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Sigur Ros @ United Palace (night 1), NYC - pics & setlist

photos by Ryan Muir

DOWNLOAD: Sigur Ros – gobbledigook (instrumental) (MP3)

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

“It was transcendent. I have never seen a show this good – they played a gtr with a saw and played the same measure 30 times in a row, getting gradually louder until they started singing in this made up language, really high & slightly off key – then they did it again, except this time no made up language!!! And so it went!!! I’m a berklee trained musician and I’ve seem some amazing shit, but no one will ever top what I saw this magical night.” [Anonoymous]

Sigur Ros played their first of two shows at United Palace in NYC last night (Sept 17, 2008). More below…

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

The United Palace theater, originally known as Loew’s 175th Street Theatre, is one of the 3 Loew’s Wonder Theaters in New York City. Located at 175th Street and Broadway in Manhattan, New York City, the theatre was designed by Thomas W. Lamb for vaudeville and movies and opened in 1930. When the theater opened, its auditorium was the third largest in the United States. Its architectural style is described by the AIA Guide to New York City as “Cambodian neo-Classical” and by David W. Dunlap as “Byzantine-Romanesque-Indo-Hindu-Sino- Moorish-Persian-Eclectic-Rococo-Deco.” [Wikipedia]

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

A look at the inside of what has been called a “delirious masterpiece”. By the 1960’s, after the great movie palaces had all closed down, the 175th St. Theatre was purchased by Rev. Ike’s Christ United Church in 1969. The historic theatre has been exquisitely restored and is still maintained for concerts (performances in 2007 included Björk, Iggy and the Stooges and Modest Mouse, The Black Crowes, The Arcade Fire, and Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Berlin Philharmonic in The Rite of Spring), recitals, classes and lectures. [Wikipedia]

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

for the first time in america since 2001 the band will be playing completely on their own, without the support of amiina and the horny brasstards. supporting the band for this tour is jónsi’s boyfriend’s band parachutes.

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

“I thought they were good, not great. Not to compare, but the show in June at the Ballroom was amazing… tonight was really good but didn’t blow me away like June did. Maybe ’cause it was a larger venue, or the lack of a marching band… still well worth going though. And the theater, wow, what an amazing building.” [Anonymous]

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

Sigur Ros @ United Palace

setlist:

svefn g englar
glósóli
ný batterí
fljótavik
við spilum endalaust
hoppípolla
með blóðnasir
svo hljótt
heysátan
viðrar vel til loftárása
inní mér syngur vitleysingur
sæglópur
hafssól
gobbledigook

all alright
popplagið

They do it again tonight (Sept 18) – same time, same place. All tour dates HERE.

Beck is also playing at this venue.