Bringing their Fever Dream tour to Melbourne, Icelandic indie folk-pop band Of Monsters and Men played to a sold-out crowd at the Forum Melbourne. Having caught them previously for headline shows and at festivals, we knew what we were getting ourselves into and were excited with anticipation to sing, dance, cheer and have a fun time.
Opening the stage for the night was local band Loose Tooth – a three-piece whose sugary guitar work mixed with gritty vocals had the audience bopping along from the get go. With hilarious banter and some talk over tea, Loose Tooth warmed up the crowd and had us all ready for more. Highlights of their set included Keep On, All The Colours Gone and Sherry.
Before we knew it, the time had come for the main act. Already in a dancing mood and ready for venue-wide sing-a-longs, the atmosphere intensified as Of Monsters and Men took to the stage. The band launched straight into Alligator, the first track and single from latest album Fever Dream.
The release is a detour from their indie folk roots, and a welcome addition to their live set – a clear distinction between new and old but equally well received. Fan favourites Empire, Mountain Sound and King and Lionheart leave the audience mesmerised – a solid catalogue of old hits to play from their previously successful albums.
One of the band’s standout qualities obviously lies with vocalists Nanna Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson, whose vocals are perfectly contrasted. Flitting between folksy tunes and their pop hits, their vocal versatility was on full display. After taking a trip down memory lane, we are back to the new stuff and eager to hear how the tracks translate in a live setting. Performing Sleepwalker, personal favourite Wild Roses, and Róróró, the band takes the time to explain the stories behind their new releases. The band has perfected their live presence, and we could listen to Nanna and Ragnar all night long. As a special treat for Melbourne audiences, the band decides to play their Triple J Like a Version, freshly debuted that morning on the radio. Their take on Post Malone’s Circles leaves us with goosebumps and is something we feel privileged to have witnessed.
Wars, Crystals and Lakehouse bring us back to original content and the crowd goes wild as Little Talks – the song that started it all – gives everyone something to cheer about. Closing out the set with Six Weeks, the slow-building song only further intensifies the chants and screams for more. As the audience asks for one more song, we find ourselves hoping for two, maybe even three more songs. Wishful thinking – as the band delivers. Returning to the stage for Waiting For The Snow, the most emotive song on the new album, fan-favourite Dirty Paws and Yellow Light from their debut album close the show. As the last notes ring out over the audience, the beautiful track leaves a lasting impression.
Given the new trajectory Fever Dream has taken Of Monsters and Men, we can only expect to see them going onto bigger and better things and we eagerly await their return to Australia. Whether it’s a festival or a headline show, you can expect to see us in the audience having the time of our lives.