AIRWAVES DAILY2005 ISSUE 1 of 3 GRAPEVINE Grapevine Airwaves 2005 {  } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

Reykjavík Art Museum

Gaukur á stöng

NASA Pravda The National Theatre

Grand Rokk

Friday.schedule Reykjavík Art Museum - The National Theatre - Hafnarhús Þjóðleikhúskjallarinn Gaukur á Stöng Kerrang – K! Club

20:00 Hölt hóra 22:30 Siggi Ármann 20:00 The End 20:40 Sign 23:10 Lokbrá 20:40 Ben Frost with Valgeir Sigurðsson 21:20 Singapore Sling 23:50 We Painted the Walls 21:20 Dáðadrengir 22:00 Dr. Spock 00:30 Small Colin (UK) 22:00 Kimono 22:40 Mínus 01:10 Ske 22:45 Ghostigital 23:40 Juliette & The Licks (US) 01:50 Stranger 23:30 The Mitchell Brothers (UK) 02:30 Jagúar 00:30 The Fiery Furnaces (UK) 01:30 Forgotten Lores

NASA Pravda Grand Rokk

Moshi Moshi night Reykjavik Grapevine

20:00 Dr. Disco Shrimp 21:00 Pakku 20:00 ÉG 20:45 Stórsveit Nix Noltes 22:00 Frank Murder 20:40 Ókind 21:30 Unsound 23:00 Biogen 21:20 Brúðarbandið 22:15 (US) 00:00 Adron 22:00 Tony the Pony 23:00 (UK) 01:00 Plat 22:40 Mammút 23:45 Lo-Fi-Fnk (SE) 02:00 Donna Mess 23:20 Ölvis 00:30 Architechture in Helsinki (AUS) 03:00 DJ Óli ofur 00:00 Hellvar 01:30 Hjálmar 04:00 Exos 00:40 Delicia Mini (DK/IS) 01:30 Croisztans DJ between sets: Alan Love (UK)

TUNE IN

A helpful sponsored reminder: RÁS 2 99.9 FM will offer live concert coverage of this year’s Airwaves, just as they have done of every Airwaves since 1999.

They will be covering the following venues: Wednesday: Grand Rokk Thursday: Reykjavík Art Museum and Nasa Friday: Reykjavík Art Museum and Gaukur á Stöng Saturday: Reykjavík Art Museum

MASTHEAD GRAPEVINEAIRWAVESDAILYFRIDAYOCTOBER212005

Published by: Edtior: Bart Cameron On cover: Æla Fröken ehf. Photo Editor: Guðmundur Freyr Vigfússon Cover photo: Gúndi Faxagata 2, Art Direction: Thanks to: Mr. Destiny and Icelandair Faxaskála við Faxaport Hörður Kristbjörnsson Printed by: Ísafoldarprentsmiðja ehf. 101 Reykjavík Gunnar Þorvaldsson Copies: 15.000 Tel: 540-3600 Layout: Jóhannes Kjartansson Proofreader: Erika Wolfe Walkman er alæta á tónlist Þú getur hlaðið 100 gargandi góðum lögum inn í nýja Walkman símann.*

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think it sounds that great, sound quality took him along. Surprise! We’re Not Just wise, but I think it has a more melodic Curver: He’s the only member of the band sound than a digital programme. Plus, who knows how to improvize. I don’t need this thing is so easy to fix when it breaks to worry about him at all. Playing, We’re Deconstructing down. I think it was made for the army or Einar: He’s the only one who gets something. applause.

