photos by louis medellin

setlist

takk
glósóli
ný batterí
sæglópur
njósnavélin
e-bow
gong
andvari
hoppípolla
með blóðnasir
olsen olsen
svo hjótt
heysátan
popplagið


fan review
i have been a fan for a few years and when i saw they were touring, i knew i had to go and was willing to go anywhere and houston was the place. i flew from salt lake city to oklahoma city and met up with my youngest brother and together we drove the eight hours to houston. now most of my friends could not understand why i would do this for a band none of them had heard of (to their detriment but i keep trying to broaden horizons). my answer, "simple. they make music that moves me." i got to houston and was not disappointed but to be honest, it never occurred to me that the music would be nothing but ecstatic and beautiful. my brother and i settled into our seats on the floor and he lamented that the beer was $6 but it didn't stop him from drinking. i on the other hand did not want any chemical alteration from inhibiting my mind to be totally taken over by the music. amina came on a little after 8pm, and we was blown away by their musicianship and the sounds they created. i didn't know any of their music other than that of their sigur ros collaborations. i fell in love with their music and the girls, as did my brother, "the one on the cello is hot." i saw kjartan play as well and have only learned now that it was a new song. after they were finished, i ran and got one of their ep's (a little disappointed that seoul, the saw song, wasn't on there). between their set and sigur ros, my brother and i complained about those who come in late and miss opening acts such as these, what a waste.

the curtain closed, the lights when down, the music started with takk and then gossoli. i sat in my chair and watched the lighting of the stage, the silhouettes of the band and thought, "it has all been worth it." i usually stand at concerts, so if felt strange that we were sitting for the entire concert but i think i may have been some overcome by the music, i could have fainted. i closed my eyes and just absorbed the music, feeling it carry me, enlighten me. i have never had to wipe the tears out of my eyes at a concert before. how haunting the music and jonsi voice sound, the percussion forcing my head to nod in rhythm and my hands waving along with the strings and piano. i almost feel like i am at protestant revival and can feel god with me now. the joy in my brother's eyes and the pumping of his fists when saeglopur started. i was amazed at how great they sound live. listening to their cd's, you wonder how their music would play live, but world-class musicians they are, it sounded better that the cd's.

the last 2 songs were the most amazing. heysatan with the band sitting together like they would be at home, the smiles on their face and then the encore of untitled #8 with the somber mood manifesting to controlled recklessness, the silhouettes reemerging, the lone figure of jónsi becoming the frantic playing and energy of the band. all i can say is wow. maybe one of the best, the best, concerts i have ever seen. what an experience that i got to share with my baby brother and i can only thank sigur ros and anima for it.
(j.r. hendrix)

fan review
almost 3 years to the day, sigur ros was about to embark on their 3 city journey through texas beginning in houston. the venue was the verizon wireless theater, which they had played on their previous visit. just before the show i was able to get 2 extra front row seats from a friend which nearly had me in tears. this then left me with 2 extra 3rd row tickets that i originally purchased. i was more than happy to walk up to two fans that were walking up to the balcony level and told them that it was their lucky day and just handed them the tickets at no charge. both of them told me it was their first sigur ros show and how excited they were.

as i sat in my seat just seconds before amina took the stage, i could not believe i was sitting just inches away from where i was sitting when i first experienced sigur ros just 3 years prior... a slight case of deja vu to say the least. as amina took the stage i noticed sólrún almost tripped over something as she was taking the stage but then laughed it off. they played for about a 45 minute set which included a new song , as i later confirmed with maría huld markan, which featured kjartan from sigur ros. when amina finished their set, the white sheet came down and it was almost time for pure bliss!

as i waited anxiously, the lights turned off and here came the intro to "takk..." the wait was over... the 'fantastic four' took the stage and opened the evening with glósóli. here i was just feet away from the stage of the greatest show on earth! there were no changes to the setlist until it happened... unititled #6 (e-bow). this was my first time seeing the band perform this live as it had already been one of my favorites.

a highlight of the evening for me was when orri kicked over his drumkit at the end of untitled #8 which blew the crowd away. this was a special show for me as i brought along one of my best friends (amelie) who got to experience what i had been talking about for so long... sigur ros live! it was a great feeling to share something so great with someone for the first time.

after the show, many of us from the sigur-ros.co.uk messageboard hung out for the first time which was a memorable experince for me. i was a bit sad when we all went our separate ways that evening, but it was only the beginning of what the weekend had in store for us...
(louis medellin)

fan review
i went to the houston show and amena was so good. their performance was incredibly unique, i can see why sigur ros put the on there show. once they finished sigur ros started. the curtain was drawn and there shadows were projected on to the screen and they played there intro. then the curtain was drawn back and there sigur ros was. it was the best sounding performance i have ever been to, and i have been to alot (the mars volta, headphones, radiohead, etc....). the lighting effect where out of the world, so many cool colors and fog. plus they surprised us at the end with an encore of track 8 on the untitled cd. towards the end of the song, during the build up, the curtain started to close and bam the shadows appeared again going back and forth to different members and they finished it. it was an awesome night and it got better afterwards. i stayed back by the tour buss and waited an hour for them to come. they showed up and gave everyone autographs and took photos. they were real down to earth and nice. i hope they come back!!!!
(paiam alavi)