If you haven’t heard that San Diego is expecting Icelandic visitors next month, you’re a little late.  Tickets for Sigur Rós at Copley Symphony Hall sold out the same weekend they went on sale and it’s left now to “knowing somebody” or playing the Craigslist game.  The band’s tear-provoking performances have quite a reputation, selling out tours worldwide with their stunning audio-visual presentation.  But from the sounds of it, the show that's coming to Copley may look a little different than what we've gotten used to over the past few years.

The music of Sigur Rós is commonly described with words like “cinematic” and “moving” and their concerts “spiritual.”  The four Icelanders employ many unique elements of music-making, but much of their staple sound comes from contributors.  Since the release of the untitled record we know as “( )” in 2002, Sigur Rós has toured with gorgeous string quartet Amiina, four Icelandic ladies who appear on all Sigur Rós records after Ágætis Byrjun and contribute significantly to the band’s sound. For select shows, the nordics have also brought along some horn-wielding friends from home called the Horny Brasstards.  And though Jónsi’s angelic voice and the bands slow builds are moving, much of the power, dynamics, and beauty of their music comes from these orchestral additions.

The boys have just announced that the North American tour, which kicked off yesterday in New York, will be just the four of them.  This makes sense in terms of their new record (it was written primarily as a four-piece), but one can't help wondering whether or not the breathtaking sounds that have built the notoriety of their live performance will be at Copley this time around.  The band has not said whether or not they are playing four-piece versions of their more orchestral songs, but on October 1st, we'll see if the concert still makes sense for a symphony hall.  Opening the tour is Jónsi’s boyfriend’s band, Parachutes, who sound suspiciously similar to Sigur Rós but sing in English.

For a preview of what you wont hear at Copley next month, here is a video of the band's full performance at the NYC MoMA with Amiina and The Horny Brasstards this summer: