Mugison at Union Pool
Mugison, c/o Mark Iantosca
Allow me to operate on a clich√© for a moment, and tell you that Mugison is the next big thing to come out of Iceland, a country with a reputation for extremes and unique musical acts. In accord, Mugison’s MO incorporates booming instrumentation and howling vocals contrasted with an equal proportion of minimalist and humble ballads ‚Äì and seeing him pull it off live is fantastic.
The evening kicked off with openers Bellman Barker, a DC-based 5-piece who played a universally familiar indie rock/pop set. Meanwhile, Trophy Scars transitioned into a more dominant, esoteric realm. Your average Union Pool-goer’s palette is likely less accustomed to their sound, and the audience’s eardrums were left ringing after an intense and dynamic set of tracks off their new record Bad Luck.
He’s often referred to as a one-man band routine, but last night Mugison had help from his sidekick David √û√≥r on the keyboard, and it was an inebriated ole’ time for all. The duo swilled Presidente bottles and smilingly encouraged audience members to clap and stomp their feet to the more raucous numbers, including ‚”Jesus is a Good Name to Moan” and ‚”Sweetest Melody.” And yes, while he is indeed a rowdy motherfucker, Mugison has a soft side too. It was shining through when he played ‚”Deep Breathing,” with its electronic symphony and bells (even if he did ‚”forget the words” halfway through the track).
The set remained relatively short, regardless of how lively and entertaining it was. The elated audience in the small venue (which even included Mugi’s father-in-law) begged for a second encore, but alas, the requests weren’t fulfilled. This was rationalized succinctly by √û√≥r, who announced (as he rambunctiously removed his shirt upon exiting the stage) that it would be “more fun to drink” than to play an additional song. Drunken Scandinavians: 2 points, Drunken Hipsters: 1.
(more photos after the jump!)
Bellman Barker
Trophy Scars
Mugison
Mugison
All photos c/o Mark Iantosca.
