Of Monsters and Men Roar in Chicago at The Salt Shed
Written and Captured By | Sandy Juarez
The Icelandic indie folk band Of Monsters and Men brought their signature sound and sweeping melodies to The Salt Shed on November 6th, delivering a dynamic, career-spanning performance that reaffirmed their reputation as a captivating live act. Their Chicago stop on the All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade tour blended nostalgia with artistic evolution, engaging the audience from start to finish.
The evening opened with Árný Margrét, a fellow Icelander whose minimalist solo set introduced a reflective mood. Performing blues-tinged acoustic songs, she captivated listeners through quiet intensity and emotional precision. A standout moment came when she sang in Icelandic, her native language—a heartfelt and vulnerable gesture that drew the crowd into her world while offering a poignant nod to her roots.
When Of Monsters and Men took the stage, the atmosphere transformed instantly. The band launched into their set with confidence and warmth, balancing the folk-infused energy that first defined them with the more intricate textures of their newer material. Their setlist was a full-circle exploration of their discography, touching on every era of their music.
Predictably, the loudest cheers came for songs from their beloved debut album, My Head Is an Animal. Crowd favorites like “Little Talks” and “Dirty Paws” filled the venue with euphoric singalongs, proving the enduring power of their early anthems. Yet the band didn’t shy away from exploring deeper cuts—tracks such as “King and Lionheart” and Beneath the Skin highlights like “Crystals” and “Empire” showcased their layered sound and the striking interplay between male and female vocals that remains their hallmark.
Newer songs from their latest release, including the exhilarating “Fruit Bat,” which closed the main set, blended seamlessly with their older work. These fresh tracks were met with enthusiasm, signaling that Of Monsters and Men’s creative evolution continues to resonate with fans. Throughout the night, the five members displayed effortless cohesion—trading glances, harmonies, and bursts of energy that made the performance feel both intimate and expansive.
By the end of the evening, Of Monsters and Men had transformed The Salt Shed into a space of collective emotion—where quiet reflection met joyous release. Their ability to weave old favorites with new sounds underscored not just their musical longevity, but their continued growth as a band unafraid to expand beyond their folk roots while staying true to their core.