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The Absolutely, Unquestionably, Very Best Of Airwaves 2013!
We did it again (oops). We did it again. It was a tough one, what with the one hundred thousand bands each playing three shows per night for fifteen consecutive nights at eight thousand venues spread throughout the gargantuan Reykjavík metropolis area…
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A Note On Replication And Adaptation
Apparently there has been some controversy — and some misunderstanding — regarding my recent comment about certain Icelandic bands and the music of the African diaspora. I do choose my words carefully, but some people didn’t read them very carefully. They seemed…
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Reykjavík Grapevine’s Podcast: Airwaves Monday Edition
Poof! Five days packed with music, party and Grapevine Airwaves Podcast is now over. What a blast! As we say goodbye to Iceland Airwaves 2013, there is still room for one more thoughtful, hopefully entertaining podcast from Your Friends At The Grapevine.…
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Confusing, Lovely, Twerking, Pre-Flight Entertainment
I will hand it to the six Icelandic guys in wifebeaters known as UMTBS for performing on a very high energy level to a room of full of tired and hungover people, and enjoying doing it. They shredded, they shrieked, they pressed…
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Samaris: The White Swan Performance
For many, Iceland Airwaves is about discovering new and exciting bands and being surprised with performances. My Airwaves experience usually consists of randomly wandering around from venue to venue with very little idea of what to expect. After seeing only the photo…
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Those Magnificent Men in Their Kraftwerk Machine – Harpa Eldborg
It’s been over 40 years since they released their first album, and even the oldest songs haven’t aged much. Not many bands can say that about their catalogue, especially in the electronic genre.
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A Walk On The Mild Side
Just off Laugavegur behind some tall red doors lies Gamla Bíó, a grand seated theatre with a high balcony circle and a spotlit stage. Despite being in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, it feels like a secret somehow; an atmospheric sanctuary from…
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The Big Sleep At Harpa Kaldalón
Kira Kira, an experimental noise band fronted by Kristín Björk Kristjánsdóttir, opened up Harpa Kaldalón with a song I imagine is similar to the sound of a dinosaur being born. Kristín is that girl you went to art school with, she interchangeably plays…
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Too Much Polish, Not Enough Passion – Iðnó pt. 2
No, you don’t need hand gestures to accompany each vocal flourish, and no, you don’t need to tell the crowd to move closer to the stage (pet peeve of mine, that one). And you might want to consider spitting your gum out…
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Very Solid! – Iðnó pt. 1
It was an early start at Iðnó on Saturday. The band Vigri went on stage just after seven o’clock and played extremely melodic and well crafted electronic music. The vocal arrangements were nothing short of dazzling and complemented their keen sense of…
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Jon Hopkins Destroyed My Face
An unedited conversation about the bands I saw last night, which ended up being a ridiculous amount of fun. Not that surprising considering the night ended with John Hopkins bringing “all the party”, and FM Belfast doing their best to claim their spot as…
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Icelandic Metal Is Alive And Well – Amsterdam Pt. 1
Trust The Lies is a young, upcoming metalcore band. They are obviously well rehearsed for the occasion, with all melodic changes delivered without a hitch, and their timings are impeccable. They have a lot of raw power, and pull off an energetic…
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Like Sticking Your Head In Warm Ambient Goo – Harlem Pt. 1
ARNI² Fresh from their blistering set last night (where they apparently played nowt but banging hardcore techno), Árni Grétar and Árni Vector decided to take a different tack this evening by playing a mostly ambient style of music. Starting softly, they mixed…
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Reykjavík Grapevine’s Podcast: Airwaves Sunday Edition
Wohoo! It is Sunday! We made it! Almost. Your audio-loving friends, the omniscient Grapevine Airwaves Podcast Team, has been rolling from venue to venue throughout Saturday. We bring you the best bits from the gigantic line-up and tell you tips on how…
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The Norðurljós Is Thoroughly Rocked
APPARAT ORGAN QUARTET Several times during their show, someone in the Apparat Organ Quartet told the crowd, “Apparat loves you!” And we all loved them right back. Apparat Organ Quartet are musical bad-asses, but they have a sense of playfulness that is…
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An Amazing Evening
You know how dogs sometimes spend so long with their owners that they start to resemble one another? John Grant and Iceland have a similar relationship going on. If there’s ever been a more convincing impression of a Reykjavik native done by…
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Iceland’s Dance Music Scene Is Awesome: Amsterdam Pt. 2
Good Moon Deer have a tough slot. They’re charged with enlivening the purgatorial atmosphere of Amsterdam, with the city alive and jumping just outside of its grubby windows. Headliners are hitting the stage in most venues – Omar Souleyman is already striding…
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Night At The Museum
I don’t believe you can underestimate the importance of fun in a live show. It’s probably a cliché but if performers look like they’re having fun, there’s no doubt it rubs off on those around. Of course it takes more than this…
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Reykjavík Grapevine’s Podcast: Airwaves Saturday Edition
You have survived Iceland Airwaves Friday and are looking for something to listen to while you rest up for another night of glory? Look no further! Your friends at the Grapevine Airwaves Podcast Team bring to you the newest ear candy available.…
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Genre Assassination And Schizophrenia: Amsterdam Pt. 1
The first act to show up on stage at Amsterdam on Friday night was Hip-Hop/Reggae producer Nolem. Nolem has been around for years and his production has provided the backbone for various rappers, some of which he invited on to the stage…
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Getting Fucked Up Is A Beautiful Experience
Apparently Björk went to see Omar Souleyman instead. She made the wrong choice.