On Thursday first of August, Kimono played a show at Faktory, one of Reykjavíks best downtown venues. The occasion was Kimono's Aquarium (listen), a brand new ep which was issued online only the day before. This is the band's first release since their brilliant 2009 LP, Easy Music for Difficult People, so getting a chance to hear new material was awaited with much excitement.
Kimono have been arguably Reykjavík's consistently best band for over thirteen years now. Many fads have come and gone over this period, but Kimono have endured, doing their own thing through out and raising eyebrows and neck hairs the whole time. Therefore I was not surprised to walk into a crowded room when I arrived at Faktory's upper floor. A clear testament to the loyal following Kimono have gained over the years, and that deservingly.
During the interlude, Kimono's band members one by one crept up on stage and without any bravado and without further ado, started playing. Only half aware of their presence the chattering crowd suddenly fell silent. This is what we came for.
During the first twenty minutes or so of the set they grooved through their single track EP, in an introverted fashion, with each member of the band in his own world. This fitted the piece perfectly. Kimono, now well into their teens have evolved a lot on the way. They have a real knack for songwriting, so it is pure pleasure to see them try on new dresses, and Aquarium surely is one. It is more introspective and less forward than their earlier work. It is kept pace by jazzy drums and is carefully built up and revealed by quiet but playful interplay between the guitars.
What followed were the first words uttered by the band ,"GO TO THE BAR! Need to tune". No announcements, declaration or pronouncements. And why should they be needed? This was going on right at home, and it surely felt like that.
It is hard not to be mesmerised by Kimono's on stage performance. The ever playful interaction between the two guitars and drums is enchanting and the their groove is enthralling. Finding myself at a Kimono concert feels like coming home. The feeling is warm and nice, but at the same time intense and engaging. I remember feeling like that the very first time I saw them live as a teenager, and they still manage to convey that feeling effortlessly. Their natural stage performance and self confidence is simply contagious. I found myself grinning and nodding relentlessly throughout the set as random members of the crowd erupted with "YEAH'S!" where the perky melodies just became too good for us to shut up about it.
As I walked home I was grateful for an evening spent with the Reykjavíks finest.
- Garðar Þór Þorkelsson
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