Ben dancing

What a strange night yesterday, Nordic Night in the Cultuurcentrum in Hasselt, Belgium. Have you ever attended a concert where the larger part of the audience didn't know the performers? It seemed that way yesterday.

Not the entire truth. I guess a big part of the audience came to see Jóhann Jóhannsson, who is quite well known outside of Iceland. I was there for Valgeir Sigurðsson & Ben Frost who did just what I expected them to do: make a lot of droning noise and weave in unexpected twisting & turning melodies and rhythms. Music to be felt in your stomach, which was a bit hard to stomach for most people present I guess... Four people in the first row left during their set. Applause was scarce and not very spontaneous. I don't know how these barefooted gentle men keep their concentration up. Because that's what they do, concentrate on the music, communicating through little nods and eye movements that the people right behind me (third row, "do you know any of the names on the bill?") will not even have noticed. I loved watching them.

And Jóhannsson, the top of the bill? It's not meant for me, too ambient, too slick. Not a single word to the audience, no introduction of the musicians, no communication. No respect for the obediently clapping masses. I know I would have preferred to watch Ben 'dancing' on tiptoes for another hour.

Find more pictures here! More info with links to audio and video here.

Edit: just found this on the wonderful blog 'Life's a Pitch':

I am pretty surprised how unaware audience members are of their own responsibility in preparing themselves to possibly have a special experience. (Or their own culpability in undermining it.) The process of opening one's self up to the experience...in my mind it is a kind of "unclenching"...is hard, and getting harder it seems. Helping audience members understand that they need to meet an artist half way is a start.

Yes, couldn't agree more. Source