Sólstafir Add Dates to North American Tour
A few more dates added to Icelandic genre-spanners Sólstafir‘s previously-announced North American tour with Ancient VVisdom. The Reykjavik four-piece, who also play two sets at Roadburn this week and who will appear at Wave Gotik Treffen and a host of other European fests over the course of the next several months, head out once more in support of 2014’s stunner full-length, Ótta (review here), which is a cause as worthy of support as any I can think of. And yeah, the place I live gets the shaft this time around, but it’s hardly the first time and hardly anything to hold against the band. So dig the tour dates off the PR wire and catch these dudes where and when you can.
The time is now:
SOLSTAFIR announce new North American tour dates
Enigmatic Icelandic rock band SOLSTAFIR have added new dates to their previously announced North American tour. The band are touring across the US and Canada, adding shows to Elko NV, Portland OR, and Mesa, AZ. A full list of confirmed tour dates can be found below.
SÓLSTAFIR are different. Their unique blend of metal with beautiful melodies, psychedelic moments and a strong undercurrent of classic / hard rock comes as varied and at times appealingly bizarre as the landscapes of their native Iceland. Their fifth full-length “Ótta” is the logical continuation of the musical course this four-piece adopted on the highly acclaimed forerunner “Svartir Sandar” (2011). Expect the unexpected, such as seduction by subtle strings or a hypnotic banjo. None of this was apparent when SÓLSTAFIR released their album debut “Í Blóði og Anda”, which translates as ‘In Blood and Spirit’ in 2002. Instead of today’s Icelandic gravel throated siren chants, frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason spit forth vitriolic crust-like vocals and the ripping guitars were clearly black metal inspired.
Yet the band was as clearly identifiable back then as now and along their way with the next albums “Masterpiece of Bitterness” (2005) and “Köld” (2009) introducing new elements in a continuous evolution. SÓLSTAFIR’s music is as much the product of Arctic blizzards as of red hot volcanic magma, erupting geysers, lush green pastures, and salty waves. With “Ótta” the Icelanders touch something ancient and timeless, while defying easy categorisation. This album needs to be heard again and again to peel back layers of details, each different and yet always revealing the same: great songs – all of them.
The song titles of “Ótta” form a concept based on an old Icelandic system of time keeping similar to the monastic hours called “Eykt” (“eight”). The 24 hour day was divided into 8 parts of 3 hours each. The album starts at midnight, the beginning of “Lágnætti” (“low night”), continues through each Eyktir of the day and ends with “Náttmál” (“nighttime”) from 21:00 to 0:00. This form of time keeping is more open than the relentless ticking of modern times, where each second is made to count, which turns humanity into cocks of the corporate clockwork. Now SÓLSTAFIR give you the antidote. Just lean back, close your eyes, take your time and lose yourself in this masterpiece called “Ótta”!
SOLSTAFIR North American tour dates:
04/22 Brooklyn, NY @ The Shop
04/23 Montreal, QC @ L’ail’ze
04/24 Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks
04/25 Toronto, ON @ Garrison
04/26 Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
04/27 Pittsburgh, PA @ 31st St Pub
04/28 Columbus, OH @ Ace Of Cups
04/29 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
05/01 Minneapolis, MN @ Nether Bar
05/03 Chicago, IL @ Reggies
05/04 Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room
05/05 Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge
05/06 Salt Lake City, UT @ Bar Deluxe
5/07 Elko, NV @ Club Silver Dollar
05/08 Spokane, WA @ The Pin
05/09 Vancouver, BC @ The Astoria
05/10 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
05/11 Portland OR @ Star Theater
05/12 San Francisco, CA @ Oakland Opera
05/13 Los Angeles, CA @ Los Globos
05/14 Mesa, AZ @ Club Red
05/15 Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
05/15 Fort Worth, TX @ Sons Of Hermann Hall
05/17 Austin, TX @ Red 7
05/18 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
05/19 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
05/20 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
http://solstafir.bandcamp.com/album/tta
https://twitter.com/solstafir
http://www.facebook.com/solstafirice
http://season-of-mist.com
Just found out that they’re playing my favorite dive bar in Madison tomorrow night. This the diviest-dive bar you can image, no stage, tiny room, really looking forward to this. Thanks for putting me on to this band, would never have given them a shot if if weren’t for The Obelisk!
Went to the bar – no Solstafir or Ancient Wisdom. Not sure what happened, but had a lot to drink, then got a massive burrito. Oh well.
I saw them last night the the Earl in Atlanta. They were amazing!!