This Is Post Rock

So. Last night, I attended Jóhann Jóhannsson's live scoring of the film "The Miners' Hymns" by Bill Morrison, at UCLA's Royce Hall. Bill Morrison's films are composed of various archival footage, which he cuts together, specifically to be accompanied by a live score (this information will be important later). Jóhann Jóhannsson first performed about 30 minutes of his own music, with a string quartet, before the live scoring, where he and the string quartet were joined by an 18-piece brass ensemble. God, do live strings and horns sound amazing. Even though it doesn't do last night any justice, he's a clip from the film, if you'd like to get an idea of what I'm talking about. The whole performance was fantastic.

But of course, the entire time I was there, I was looking for Jónsi and Alex. I had yet to spot them. After the performance, I walked up and down the foyer, initially making two laps around it. I started on a third, thinking, "if I don't see them this time, they must not be here." However, just as I was on my way out, on that third lap, the two of them walked past me with a group of other people. Naturally, I immediately turned around, where I ran into UCLA's Art Director, who probably saw me wandering around aimlessly. We had a fantastic talk about art, music, and life, and she then asked if I would like to come back with her and meet everyone. I of course agreed, and followed her into another room. The musicians were there, Jóhann Jóhannsson was there, and Jónsi and Alex were there, all hanging out, chatting, and... drinking.

I first talked to Jóhann Jóhannsson, who was extremely nice. I asked him a few random things, he told me about how they only had two days to rehearse the entire performance, and so on.

I talked to some of the musicians, trying to wait for an opportunity where Alex wasn't already talking to someone else. Meanwhile, Jónsi was deep in Icelandic conversation with someone else, right behind me.

I saw my opportunity, and went to talk to Alex. I'm sure I sounded like a fool. I said something along the lines of, "I don't mean to intimidate you, but you and your productions are everything I aspire to be." He thanked me a bunch, said that was very nice of me to say, and we got to talking about Julianna Barwick's and some other albums, and he said that he just finished producing an album by a girl from Seattle, but now I can't remember her name. Nonetheless, he said that the album should be coming out some time soon. I said that it would make my day if I could get a picture with him and Jónsi together. He said of course, if you can find Jónsi. I said that I've waited for Jónsi before, and then told him about when I waited outside of the venue after a Sigur Rós show for three hours, before walking back inside, and finding them still partying at one in the morning (see here if you are not already familiar with that story). He said, "I'm sure things had gotten pretty silly by the time you found them." He knows. I mean, of course he knows, but, you know. He knows.

A minute or two later, I turn around, and Jónsi and I nearly crash into each other by accident. I said hi, Jónsi laughed, I asked if he remembered me from that Santa Barbara show, to which he replied, "yeah yeah, I remember!" I asked how he was, he said he was "really good." I asked why they were in LA. Here's the scoop:

1. Jónsi and Alex are doing a score for another one of Bill Morrison's films (which will be amazing if last night was any indication). 2. Jónsi is recording for How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Alex was nearby, so we took our pictures. One of Sigur Rós' photographers was there with them that night, so he took the pictures with my phone. Jónsi made a joke, saying something like, "he (the photographer) is verrry expensive!" which everyone in their group laughed at. It must have been an inside joke, but it was funny to hear Jónsi even say that. That got everyone smiling so the pictures came out good.

The photographer took one, and he saw that Jónsi was closing his eyes, and he said, "oh, Jónsi!" and then everyone else said "oh, Jónsi!" (another inside joke or something, I don't know, everyone was laughing). Also, Alex says "banana" instead of "cheese" when he's having his picture taken.

But anyways, it was really great, really fun and relaxed. Easily the best Valentine's Day of my life.

Thursday, September 12th, Hollywood, California

Hope Drone

Mladic

Chart #3 + World Police and Friendly Fire

Behemoth

The Sad Mafioso

Saturday, September 14th, Pomona, California

Hope Drone

Mladic

Gathering Storm

Behemoth