Indie pop-rock band Highasakite took the stage at their sold out show in Bergen on November 13, just over halfway through their Norway/Scandinavia tour following their newest album, Testament. The tour started off with a bang, their biggest headline ever, with a sold out show at Unity Arena in Oslo. While the rest of the tour takes place in more intimate venues, the show did not feel small by any means. The show was sold out and the venue was absolutely packed to the point it was almost impossible for me to move around the venue. Some people also had to stand where you couldn’t even see the stage because there was no more room.
With the rest of the tour being held in smaller venues, the production was, for obvious reasons, scaled back from the Unity Arena show, but it was still well executed and did it’s job great for setting the vibe of each song. The show started off very quiet and dark, with the band slowly taking the stage first, followed by lead singer Ingrid walking on, standing with the music in the background for a good minute. Where most shows I go to tend to start with something high energy, this took me a little off guard, but it was definitely something that made sense for this performance.
The setlist had a good variety of songs from the new album and a diverse pick from their catalogue, laid out in a way that flowed nicely. Even with no opener to warm up the crowd, they were fully tuned into the show from the beginning, and the audience felt very attentive to the sort of theatrical performance that the band put on. There was not much lacking from this show, from Ingrid’s incredible live vocals, to the band playing these tracks beautifully, it’s clear that these songs really shine in their live form. This was not a show with a lot of audience interactions. While that is something I can appreciate with concerts, it made sense to not break up the set with too much talking, as the songs flowed so nicely together and the transitions between songs were very intertwined in the set.
While I love shows in smaller venues like this, it is clear to me that this band is meant for bigger stages—something they have already proved they can do with the first show of the tour. If you missed out this time, they are set to return with their biggest headline in Bergen next August, which will be an outdoor show at one of the biggest venues for music in Bergen at Bergenhus festing. It will be very exciting to see what they will bring to the stage next year, and I’m hoping I get to be there to see it!
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