Continuing our highlights from DAY 1 of FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2013…
Fans of Icelandic indie-folk stars OF MONSTERS AND MEN were treated to an uplifting and heartwarming performance from the group fronted by founding member Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and co-vocalist Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson, both of whom were practically glowing with apparent gratitude to be playing such a huge event in Japan.
Each of the band members were smiling, all the while engaging the audience and encouraging fans to clap their hands to their melodies, really getting them worked up for tracks “Little Talks”, “Dirty Paws” and “Mountain Sounds.” The humble smile of leading lady Hilmarsdóttir as she thanked the audience for listening was truly heartwarming. The five-piece is relatively young, only forming in 2010, and despite being from Iceland, the vocalists all sing in English.
Although language has not proven itself to be a barrier for other Icelandic bands, the warm intricate lyrics of Of Monsters and Men are certainly a drawcard and may partly contribute to their international popularity. The group have enjoyed huge success on the back of only one album (“My Head Is An Animal”) and one EP (“Into The Woods”), having played at major festivals such as Glastonbury and Coachella and embarking on massive international tours, the most recent of which took them through Europe on a mostly sold-out trip.