{"id":4349,"date":"2014-04-03T19:50:46","date_gmt":"2014-04-03T17:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/?p=4349"},"modified":"2018-03-21T11:30:46","modified_gmt":"2018-03-21T09:30:46","slug":"song-changes-full-house-and-jokes-gone-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/?p=4349","title":{"rendered":"Song changes, full house and jokes gone wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00c1rst\u00ed\u00f0ir – Kaffi R\u00f3senberg Reykjav\u00edk, April 2nd, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the Christmas concert and Kex Hostel Kaffi R\u00f3senberg was the one place in Reykjav\u00edk where I wanted to see \u00c1rst\u00ed\u00f0ir \u2013 after all, this is where they had played for their friends in the \u201cYou just have to know of me\u201d documentary so I knew the venue before I ever went there. I was lucky enough to find an affordable flight and find two vacation days I had planned but did not need for summer \u2013 perfect. It turned out to be a wonderful concert with two new songs, the guys in a great mood and many moments to remember. But who am I kidding? Not loving it had never been an option. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

I took the long way via Copenhagen this time, arriving in Reykjav\u00edk at 3 in the afternoon. There was just enough time to get downtown, find my guesthouse and freshen up a bit before I felt it was time to walk to Kaffi R\u00f3senberg. Two other people arrived with me, speaking English \u2013 more foreigners come to see the guys? When we walked in, soundcheck was still in progress. I waved at the guys and Dan\u00edel smiled at me. Gunnar was nowhere to be seen and the others didn\u2019t notice me. I dropped all my stuff at a table near the stage and made my way over to Ragnar who was sitting with his back turned, said hello and got the first hug of the night.<\/p>\n

While the guys were finishing soundcheck I ordered food and contemplated which table to choose. They were done quickly and Ragnar came over for a chat. Later Karl joined him and they decided they wanted my help with the setlist. I could not give much input though, had no clue which songs might or might not fit together. I loved watching them work though and once the list was done I took a picture of it. Of course they changed it again 5 minutes later, but at least I have a record of which songs were played even though I can\u2019t fully recall the right order.<\/p>\n

While I sat at my table and wait for the concert, the two girls who walked in with me come over and ask me about the pictures I will be taking, because they had noticed my camera. One of them was from the Netherlands, missed the \u00c1rst\u00ed\u00f0ir concerts in April and is now in Iceland for 4 month to work so she took her chance to come and see them. When I told her my website address she immediately asked \u201cAre you familiar with Poets of the Fall?\u201d \u2013 what are the odds? We had a nice chat about music afterwards, before they returned to their table in the corner. I am later joined by two Icelandic women, one of which tells me she knows three of the guys from the university choir back when they were still studying. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

When \u00c1rst\u00ed\u00f0ir walked on stage a little after 9 pm, the attention in the room completely shifted to the front. It was a typical caf\u00e9 atmosphere and not as quiet as at gigs in a concert hall, but people were listening attentively. Of course they asked who didn\u2019t speak Icelandic and luckily I was not the only one. \ud83d\ude09 I was smiling. I had dreamt of seeing them here for so long it still felt unreal to actually be in this place. It took a few songs into the concert before it started feeling real. I immediately noticed the guys were in a great mood though \u2013 much less nervous than two months before. The looked perfectly at home on that little stage as if they played there all the time. I watched each on of them in turn: Hallgr\u00edmur, who was so tired he looked like he would fall asleep leaning against his cello, yet still never missing a beat. Karl, alternating between sitting down and standing up with his violin, while controlling all sorts of effects with his feet. Dan\u00edel, on a high barstool, concentrated on picking his guitar yet smiling the entire time \u2013 he looked so happy that night. Gunnar playing the baritone guitar as if he\u2019d never done anything else, he was occasionally wondering where to place the capo, but generally looking comfortable. Ragnar at his now accustomed place behind the piano, lost in the music more often than not.<\/p>\n

The guys did not switch places and instruments any more. They have grown into their new roles. The one exception was \u2018Or\u00f0 a\u00f0 eigin vali\u2019 where Karl sat down next to Ragnar and played the piano. As I watched it occurred to me that I now view them as a five-man band and briefly I wondered if anyone who didn\u2019t know them before would notice just how much they have changed in the past year. Each one of them looked comfortable just where he was and I realized I like it that way. With many new songs and leaving out the old ones that needed J\u00f3n\u2019s characteristic voice they had fully made the transition. This certainly works for me and while I miss J\u00f3n as a person, I do no longer miss him as a part of this band. I didn\u2019t expect this to happen, but it made me happy that everything worked out so well. And with the new album coming up, the journey is just beginning!<\/p>\n

This night was all about introducing new songs and telling new stories. Of course they threw in the occasional jokes as well. \ud83d\ude09 The joking has become part of the show and even though I\u2019d heard them many times already, some still made me laugh. The funniest was when Gunnar tried to take away Dan\u00edels \u201cWhy was the math book so sad?\u201d one and completely screwed it up, saying \u201cWhy did the math book have so many problems\u201d. It caused a lot of laugher on stage and a giggle fit for me. There are no words to describe the love I feel for these guys. Whatever emotional rollercoaster they put me through it is always worth it. Nothing compares to the joy of watching them being one with their music or to being carried by their tunes until any worry I might have becomes meaningless.<\/p>\n

The mixture of songs was just perfect. They played two sets and included nine new songs, seven of which they had already performed at Kex. I had been especially curious about the two songs I had not previously heard, but the biggest surprise was \u2018Shine\u2019. After hearing it so many time I thought it had reached its final form, but suddenly there was a new part in the middle with new lyrics. That came completely unexpected. I loved it and felt sorry not to have recorded this incarnation. Next time maybe, if it hasn\u2019t changed again by then.<\/p>\n

