Ethereal.
This is probably the best way to describe Highasakite, the Norwegian indie pop band led by front woman Ingrid Helene Håvik, who brought dreamlike vocals to VEGA in Copenhagen on a chilly October day!
Highasakite once again make their way through Scandinavia, this time as part of their Testament Tour, but make just three stops outside Norway, visiting Aarhus, Copenhagen and Stockholm.
Having become known for putting on some large productions in Norway, including a recent sold-out arena show in Oslo, their trip through Denmark is significantly scaled down but no less magical. It does make you wonder what kind of an elaborate show it could have been!
Unsurprisingly, VEGA’s 900 large audience was filled largely with a female audience and many Norwegians coming to show their support.
Local Danish act, Xenia, came on to warm up with a melodic pop act in a dimmed, atmospheric setting. Considering the Aarhus show the day before featured a different opening act, it seems as though Highasakite is tapping up local talents and featuring them as part of their show rather than taking one support act along for the whole tour.
When Highasakite came on, you really got the feeling that this is what everyone was really here for. All four members came on dressed in red before going straight into Messiah, one of their new songs off the Testament album.
Halfway through the set, Autopsy changed the mood of the show from that otherwise ethereal atmosphere to one that left the audience wondering if they were at an electronic dance concert instead. It felt strangely out of place with Ingrid having left the stage and all focus being on the three multi-instrumentalist bandmates powering on. But the audience had fun with it nonetheless, as they danced to the tunes.
Autopsy was followed by Keep That Letter Safe which saw Trond Bersu ditch his drums to join Ingrid on vocals, supported by a hauntingly quiet audience that intensely listened. This is the kind of respect I admire from an audience!
Shortly after, they progressed into Uranium Heart, and once again, Trond Bersu showed how multi-talented he is as he picked up the acoustic guitar to add a new layer of sound. One thing you’ll certainly come to enjoy about Highasakite is how layered their music is and the width of instruments and effects used to experiment and create their sound.
One hour and twenty minutes into the show, Highasakite bowed out, but quickly came back on for another whopping four song long encore, following a round of foot stamping, cheering and clapping from the crowd. It was a long show but enjoyable throughout, rounded off by So Cool, Since Last Wednesday, Mother and Goldent Ticket.
Throughout the show, Ingrid threw around a few “Tusind tak” (thousand thanks) remarks and introduced her bandmates, but otherwise kept engagement limited. If you’re the kind of person who goes to concerts expecting a lot of crowd engagement, then this might not be the show for you.
Highasakite’s music and atmosphere are romantic, and this show is one of those perfect date night concerts as you see plenty of couples embracing and swaying to the melodies and dreaming away.
Setlist
Messiah
Science and Blood Tests
God Don’t Leave me
Call me when you need me
Biblical
Chemotherapy
Can I Be Forgiven
Autopsy
Keep That Letter Safe
Samurai Swords
Uranium Heart
Lover, Where Do You Live?
But, I loved
Make it
Someone Who’ll Get It
Farewell
So Cool
Since Last Wednesday
Mother
Golden Ticket
