Góða veislu gjöra skal’, always a fun one.

Back at the piano, Ragnar told us that Icelandic songs tend to be dramatic, as the nature of their country is, and all in minor key too. It was the perfect introduction for ‘Endatafl’ and they played beautifully. I could not help but sing along in the end and felt a few tears in my eyes too. ‘You again’ came as a surprise. I could not remember the last time I heard it. It was nice having it back on the setlist. ‘Shine’ followed and I liked that even better. What a great choice and what a great version of the song! <3

There is nothing I haven’t said about ‘While this Way’ yet. It is probably my all time favorite Árstíðir song, perfect in every way. <3 ‘Himinhvel’ was next and for a moment I could not remember the song, even though I recognized it and knew the first line. Either way, it was wonderful. Daníel asked us how we were doing and everyone cheered. Then he spoke about the pandemic and how they used the time for writing songs. They were gonna play us a happy one now, ‘Bringing back the Feel’. I smiled the entire time – it is just so much fun.

Another one from the pandemic session, ‘Sanity’ followed and I loved everything about it. It felt as if they were pulling out all stops now. Ragna told us how to say “cheers”, “Hi” and “thank you” in Icelandic, saying those three would get us a long way. From the newest material, we came to the first album with ‘Heiðin’ – I loved it. Every song seemed just right that day. They thanked us for the amazing day and ended the show with ‘Things you said’. That too, was fantastic. What a great ending.

Afterwards at the merch, I told everyone, how much I had enjoyed the setlist and how I loved that each album was represented. It was perfect. Only when Jean-Samuel mentioned it, I realized they had not played ‘Shades’. 😀 I hugged everyone who wanted to be hugged, talked with Linda and Tom, who were selling merch and spoke for some time with Daníel about playing guitar and ukulele and how I like watching his guitar work. It was all really lovely.

Said goodbye to a few people, spent some time hanging out with G. and finally returned to the merch to see who was still there. Hugged everyone goodbye and went home. It was a great day, I did not need to hear any more music.

Setlist

Ísland farsældafrón
Krummi Svaf í Klettagjá
“drinking song”
You just have to know of me.
Ljóð í sand
Someone who cares
Nú gleymist ég
Passion
Mute
Hvenar kemur sól
Glitský
Land míns föður
Góða veislu gjöra skal
Endatafl
You again
Shine
While this Way
Himinhvel
Bringing back the feel
Sanity
Heiðin
Things you said

 

Well, ’round here, baby I learned you get what you can get

Posted on by

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – Wembley Stadium, London; July 27th, 2024

Two days after the first Springsteen show in London I was back at Wembley stadium for more, this time in a really good seat. It was another great show with a great setlist that was very different from the first one. I loved everything about it and in the end could not say which show I liked better.

I spent the afternoon at a theater and only went to the stadium after the play was over. Set on buying and event T-shirt I went from merch stand to merch stand, but it was sold out everywhere – money saved. Went and checked out my seat and it was a good one indeed. side stage with a great view. Got some food, refilled my water bottle and waited. My friends had FOS tickets so I did not see them this time. People around me arrived and were nice, but nobody seemed interested in chatting. Oh well.

I was excited to get another show and wondered what songs they would play. While they had been a little late on Thursday, Bruce and the band started a tad early this time around. “Good evening, London!” he greeted us and exclaimed “It’s Saturday night!” before, once again, starting the show with ‘Lonesome Day’. I really enjoyed being able to see the whole stage without having to stand on tiptoes. 😉

Those of us, who had not already been standing with the first song, jumped up for ‘Candy’s Room’ and a happy smile spread on my face – I was hoping they’d play that one. It was a great version too, with an awesome guitar solo from Bruce and I watched people jumping up and down in the pit. They continued right into ‘Adam raised a Cain’, another pleasant surprise and another song I had not heard in a while. I loved how powerful it was.

‘Death to my Hometown’ was next with Jake and Anthony on drums they carried around, while Nils was plying a banjo. It was a great sing-along. ‘The Promised Land’ and everyone was holding up signs or waving when Bruce came close. I did not spot who got the harmonica this time, but saw Bruce waving to a few people. ‘Hungry Heart’ followed and then a fun ‘Darlington County’. I was transported back in time to the 1999 tour where that song had been a regular one.

Then Bruce announced how special it was to have “the entire E Street Band with Mrs. Patti Scialfa” with him. She joined him and they treated us to a fantastic version if ‘Tougher than the Rest’. It is a song I have always loved, but seldom heard live so it made me especially happy. Watching them sing together, pretty much nose to nose, was lovely. At one point, just as Bruce started the harmonica solo, Patti’s shirt had gotten stuck, so she had to detangle it before taking a few steps away. He smiled and put the guitar on his back before walking back to her. When the song was over, they hugged and she left the stage again. I would have loved to hear more songs with her, but was happy with the one we got.

