The Sugarcubes certainly had fun at their birthday celebration last Friday, and the concert goers stuck around for joy. Review by Eygló S. Arnarsdóttir.

Weird sentences in Icelandic and English, such as: “I am the landscape,” were projected onto screens in Laugardalshöll concert hall before the Sugarcubes entered the stage.

When people realized that these words in purple and baby-blue were actually quotes form Sugarcubes lyrics, the crowd’s anticipation grew.

The band entered the stage in high spirits. Björk sparkled like the star that she is in a silvery dress, but did her best not to outshine her fellow band mates. 

The Sugarcubes opened with “Traitor” from Life’s Too Good, followed by “Leash Called Love” from Stick Around For Joy. By the time the tunes of “Deus” filled the air, the Sugarcubes had captured the heart of its audience.

The band of six, which split up in 1992 when everyone went their separate ways, performed in perfect unison and seemed to enjoy being back on stage together. The audience was an odd mixture of old and young, Icelanders and foreigners, punks and posh people, but everyone seemed to have as much fun as the band members did.

The Sugarcubes were considered eccentric in their time with Björk’s distinctive voice as its trademark, and did not really enjoy popularity in Iceland until being discovered overseas.

Björk’s amazing voice and unique way of singing reached a high in “Birthday,” performed in Icelandic halfway through the concert.

Other highlights included “Regina,” “Motorcrash,” “Hit” and “Lúftgítar,” the last song of the concert. Björk stepped back and sang back-ups with keyboardist Margrét Örnólfsdóttir while guest vocalist Sjón sang and played air guitar.

Such a fun evening made people wish the Sugarcubes would reunite for good, but unfortunately, the comeback was for one concert only.

To read an interview with Sugarcubes drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson, click here.

Inset photograph by Einar Falur.