Remember this? When I had to miss Sigur Ros in London earlier in the year I was less than happy. Although to tell you the truth, that unhappiness was wholly music-based, I was *quite* happy to be on a Greek beach. But it is still true that missing a Sigur Ros show is something to regret – they are not just one of the great Icelandic bands, they are one of the best in the world. They don't just produce wonderful albums, they play amazing and often awe-inspiring live shows. So the great news is that next week they will play two nights at Alexandra Palace in London… when I will be on a Spanish beach.
This is getting silly isn't it!? This will mean that I will get to the end of the year without hearing them play live versions of the latest album, með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, although I have a recording (am I allowed to say that?) of the London show earlier this year which is fabulous but you can't beat being there. Also, and I'm clutching at straws here, team Iceblah was on the adjacent table to Jónsi in Nasa during Iceland Airwaves. We left him alone, we're THAT cool.
A quick scan for alternatives show that all other dates are sold out other than Brussels on Saturday 16th and Reykjavik (come on Reykjavik) on Saturday 23rd also whilst I am away, which leaves just Lisbon tomorrow night… it can't be done sadly. Can it?
Happily, there is some good Sigur Ros news to report. My copy of the deluxe edition of "með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" arrived last week, and it's a thing of beauty. Cloth bound, full of well over 150 lavish colour photographs of the making of the record, it also includes a dvd and a piece of actual film from the gobbledigook video and most importantly of all it includes my name in the "takk" section. Fame at last! It's beautiful, you should own one.
All of which is an awful long-winded way of asking, if anyone needs 2 tickets to see Sigur Ros in London next week (November 20th), get in touch…quick!
One more thing, there's a fine evening of music this Friday night (when I am in the country!) at the splendid Betsey Trotwood pub in Farringdon, featuring Iceblah (non Icelandic) faves, White Collar Weapons.