Iceland’s own, Of Monsters and Men, have earned a monstrous fan base their first couple years as a band. They’ve had arguably the biggest debut album in the indie folk-pop scene in recent years, not necessarily in sales numbers, but in the size and passion of the fan following the band has gained in just their first three years. Pretty impressive for a group with no drum machines or synths.
2012’s My Head Is An Animal was a fantastic album, mixing folk-based acoustic guitars, horns, dreamy electric guitar, and of course the fantastic vocal chemistry between singers Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir and Ragnar Porhallsson. After touring in support of the album for nearly two years, the band will be releasing their sophomore album Beneath the Skin early next month and have hit the road once again, playing a few U.S. dates before embarking across Europe, Japan, and Australia. One of the first stops on their 2015 world tour, NYC of course and Hammerstein Ballroom was packed from wall to wall for the opening band Highasakite, a high-energy indie-pop band from Norway.
Highasakite
Highasakite
Highasakite
Highasakite
Highasakite
Highasakite
Highasakite
Highasakite
v
Highasakite
Highasakite
Highasakite
Highasakite
Kicking off their set with fan favorites “Slow & Steady,” and “Mountain Sound,” Of Monsters And Men were keen on mixing in a few new singles early on, including “I Of The Storm” which features a very Revolutionary War style drum riff. Just another unique way the band can easily implement such unique characteristics into their songs with actual success.
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
“King And Lionheart” and “Silhouettes” followed. The latter you’ve probably heard in the new Hunger Games film. Crystals, another rhythm-heavy song with a tribal-esque vibe off the upcoming album made its NYC debut as well, to a pretty warm reception. Closing out the initial set with “Lighthouse” and “Six Weeks,” it was only expected that the band’s encore was made up of a hair raising version of “Dirty Paws” and “Mountain Sound,” with performance meeting those expectations in every way.
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters And Men
Article: Tom Shackleford
Photos: Lesley Keller
