“This is our first stop in America in a while…”  Ragnar Þórhallsson, in preface to the final song of the night, “Yellow Light”.  Ragnar performed beside Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, who he shares lead vocals with in their Icelandic indie folk/pop band Of Monsters And Men, playing before what appeared to be a sold out crowd at the Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno.  This was a special show in advance of their Coachella appearance next week, and kicked off their larger world tour currently booked out through July.  The word “electric” comes to mind to describe the show, but so much of their sound is of the “unplugged” variety.  Yet they seem to create a whirlwind of energy that touched each fan in the crowd, bringing something otherworldly to the stage.  They have such a unique yet consistent sound it’s almost as though they have created their own genre of music, in sound and themes.  They definitely bring something unique and uniquely beautiful to the music world at large, and create an experience with both their studio recordings and live shows that is, for lack of a better word, magical and timeless.  Definitely one of the best tours to check out this year if you get the opportunity. [Read more…]