Kings of Convenience

Norwegian indie folk-pop duo, Kings of Convenience, put on a performance that would make you think you were in heaven. The gently plucked acoustic guitars resonate like harp strings, and Erlend Oye and Erik Boe’s angelic vocal harmonies have a soothing quality that calms the mind.
Kings of Convenience has impeccable chemistry when performing together. This is no surprise as the band’s two members, Erlend and Erik, have been great friends since teenagers. They know exactly how to read from each other’s playing abilities, being aware of when to play a fill on the guitar to enhance the other performer’s guitar playing. Erik usually performs on a classical guitar playing bossa-nova type rhythms and dream-like jazz chords while Erlend performs over Erik’s rhythm on a nylon stringed, acoustic guitar playing catchy riffs and solos. Kings of Convenience has a simple and direct style of performance, but their music is intricately written and takes much skill to perform live. Erlend and Erik have a cool, calm and collective stage presence. Both members will usually sit down while performing and sing in a very gentle and breezy way almost reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel. The stage is usually lit with ambient lighting to enhance the relaxed mood of the performance. Kings of Convenience have also been known to tour with a backing band consisting of a drummer, bass player, and electric guitarist to broaden the sound of their performance and give it a fuller delivery. The crowd at the performance displays signs of being both mesmerized and inspired, and has been known to participate in the performance by enthusiastically clapping to the rhythm.
Every moment at a Kings of Convenience show is entrancing, putting you in the state of mind as if you were on a beach listening to the ocean waves gently crash on the shore while the breeze blows pleasantly through your hair.

The first evening of the Unrecorded Tour in "het Zonnehuis", a venue in Amsterdam Noord that fits a mere 350 people. "Congratulations you got a ticket," Erlend said near the end of the show "I heard it sold out in like one second." To be fair, it probably did and it's easy to see why.

These two guys could sing Row Row Row Your Boat and I would still be happy. Their voices, their harmonies, the delicate guitar play (and interplay, if there is such a thing) are just heavenly. And so they were last night (18 September) when those lucky 350 people were the first audience for the ten new songs that are going to make up the new album (as the boys want to go into the studio well rehearsed).

According to the Kings themselves some of the songs were unfinished, but apart from not having a title ("This is song number 1"), I couldn't tell. What I could tell was that the typical Kings of Convenience sound was there: the finger picking melodies and the strumming rhythms. But even though there was no mistaking this is going to be another record that has much of what we love about Kings of Convenience on it, there was some new and fresh sounding songs as well: some very funny lyrics and different melodies.

Even though the main part of the show was only ten songs, there were three old songs for the encore. It was an evening I think none of us 350 lucky fans will ever forget. I for certain was in a Kings of Convenience induced love haze all throughout.

The venue had the best acoustics I've ever heard. When you would close your eyes, it was as if the music was everywhere around you. This really contributed to the experience. The loudness of the music was perfect as well. It was such a warm and intimate concert: it seemed as if Erlend and Eirik played inside of your own living room. Their harmonies were on point and couldn't sound more beautiful. So nice to see how they actually took their time before the songs to get the finger picking right. Actually wanting to deliver the best sound. They made you feel as if you were part of the music. Their shyness disappeared at the end and they ended the quiet evening with the acoustic version of the more up tempo song I'd rather dance with you. Of course selected by the audience through some jokes Erlend made. Luckily we also got to see him dance! This is one of the best concerts I've ever been to.
Maybe one tip for the writer of the book: don't make it into a talkshow where KoC is YOUR guest: people go for the band.

Melodic Norwegian folk-pop duo Kings Of Convenience have been working the circuit since the early 00's yet it is only within the last few years that people have begun to sit up and pay attention the delicate tones and their wistful live performance style. They rose to prominence with their third LP 'Riot on an Empty Street' and although they do play a large amount of this record, they do not dismiss their other releases.

The duo becomes transfixed within their musical zones and concentrate on crafting an ethereal, somber atmosphere that the crowd simply sits beneath in quiet amazement. Although the stage setup is sparse and the majority of the instrumentals are created by two acoustics, the pairing of this with those tender vocals makes the whole experience emotionally heavy. The beautiful lyrical content of 'I'd Rather Dance With You' evokes huge cheers from the receptive crowds and the duo look really pleased with this. A unique act with an ability to create intimacy no matter the size of the venue.

When I heard the concert was part of the promotion of their new book on "Silence is the New Loud" I got a bit concerned, to be honest. Mixing interviews with the concert mood was tricky, I think everyone in the room was uncomfortable with that (themselves included), specially because the interview was poorly handled by Time Out in my opinion. Luckily when all this distractions were out of scene and they could actually play their music, I remembered why I was willing to see them live at Apolo (which is a great venue, my favourite in Barcelona for sure). A BIG thanks for them for playing the whole first album + all the classics (ok, almost!) from the other ones. Definitely worth waiting so many years for that :)

"It was a great concert! it was the third time that I saw them in Spain, and really enjoy it. First, the show was divided in 5 parts (interview pt 1, concert play songs of Side A of the album, interlude, interview pt 2, and play songs of Side B); second, the hall had chairs to sit down and enjoy the concert very quiet and comfortable, and finally, at the end played 3-4 songs of other albums (obviously, they´ve played all the songs of the album "quite is the new sound"). If you´re a fan of they, and won´t bother see them again, do it and go to the concert".

Awesome concert, fantastic atmosphere!!
It was in small hall for not a big audience (Sala Apolo, Barcelona)
The concert was based on their first album "Quiet is the new loud", and structured in two parts, each part beginning with an interview to them and then half of the album songs.
When finished, and after a big and long applause from the public, they performed another 3-4 songs from the other 2 albums.
Very nice performance, good sound quality, and very connected to the public, I absolutely recommend it!!

Everything was perfect, we had a great and time and enjoyed the night! Tha ambiance, organization, helpfulness, Kings of Convenience, sound, seats, ligthing, location, staff.. Thank you very much for this organization and amazing concert!

It was awesome!!!! The ambiance was amazing and we didn't stop laughing all night. I enjoy all of it!!! Hope to see them soon.. Was very fun.. The music was quiet and perfect. Quiet is the new loud!!!