Of Monsters and Men have made significant strides. In a short three years, the Icelandic masterminds released debut album My Head Is An Animal to critical acclaim conquering the charts in the U.S., UK, Canada, Ireland, Iceland and nearly every other European country. This year the team took home European Border Breakers Awards top honor and just made their first SNL appearance where we say, “welcome to American royalty Of Monsters and Men.”

This is why, among the fact that they are vivid musicians, we caught their hour and half show in Austin at Stubbs BBQ. Opener Half Moon Run began the night with a thirty-minute set.  Nearly 1,800 people rose to the melodic train Half Moon Run delivered. The trio came out and started like professionals – promptly, energetic and soulful. With effortless transition from track to track Montreal natives Devon Portielje, Conner Molander and Dylan Phillips were a treat to the perspiring American crowd. “It’s a beautiful day to play in front of you beautiful people,” lead vocalist Portielje called out. 

The Canadians opened with hit “Judgment” from their 2012 debut Dark Eyes, pouring out the love lost ballad with lyrics “I’m sorry I’m not him/ the poet’s right hand/ the artistic little suffering son of a working man.” Even as a few technical hitches arose with popping amps there was no stopping the band. In their short set they played 8 tracks, the last appearing to be a nod to Texas as the blues rang through.

When Of Monsters and Men walked on stage, every-last-damn-camera/cameraphone went up. Opening with crowd pleasers “My Head Is An Animal” and “From Finner” to a sea of waving hands it was clear there would be magic tonight. As lead vocalist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir thanked the crowd, she quietly asked the audience to, “all keep your hands high, high, high in the air.”

Through tracks “Slow and Steady” “Mountain Sound” and “Your Bones” a sonic and lyrical journey emerged – one full of flourishing harmonies and excellent musicianship. As the sun began to set single “Lion Heart” was unleashed and followed by an unreleased song that co-singer/guitarist Raggi Þórhallsson claimed was about his downstairs neighbor back home whom he almost set his apartment on fire while cooking spaghetti. “He’s still alive, and this song is about him” Þórhallsson assured.

The incredibly personal band made way for an encore featuring a cover of Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Skeleton” and finishing with their own lullaby, “Yellow Light.” This is an oxymoron for a lullaby because the stage ignited and guitarist Brynjar Leifsson climbed the stacked 20 feet high amps and finished the show 30 feet above the crowd. After he took his own photo from the vantage point, he made his way down, bowed with his band and together they walked off as Iceland’s flag blew in the wind.

Photo By Carlos Legarreta