Sigur Rós Mesmerise At Hammersmith Apollo

by | Sep 26, 2017

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Young children can be mesmerised by almost anything: ants, mud, the rain, a man in a purple dinosaur costume singing songs. Adults, not so much. Between all the Snapchats, news alerts, and seeing what’s happening everywhere but here, there’s just no time to focus. Something’s always pulling us out of the present, to the extent that mindfulness, a potential antidote to all that distraction, is now a £4-billion industry.

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

But there are still a few things other than meditation apps that can cut through the clatter of life. Like Sigur Rós. Not only can the Reykjavík trio entrance and silence 3,600 people for a solid two hours, they’re capable of filling them with a childlike sense of wonder.

“How are they doing that?” is the unspoken question echoing through the Eventim Apollo as Jon Thor “Jónsi” Birgisson, Georg Holm, and Orri Pall Dyrason unfurl one opus after another, each more glorious than the last. And all they have at their disposal are a drum kit, a bass guitar, some keyboards and synths, a guitar, a cello bow, a voice that’s almost always described as ethereal, and the element of surprise.

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

In the “seat-of-your-pants” spirit of their early days, when they “formed and re-formed” new songs “live in front of people, night after night” before entering the recording studio, four of the dreamscapes they perform tonight have yet to appear on an album. The swirling show opener Á (“river”), led by Dyrason’s stately beat, was first debuted in concert a little over a year ago. And the tranquil Niður, which has the drummer shift to keyboards halfway through, and lush, ambient Varða, with Holm and Dyrason each taking turns on keys and bass, only started appearing on setlists in May.

Despite their recent addition, all three songs fit seamlessly into the night’s first set, which focuses on the Icelandic group’s quieter, more restrained material, like Valtari’s elegiac Ekki múkk, Takk’s exquisite Glósóli, and ( )’s pensive E-bow.  

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Likewise, the more dramatic Óveður, released as a single last summer and performed from behind one of those video screens you can see through, is the perfect beginning to a second set big on sturm, drang, and crescendos. Takk… standout Sæglópur, for instance, begins with the trio (now partially obscured by visuals of stars) playing assorted synths at the back of the stage, before stepping forward to pick up their usual instruments as the song transforms into the audio equivalent of the fireball growing behind them.

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Ný Batterí too begins with relative restraint, Birgisson replacing the original’s brass section intro with guitar feedback created by furious bowing of the strings on his customised Ibanez PF200, until the familiar bassline and vocal melody begin to turn up the intensity. That steady build, and sudden release, of tension is a hallmark of the group’s biggest songs and is showcased again on the 12-minute epic Popplagið that, after steadily ratcheting up the urgency, ends the night in an apocalyptic maelstrom of guitar, bass, drums, and strobe lighting, followed, suddenly, by silence and darkness.

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

That ferocious finale, epitomised by Birgisson kicking over his mic stand, is one of the few reminders that, despite all the synonyms for “otherworldly” used to describe their music, the three members of Sigur Rós really like to rock. It’s also there during Festival’s seismic conclusion, as the frontman steps away from the microphone to unleash some aggressive rockstar-style power chords. And it’s there in the smiles he and Holm share when they’re just about to unleash yet another tidal wave designed to stun, silence, and mesmerise.

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Sigur Rós (Geoff D)

Live review of Sigur Rós @ Eventim Apollo by Nils van der Linden on 21st September 2017. Photos by Geoffrey D’Unienville.

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing