Of Monsters and Men thrill fans at intimate iHeartRadio Theater LA performance

It’s been more than three years since Of Monsters and Men exploded on the scene behind the strength of their radio smash-hit “Little Talks.” The time has finally come for their much-desired follow-up to 2012’s My Head is an Animal, and on Friday on the Honda Stage at iHeartRadio Theater LA, the five-piece band played old favorites as well as songs from the upcoming Beneath the Skin, which is released June 9.

Having seen them at festivals (Outside Lands in 2012, Sasquatch! a few weeks ago), the intimate 500-capacity iHeartRadio Theater was a better home for the Icelandic band’s jams. Within the first few songs, they delivered “King and Lionheart” and the aforementioned “Little Talks,” two songs with immeasurable sing-along value.

New songs “I of the Storm” and “Crystals” were well-received as vocalists Nanna Hilmarsdottir and Ragnar Porhallson fielded questions about the new album from an on-site host. Not much for words, the two seem to save their passion for their songwriting, with hard-hitting lyrics contrasting their lighter sound being a focal point of their success.

After another new song, the heartbreaking “Hunger,” Of Monsters and Men delivered two more of their seasoned songs, “Mountain Sound” and “Six Weeks” before calling it a night. The iHeartRadio Theater might be the best-sounding venue in all of LA, and an opportunity to see a band as big as Of Monsters and Men in such cozy confines is never a bad thing.

Of Monsters and Men will perform again in Los Angeles on August 12 at the Greek Theatre.

Words: Mark E. Ortega

Photography: Ceethreedom for iHeartRadio