An Interview with Ghostigital One song of yours that’s been So what do you all have left to stuck in my head lately is In Cod try, in terms of music? We Trust. I’m guessing it’s about Einar: Actually, there is a play that we’re Iceland? doing later this year. It’s a play by Jón By Paul F Nikolov PHOTO: GUNNAR SVANBERG under even greater pressure to create the Einar: It’s about the 60th anniversary Atli Jónasson, who also did the play environment that we’re a part of. of the end of the Second World War. Draugalestin, that I really want to do >>> Ghostigital is the brainchild of former Curver: If the guitar players start learning They had a commemoration in Moscow because then we’ll be taking old Icelandic Sugarcubes frontman and Smekkleysa the songs, then we’re in trouble. We’ve and (Icelandic Prime Minister) Halldór songs and making news songs out of (Bad Taste) owner Einar had some problems where the guitar Ásgrímsson was present. He came on the them. And there is a horror movie that Örn Benediktsson and artist Birgir Örn players are starting to learn the songs, news here and he said that it seemed (Icelandic poet and Björk lyricist) Sjón has Thoroddsen, also known as Curver. and then they’re not playing freely to him that there was a lot of emotion written that we are pencilled in to do the Formed in 2003, the duo recruited other enough. there (in Moscow). The man must not soundtrack for. musicians around the concept of a band have realized what the Second World War Curver: The only thing that we really that employs improvization and surprise What advantage do you think meant to the Russians, how many people haven’t explored is minimalism. We’ve – when playing live, the other musicians the element of chaos has over a died there. But then he meets Bush. He been working so much in the maximum, are often expected to accompany music more structured set, where the does not talk to Bush about the war in with all the data in the songs, that we’ve they’re hearing for the first time. Known musicians know what they’re going Iraq, or famine in Africa, or Third World been thinking of going into the minimum. for their energetic live act and hardcore to play? help or anything like that. He uses the Einar: That’s maybe the way to go. electronic industrial beats, Ghostigital Einar: It’s live music. I mean, what opportunity to talk to Bush about cod. managed to out-perform indie legends advantage is there to seeing a show live? This is what these two great minds talk >>> Ghostigital plays Gaukur á Stöng on Sonic Youth, whom they supported last It’s because there’s something happening. about when they meet. Friday, Oct 22. <<< month. The Grapevine spoke with Einar Something creative is being done, where Curver: But then there is a thing in and Curver to find out how chaos has you can’t figure out what happens next. Iceland where we trust in cod, you know. kept them together. <<< What we’re doing is deconstructing the Maybe we try to put more trust now in songs. We’re not destroying them; we’re fashion or computers but the land is built Einar Örn passed the he used with the Tell me about the element of freeing them up. on fisheries. So, in cod we trust. That’s Sugarcubes over to his son, but he is still an surprise you like to use in your what we do. accomplished jazz musician. He recently made live shows. In seeing you play live, I saw that contributions to local jazz king Tómas Einarsson. Einar: We don’t tell the other musicians you have a lot of these state-of- How has your (13-year-old) son what we are going to do, and we don’t the-art computers and mixers on Hrafnkell been faring as your discuss it with each other. We just go on stage, but you also have this old band’s trumpet player? stage, and listen to each other. What we’re analogue loop tape machine. Is this Einar: Really well. He’s been with us since trying to do is create a situation where we for nostalgic reasons, or is there day one, since he was ten. He started become surprised by what we’re playing. something that machine can do learning the trumpet so I asked him if So if we’re putting the other musicians that a computer can’t? he wanted to play one song on the first under pressure by not telling them what Einar: Yeah, it can break down. . From that experience I asked him if we’re going to do, we’re putting ourselves Curver: It’s a Roland Space Echo. I don’t he wanted to play live, he said yes, so we AIRWAVES 2005 Í SKÍFUNNI!

Ampop Worm Is Green Helgi Valur Hjálmar

Junior Senior Sign Annie Jeff Who?

Lights On The Highway Power Solo Zoot Woman The Fiery Furnaces Cynic Guru

International Noise Conspiracy The Mitchell Brothers VAX Zutons José Gonzales epo-555 A various selection of all the latest Icelandic and international CDs for only

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Skífan Laugavegi open until 22 every day · Skífan Smáralind Mall · Skífan Kringlan Mall · www.skifan.is {  } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3 INTERVIEW

Copenhagen. We’d been in a Music from the Bubble bubble, in our own little world, isolated. There wasn’t anything being played out there that we An Interview with Junior Senior liked, so we started writing the music that we wanted to hear. We were certainly surprised by how well that worked.

By Paul F Nikolov What made you decide to PHOTO: JEREMY GOLDBERG So what have you been up play Airwaves? to lately? Junior: We’ve always wanted >>> Danish dance pop duo Junior Junior: Since the album came to play Iceland and it’s a cool Senior took Icelandic radio by out much later in some parts festival. Iceland has such a big storm in 2003 with their hit of the world than others, we’ve music scene and we want to see single Move Your Feet. The spent more than two years how it is. We’ve heard it’s one of single’s accompanying video, a doing concerts around the world the more interesting places to hyperactive animation montage promoting it. Last year I spent play. that looked like it was composed the first six to eight months by the Atari team in 1981, helped writing songs for the new album, Your live act is known for secure their name as a breath of because I can’t write songs on being pretty explosive, fresh air in a region of the world the road. It’s too hectic. but in talking to you, you not known for its dance pop don’t exactly seem like the acts. After two years of touring Is the new album taking “explosive” type. and recording, Junior Senior any departures from the Junior: Yeah, we’re both pretty are finally coming to Iceland. previous one? shy (laughs). We just go out there The Grapevine spoke to Junior Junior: Definitely. We don’t see and play. When we’re on stage, from his home in the UK to a lot of bands doing what we’re it’s a natural thing. When we’re see what they had in store for doing. It seems like a lot of “left performing we feel like we’re in Airwaves. <<< field” bands have been doing this the right element, so if people Gang of Four style of punk. When don’t like it, we know they’re In listening to D-D-Don’t everyone’s doing the same thing wrong. No, I’m kidding. But if you Stop the Beat, I could have it’s really boring. It’s like there’s see our show you’ll definitely sworn I heard some early no more funk in music anymore. have a good time. I]Z8jaijgZ=djhZ Michael Jackson in there. So we wanted to explore the old BZY^ZkVabVcjhXg^eih":YYVhVcYHV\VhVcYdi]ZgZm]^W^i^dchXVhia^\]i Am I imagining this? stuff that we like, without doing a >>> Junior Senior played NASA dc>XZaVcY»hXjaijgVaXdcig^Wji^dchVcYgZaVi^dchl^i]i]ZldgaYViaVg\Z# Junior: No, you’re not imagining garage version of our influences. on Thursday, Oct. 20. <<< lll#i]_dYbZcc^c\#^h it (laughs). We love Michael There’ll be more harmonies, Jackson. Off the Wall (one of more funk. :m]^W^i^dchVgZdeZcYV^an Jackson’s earliest records) is [gdb&&Vbid*eb definitely his most celebrated I can’t say I’ve heard a Junior Senior’s new album, Hey Hey My period, so we took a few hints lot of happy dance music My Yo Yo, will be available for sale at the from there. I’m more a fan of or funk coming out of Bad Taste music store during Airwaves. the Jackson 5 myself, a big fan. Scandinavia. You can visit their website at He might be a little bit scary Junior: That’s true. I think what =kZg[^h\ViV&*"&%&GZn`_Vk†`"IZa/ (*)*)*&)%% now, but he’s definitely a great we’re doing is unique. We didn’t composer. really come from any scene in

