Feldberg at Animal Disco, Belfast
Feldberg @ Animal Disco
Aunt Annies, Belfast
Friday the 5th of August
It’s not unusual for people from Belfast to complain about international bands coming to Ireland for a Dublin-only date; there are venues here which are just as good, and music lovers aplenty. It's possible that the band's reasoning is that they've played here before to a half empty room, which is exactly what Feldberg experience on their recent trip to Animal Disco at Auntie Annie’s. But it doesn’t phase them one little bit!
Drummer Thomas Camblin, formerly of local act Mojo Fury, joins Einar Tönsberg and Rósa Birgitta Ísfeld onstage. Scheduled to start at midnight it is twenty past before the Icelandic duo begin to play, a good decision on their part, as in that short space of time the room seemed to fill slightly. (It’s always a little uncomfortable when watching a band play to an empty room.)
Rosa Birgitta may well be one of the most endearing women Belfast has seen onstage. Constantly smiling and seeming genuinely happy to be here, she starts the set with the first slow song of the evening. Her voice is eerily beautiful, at times reminiscent of Emily Haines, at others Karen O, fellow Icelander Bjork even comes to mind at one point.
‘Don't Be a Stranger’ and ‘I'm Not Thinking of You’ are both stand-out tracks, upbeat, summery and wonderfully simple, we are swept along. Admittedly there are no complex riffs or drumbeats, but there’s something innocently sweet about the set, and Rosa's enthusiasm is infectious. Their most well known track, ‘Dreamin'’ is well received, and looking around ATL isn’t the only one singing along. It seems a shame that there is no dancing, but there’s applause at all the right places, and the group don’t seem to mind.
Expectations of the gig perhaps weren't that high, given the turnout, but it’s a pleasant surprise. Yes, it would have been great to see more of an audience, but it would have been the same energetic set, so we didn't lose out. Those who missed it did.
Sarah McGlinchey
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