OF MONSTERS AND MEN w/ ÁRNÝ MARGRÉT
@ HISTORY, TORONTO
OCTOBER 28, 2025
Last night marked Of Monsters and Men’s first time in Toronto in six years. The endlessly adored folk-rock band hasn’t been in town since their 2019 show at Budweiser Stage as part of the Fever Dream Tour, so it’s needless to say that History was packed to the gills last night. You could tell the show was sold out without reading the glowing banner outside of the venue; maneuvering to the bar or washroom was nearly impossible, and no one was willing to give up their spots. For a moment, everything was going quite well. Árný Margrét, a fellow Icelandic musical act and the only opener, kicked the night off with a small collection of gorgeous and atmospheric songs. Delicately plucked nylon guitar strings and brushed percussion brought the tracks to life, and the audience quickly fell in love with their delicate tone. If you’re a fan of contemporary folk music (or any kind of music that’s easy on the ears), it’s guaranteed that you’ll love her works.
After her beautiful set, the crowd began getting antsy and excited for Of Monsters and Men. It was about 10 minutes past their scheduled set time, and the band was still out of sight. 2500 people stood patiently, swaying back and forth, and begin to wonder where the seminal group is. After a few more minutes of anticipation, the lights dim and the audience bursts with cheers and applause as the band walks in front of the stage’s left microphone together. The only problem is . . . they’re one band member short. What was originally seen as an intro bit to the set quickly became a nightmare for fans who spent all day travelling to the show. Of Monsters and Men’s co-lead vocalist and guitarist, Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, has lost her voice, and the band will be unable to play a full-length set. Instead, they will return at a later date, which has yet to be determined. To ensure that everyone didn’t leave entirely disheartened, the remaining band members performed four songs. The brand new “Dream Team” and “Tuna in a Can,” as well as the fan favourites, “Dirty Paws” and “Little Talks.” The performance of “Little Talks,” a song that is prominently sung by Hilmarsdóttir, inspired lots of crowd participation from the entranced and enthused audience, who seemed to have their spirits sky-high despite the crushing news that they had just received. This also marks the tour debut of the track, and the band’s first time performing it without Hilmarsdóttir. “Little Talks” is easily the band’s most popular track, as the anthemic anthem is currently sitting at over 1,250,000,000 streams on Spotify alone.
It may not have been the show they intended to put on, but I doubt anyone will forget the Of Monsters and Men show that took place at History on October 28th, 2025. If not for all the unique improvisations the band took part in, given the circumstances, then for the loyal crowd, who danced and cheered on the group as they performed their four-song set. What a rollercoaster.
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