‘Darkness on the edge of Town’ followed and funnily enough I was singing along before the title of the song came to mind. My corner o the stadium was a bit quiet and reserved, even though they stood for a good portion of the show, but it was fun watching everyone in the pit sing along. ‘Youngstown’ was absolutely fantastic once again and I was happy they had kept ‘Long walk home’ on the setlist too. This time I noticed the people, standing on stage and watching, much earlier. So maybe they had been there the entire show?

How had we arrived at ‘The E Street Shuffle’ already? Had that not been later at the previous show? Either way, it was awesome and when everyone on the audience raised their hands and waved it looked great from where I was. The drum duel in the end was fantastic too. ‘Nightshift’ then was quite beautiful and the E Street choir (Ada Dyer, Lisa Lowell, Michelle Moore and Cutis King) really gave it their all. Another surprise followed with ‘Mary’s place’ and I saw M. in front row jumping up and down like mad, smiling happily.

It’s a fun song for sure, but the much bigger one for me was ‘The River’ that came right after. I feel a deep connection to this song, not only because it is the first Bruce song I learned to play on ukulele. It has been close to my heart ever since I’ve first heard it and I never tire of it, so I sang along with all of my might. It was one of those moments. when I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself, especially when Bruce just held out the mic and let us sing. <3

‘Last Man standing’ followed and brought me to tears as it does every time. I just cannot listen to Bruce share his story and not feel it. Everyone, who has ever felt aging, has to feel something when he speaks about the clarity that death brings and that “the grief we feel when our loved ones leave us is just the price that we pay for having loved well”. :’) Beautifully said. ‘Backstreets’ then, becomes this great tale of friendship and memories. I felt how hiding out on those backstreets must bring you closer together.

‘Because the night’ was and always will be fantastic and works especially well in combination with ‘She’s the one’ – I was so happy to have those two favorites on the regular setlist. Both show how close love can be to despair and how crazed we all get for it.

‘The Rising’ and ‘Wrecking Ball’ always bring great sing alongs and the feeling of hope – “Hard times come and hard times go”. Then ‘Badlands’ gave as an opportunity for jumping and screaming the words at the top of our lungs, before ‘Thunder Road’ ended the main set. Both songs make me feel connected to Bruce, the band and all the other fans. I still think ‘Thunder Road’ is one of the greatest love songs of all time, so full with the hope of youth, despite claiming that “maybe we ain’t that young any more”. I think as long as we don’t forget that “there’s magic in the night” we’ll be OK.

The band returned with ‘Born in the USA’ – not my favorite, but an important song for Bruce and that night I enjoyed shouting out the lyrics. They continued with ‘Born to run’, always a favorite and ‘Bobby Jean’. ‘Dancing in the Dark’ included the band introductions again and ‘Tenth avenue freeze-out’ brought all the memories. It is an important ritual and has made me appreciate a song I never really cared for before it became the one to honor Clarence and Danny. Now I even cry occasionally.

They ended with ‘Tiwst & Shout’ again where Bruce spent some time leaning against the mic stand and just let us sing. Bruce and Steve did the whole “It’s time to go home” skip, ending with “nobody fucking wants to go home!” Hell, no, we didn’t. “So that’S the way you wanna play the game. You’re telling me, you think you can outlast the E Street Band?” Bruce asked and then went on to ask “You talking to me? Then let’s see what you got left in you!” before we got a nice, long reprise.

Finally they stopped and the band left, each one sharing handshakes or a pat on the back or a hug with Bruce before they walked off. Then he stood alone at the mic, thanked us for being a great crowd and gave us ‘I’ll see you in my dreams’. It was the perfect ending: “We’ll meet and live and laugh again, I’ll see you in my dreams, yeah, up around the river bend, for death is not the end…” – in one way or another that is certainly true. With a tear in my eye I happily made my way home.

Setlist

Lonesome Day
Candy’s Room
Adam Raised a Cain
Death to My Hometown
The Promised Land
Hungry Heart
Darlington County
Tougher Than the Rest (with Patti Scialfa)
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Youngstown
Long Walk Home (introduced as a “prayer for my country”)
The E Street Shuffle
Nightshift
Mary’s Place
The River
Last Man Standing (acoustic; with Barry Danielian on trumpet)
Backstreets
Because the Night
She’s the One
The Rising
Wrecking Ball
Badlands
Thunder Road

Encore:
Born in the U.S.A.
Born to Run
Bobby Jean
Dancing in the Dark (followed by band introductions)
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Twist and Shout

Encore 2:
I’ll See You in My Dreams (solo acoustic)