Not sure if the tour you guys are talking about is the same one that I just saw, but yeah, it's an exceptional show. Just got home. I really respect what they're doing, this is obviously the show they want to play, they're not catering to casuals or anything like that.
It's split in two halves, which is a bit weird, with an interval, not something I've really experienced much before, but it works, honestly. First song was a bit boring, second much better (I'm not going to bother trying to list the songs I'll just post the set below - the only tracks I knew were the two Takk tracks and Kveikur) and then came Glosoli, which I feel, along with Hoppipola, are their most popular/well-known tracks (I could be way off base there though, as I've only heard Takk and Kveikur, not brackets or the foetus album). It was great but was comfortably overshadowed by a handful of other tracks in the set.
The main set closed with what I'm guessing is a new song (looks like they're playing four new songs..?) and that was one of the highlights for me. Nearly had my eyes watering, it was really beautiful. Saegolpour was tremendous, Festival outstanding (has more impact than Glosoli imo) and Popplagio was just an immense closer, without a doubt the highlight of the night. I didn't realise it was the same song as "untitled 8". Jonsi fell into the mic and sent it flying off the stage and left the stage holding his head and the drummer (who had taken his shirt off in anticipation of a real rousing stomper) smashed up the drum kit at the end. Their definitive live song, you'd have to say.
I get the impression Jonsi is a bit of a miserable cunt, but then he looked pretty pumped up when he came out to bows (twice!!) at the end of the show. We were all cheering and expecting an encore, but they went off twice and came back on twice, just to bow. THat was pretty weird. He mumbled something in Icelandic before Popplagio that no one could understand, but that was it. They also had some
protest merch and a
protest photo at the end - context for others here they played Margaret Court Arena, which is named after an old Aussie tennis player who was an absolute champion, but she's also a gigantic homophobe, so every artist who plays at MCA now protests. (Also, Jonsi's married to a man, if memory serves me correctly????)
The show couldn't really compare to the first time I saw them back in 2012 I think it was - it was in my hometown, at a 19th century mansion with the sun setting in the background and it was magical - but it was still very good. I could have sworn that first gig there was like 10 people on stage though. not three.
A shout out as well to the staging - the screen at the back had some pretty amazing visuals and the lighting rig setup was really unique and added a lot. Really great show.