Scoring A Second Date With Retro Stefson

The eccentric band reunites with the Grapevine — and for a reunion concert

Is 11 years too long of a wait between a first and second date? Some might say yes, but I’d venture that if anyone’s worth waiting that long for, it’s Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson, Logi Pedro Stefánsson and Hermigervill. They represented Retro Stefson on the Grapevine’s first date with the band back in 2013, so when the funky, animated group announced they’d be playing a one-night-only reunion concert in December — their first in eight years — it felt like the right time to rekindle the spark.

We took the talented trio back to the site of our first rendezvous to see what’s changed, what hasn’t and what to expect when they hit the stage at N1 Höllin on December 28.

Testing the waters

As we eased into the picturesque hot tub at Laugarvatn Fontana, Hermigervill and I were both wondering how to stop our hair from freezing before diving into some first date pleasantries. So, what music are you listening to at the moment? Each musician’s answer ends up paralleling what they’re doing at the moment. Logi Pedro names Petrichor by 070 Shake and artist Mk.gee, both of which he celebrates for their technical prowess. He’s also leaning heavily into design and technical thinking, with everything from shoes to lamps coming out of his workshop.

Unnsteinn Manuel agrees with the Mk.gee pick, adding that he’s listening to a lot of 60s and 70s Icelandic-Italian music; he specifically enjoys that Italian pop songs morphed into Icelandic Christmas songs as they crossed the world on their way to us. He’s currently scoring a play that is set in 1960s Italy, while also singing a lot of Christmas songs as the season of Jólatónleikar is upon us.

“The thing is, when we play together — because we’ve been playing together since 2006 — we have this blood harmony thing going on.”

Hermigervill says humbly, “I don’t listen to a lot of new music, I go into my safe space.” As I learned earlier this year, he has a formidable library of synth music from the 60s and 70s that he’s working through. As he describes it, the music is “Kind of cheesy, with live drums but Moog synthesizers. I just go there and live in that sphere.”

One concert or two?

We’ve completely warmed up (conversationally and physically) by the time we veer into discussing Retro Stefson’s reunion. This will be the first concert the group has played in eight years, and they’re both excited and thoughtful about it.

Spurred by the band’s work on VIRK’s “Kombakk” campaign, where they evoke 2010s Retro Stefson absurdity while performing and dancing in an office building, the band began talks of a reunion concert. They were also influenced by the likes of Mínus and XXX Rottweiler hundar, who pulled off successful reunion concerts recently.

“The main part was there are a lot of people, a lot of people your age,” Unnsteinn says, referencing people in their early twenties, “that have listened to us a lot but have never seen us play live.”

It’s at this point in the date that a new piece of information comes to light: Retro Stefson is actually playing a show before their big reunion show, a rust-buster at Græni hatturinn in Akureyri, which they collectively champion as “Iceland’s best concert venue.”

“That’s not to say the good people of Akureyri get the short end of the stick,” Unnsteinn clarifies. “They get the real raw material, it’s like having the DVD and all the commentary.”

Logi Pedro adds: “We’re not skilled musicians — well, we have people in the band that are skilled musicians — but the thing is, when we play together (because we’ve been playing together since 2006), we have this blood harmony thing going on.”

Vibes and inspiration

Asked what vibe they envision for the reunion show(s), Unnsteinn and Hermigervill paint a singular image: it’s 17. júni or Menningarnótt, the band has just come home from touring so they’re a “well-oiled machine” and every spot in the crowd feels like you’re in the front row of a festival.

Logi Pedro strays slightly from this outline, asking: “have you seen The Matrix? Number two? Where they’re doing the rave in Zion? The Matrix Reloaded — that’s the vibe.”

As for which of their many songs they’re particularly excited to play live again, they share that they’ll be playing a “teenage medley” of songs for “the day ones in the crowd.”

Knowing that’s the best note to end on, we slink out of the hot tub at Fontana, down some delicious reindeer burgers from the neighbouring Lindin and drive westward home.

Come along on our date by watching “On A Date With: Retro Stefson” over on YouTube. Grab your tickets for Retro Stefson’s shows on tix.is.