Of Monsters and Men played a full set in Austin on November 13. The night began with Arny Margret opening quietly, just her and an electric guitar. There’s a calmness to how she performs that makes you stop for a second and really listen to her beautiful voice. By the time she finished, people around me were nodding, settling in, ready for what was coming next.

When Of Monsters and Men came out with “Television Love,” the room seemed to take a collective breath. Some fans had tears already, and you could tell it had been a while since they’d seen the band live. They moved through songs from “King and Lionheart” to “Fruit Bat,” each track carrying a distinct feeling, at times soft and almost fragile, then suddenly loud and full of energy. The lights shifted with the music, turning warm or cutting sharp to give every moment its own mood. People swayed and sang along, some lost in their own world, others smiling at the folks around them.

“Mouse Parade” was one of those rare, quiet moments that made the theater feel tiny in the best way. The band circled around a single mic and sang almost to themselves, and the room went silent – everyone was holding their breath. Later, the crowd carried the ending of “Ordinary Creatures,” and by the time “Little Talks” kicked in, lights were everywhere and everyone was yelling “hey!” on the top of their lungs. Arny Margret came back out on harmonica for the song as well, and did an an amazing solo. Before the encore, Nanna climbed onto a box near the barricade and leaned in toward the front row, singing right to the them. When the band returned and asked everyone to shout their favorite song, it was loud and joyful chaos, and the band just laughed along. The whole night had this warmth that lingered long after the last note. It wasn’t flashy or overproduced, it just felt lived in, like everyone had shared something real together.

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