Sasquatch 2015, Day 1: Of Monsters And Men

Friends of the station Of Monsters And Men have come a long way since KEXP filmed them playing in a living room in Reykjavik, Iceland in 2010. In fact, they've come a long way even since the station filmed them playing on a bluff at Sasquatch in 2012. KEXP was one of the earliest to discover this band, and it is exciting to see them being embraced by so many fans gathered at the main stage. They have grown along the way, filling in a much larger sound that translates well to a massive stage in front of thousands. This set started a bit late, possibly delayed by a sudden pour of fat rain drops blown in on a very strong wind. Consequently, the crowd was quite packed in by the time Of Monsters And Men took to the stage, and roared with excitement as soon as the lights came up. The band started slow and ominous, with a droning tone buoyed by horns and a few flashes of lightening in the distance. Songs swelled and built, rolling out over the eager audience.  The set moved on from the moody rock of the first few songs to the more ebullient folk pop of "King And Lionhearted", which brought claps and singalongs from the crowd. In some ways, this was a bit of a mellow set for night time on the main stage, but the band has clearly been working on their show, shifting toward the epic sounds that a massive stage requires. New songs like "Crystals" from their soon-to-be-released album Beneath The Skin show promise. KEXP knew years ago that this band was going places, and tonight's show only served to reinforce what was glimpsed in that little living room set in Iceland.