The first song of the night was \u2018L\u00e1tum okkur sj\u00e1\u2019 – it made a great opener. \u2018The Cannon\u2019 was next, this time introduced by a story about Ragnar\u2019s travel in the US and shooting guns in the desert, which resulted in a new scar on his forehead. Since his mom was there he stretched that he\u2019d tell the \u201cparent-friendly\u201d version. Made me wonder what he left out. \ud83d\ude00 The song was just as beautiful as I had remembered and hit me just as hard. Another brand new song with the working title \u2018Baltica\u2019 followed. Karl elaborated that it had been written in a hotel in Bulgaria where they served very meal with strong tasting cheese on top. Every one of the guys added a bit about the cheese and how they got tired of it after two days. It must have left quite an impression. \ud83d\ude09 Either way, the song was pretty awesome.<\/p>\n

\u2018Or\u00f0 a\u00f0 eigin vali\u2019 followed with Karl sitting next to Ragnar who wanted to watch and learn the part. It was just lovely to see them sitting side by side \u2013maybe they\u2019ll learn to play it four handed. \u2018J\u00falilag\u2019 was still every bit as beautiful as beautiful as all the other times I\u2019ve heard it. This is one of the songs I absolutely hope will make it on to the new album. \u2018Shine\u2019 of course rocks every time and \u2018Si\u00f0asta Kve\u00f0jan\u2019 tears me apart. This time they played it because it had recently been requested it at a funeral and since the title means \u201cLast Goodbye\u201d it was fitting. I was quite happy to get to her it once again. \u2018Days and Nights\u2019 followed by \u2018Shades\u2019 brought the first set to a perfect end. I could hardly believe half of the concert was over already.<\/p>\n

As compared to the last one I spent a bit more time walking around with my camera and taking in different perspective, i.e. at Kex I had not left my chair at all. I alternated between \u201cwork mode\u201d and \u201cfan mode\u201d, but still stopped and listened often enough to truly enjoy the concert. Almost 40 concerts later \u00c1rst\u00ed\u00f0ir still amaze me just as much as the first time around and I cannot see that ending any time soon. By now I know them well enough to have an idea of their routine, but they still manage to surprise me all the time. Hearing new songs develop is all sorts of wonderful and even when they play the same songs time and again that does not mean they will not change.<\/p>\n

The second set started with \u2018R\u00f3\u2019 which\u00a0they claimed\u00a0then, is named after Ragnar, \u201cbut we just use the initials\u201d. It worked well and this time I didn\u2019t expect any singing. The beautiful familiar \u2018You just have to know of me\u2019 followed, a song I\u2019d miss dearly if they did not play it any more. \u2018Eris\u2019 was amazing. So far I really want every new song on the album and knowing they have 30 sketches they are working on I cannot wait to see what gets recorded in the end. After \u2018Ljo\u00f0 \u00ed sand\u2019 the guys introduced another brand new song, \u2018Vetur ad vori\u2019 that had evolved as a mixture of two different songs. Karl joked that the original titles were \u2018Anxious\u2019 and \u2018Self Portrait\u2019 and gestured what and \u201cAnxious self portrait\u201d might look like. Ragnar told us a little bit about all the song sketches they have and when a phone rang, Gunnar joked \u201cone had that intro\u201d \u201cbut Nokia would not allow us to use the melody\u201d. \ud83d\ude00 They had a bit of trouble with this one. Gunnar could not remember where the capo went and what to play so it was Dan\u00edel, Ragnar and Karl on this. It worked nicely though and I am sure this will become something great. I loved it already, rough as it was.<\/p>\n

\u2018Moonlight\u2019 seemed less sad than the first time around \u2013 it is growing on me. \u2018Hei\u00f0in\u2019 and \u2018N\u00fa gleymist \u00e9g\u2019 ended the set and after lots of clapping and screaming from the audience they came back for a powerful version of \u2018Kill us\u2019 \u2013 it was a perfect last song to a perfect concert. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

Slowly people left, while I stuck around. Myrra R\u00f3s was also there and greeted me happily. I told her I\u2019d see her on her tour in late May. I had the chance to chat with each of the guy before they left. Dan\u00edel was rather surprised to learn that I had come to Iceland just for this one concert. Really, don\u2019t you know me by now? \ud83d\ude09 Leaving was the hardest part, but eventually everything good has to come to an end. With a final hug we said goodbye, knowing we\u2019d see each other again in three weeks time. I am already counting down the days!<\/p>\n

Setlist:<\/span><\/p>\n

L\u00e1tum okkur sj\u00e1
\nThe Cannon
\nBaltica
\nOr\u00f0 a\u00f0 eigin vali
\nJ\u00fali lag
\nShine
\nSi\u00f0asta Kve\u00f0jan
\nDays and Nights
\nShades<\/p>\n

R\u00f3
\nYou just have to know of me
\nEris
\nLjo\u00f0 \u00ed sand
\nVetur a\u00f0 vori
\nMoonlight
\nHei\u00f0in
\nN\u00fa gleymist \u00e9g<\/p>\n

Kill us<\/p>\n

pictures of this concert<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00c1rst\u00ed\u00f0ir – Kaffi R\u00f3senberg Reykjav\u00edk, April 2nd, 2014 After the Christmas concert and Kex Hostel Kaffi R\u00f3senberg was the one place in Reykjav\u00edk where I wanted to see \u00c1rst\u00ed\u00f0ir \u2013 after all, this is where they had played for their … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[222,297,13,19,293,294,14],"class_list":["post-4349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-concert","tag-arstidir","tag-cafe-rosenberg","tag-fan","tag-friends","tag-iceland","tag-reykjavik","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4349"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8969,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4349\/revisions\/8969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}