17 July 2016 (gig)
19 July 2016
The setting is an amphitheatre on the banks of Lake Garda and it seems many cool 20 to 30ish Italian boys and girls have decided to meet up and celebrate the band which with their 2000 album “Quiet Is The New Loud” helped create the “new acoustic movement”’ in pop’s underground scene. They are Kings Of Convenience, specifically the Norwegian duo Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe and with distinct calm and a notable curiosity for the spectacular sky meets lake background, they stroll on stage, Erlend tall, all in white, with his large framed glasses and strawberry blond hair, Eirik, in black jeans and jacket, his thick long black hair and beard emphasizing his beauty.
They then pick up their guitars and with their meticulous arrangements, delicate and soft vocal style, guitar and vocal melodies entwined, almost effortless but intense, begin to capture one’s senses, demanding the utmost attention. A spell is cast that holds for the first six songs, all off that first album, climaxing with a magnificent “The Weight Of My words”.
Maybe the applause is too polite and reverent such that Erlend gradually starts, in his rather off beat awkward way, to inject humour into the show, asking for collaboration from the cool Italians, all too eager to participate. As Eirik smiles at this unbecoming spectacle of dancing and snapping of fingers,as songs mainly from the other two albums in their catalogue are played. It’s still very pleasant and fun but the spell that bound has been broken and it’s rather a shame I feel.
There are still some great moments in the latter part of the set though, the best being a wonderful version of “Boat Behind” with improvised rock rhythm to finish and of course the magnificent “Misread” surely one of the best songs of the last two decades.
How lucky we are these two friends from Bergen, Norway decided to become a whole and gift us with such beauty musically speaking. They visibly enjoyed and deserved the applause from the packed amphitheatre and so we can only hope that they get back together in the studio and so fully complete this latest reunion.
Setlist
• Winning a Battle, Losing the War
• Toxic Girl
• Singing Softly to Me / The Girl From Back Then
• I Don't Know What I Can Save You From
• Failure
• The Weight of My Words
• Love Is No Big Truth
• Second to Numb
• 24-25
• Know How
• Mrs. Cold
• Boat Behind
• I'd Rather Dance With You
• Encore:
• Misread
• Homesick
• Little Kids