{ 10 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3 PREVIEWS

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Icelandic design

NASA 20:45 Grapevine Picks Stórsveit Nix Noltes Icelandic bands aren’t shy about trying musical styles from elsewhere in the world, for Friday but only Stórsveit Nix Noltes has dared venture into the >>> The Reykjavík Grapevine up to a side stage at 12 deliriously frantic but joyful is usually a highly opinionated Tónar and rock the house genre of Balkan music. Known street paper. During the alternative style. Don’t tell for tight, highly energetic festival, we do our best to anyone. It’s a secret. performances, they also be magnanimous, but we deserve props for being able just can’t help ourselves. to play in 7/8-time. While every band at the GRAND ROKK 20:00 Iceland Airwaves Festival ÞJÓÐLEIKHÚSKJALLARINN 23:10 deserves attention, here are NASA 01:30 the Grapevine picks for the Ég & evening. <<< We Painted the Walls Hjálmar Laugavegur 70 www.hsh.efh.is Done properly, experimental Icelandic reggae: many are NASA 00:30 music leaves a huge amount sceptical at best when they of space for collision and see these two words together, Architecture in Helsinki error. Ég and We Painted the but believe us, Hjálmar play Walls hit brilliance at times, some of the most convincing These Aussies put together and often crash and burn. early-70s style reggae we’ve a wondrous set. If their two Essential bands for this year’s ever heard. Slip one of their , Fingers Crossed festival. songs on a King Tubby mix J]qcbYn‰c&&&&&& and haven’t Ég at Grand Rokk, 20:00. and see if anyone notices. made it into your collection, We Painted the Walls at Their live shows get people l`jgm_`[Yl¢k]q]k they will within a week of Þjóðleikhúskjallarinn at 23:10. hopping, too. Irie. this festival. Beyond the ;mdlmjYdoYdcklgjql]ddaf_ happiness and joy, there is also the sex appeal—said one HAFNARHÚSIÐ 21:20 GAUKUR Á STÖNG 21:20 oal`;mdlmjYd;gehYfagf:ajfY Aussie fan who travelled to Iceland to see Architecture Singapore Sling Dáðadrengir =ph]ja]f[]J]qcbYn‰c\goflgofl`jgm_`l`][Yl¢k for this festival, “I’ve known ]q]kZq^gddgoaf_alkhYl`k&:alkYf\ha][]kYZgml three couples who met and It’s not just that Singapore We used to call these fell in love at Architecture Sling have great sound guys 2003 Músiktilraunir l`]hYklYf\l`]hj]k]flg^J]qcbYn‰c¢kYdd]qk$ shows.” quality and good rock, nor is song contest winners, but klj]]lkYf\alkh]ghd]&L`][YlakYoYc]o`]fgl`]jk it that Barði Jóhannsson of Dáðadrengir’s brand of kd]]h$l`]j]^gj]]Yjdq`gmjkYj]fgl]p[dm\]\ Bang Gang will be serving as goofball cartoon rap-metal 12 Tónar 17:00 substitute guitarist. It’s that has become so ingrained in you never know if Sling will the Reykjavík music scene

Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 12 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

Nilfisk took the audience so much Suddenly, what earlier seemed to WEDNESDAY by surprise that, unfortunately, be a relatively safe distance by the NIGHT LIVE no one dared to move. bar in the back of the room be- came the centre of the mosh pit.

REVIEWS NILFISK GAUKUR Á STÖNG I ADAPT GAUKUR Á STÖNG

Gaukur Á Stöng >>> Tender ered, especially on a rocking singer Krummi told me: “I Adapt is the guitars that they began to ing about confessing sins, demons Moments <<< Whether an audi- fourth song, which met the the best hardcore band Iceland turn heads. More impressive still in disguise, and getting high, ence of ten stiff people is a good crowd’s approval. ¶ As soon as has ever produced – fast and dan- was a slow number that Hafdís things quickly escalated into the outcome for a band playing on Dikta ended their set, I Adapt gerous.” ¶ It’s in nobody’s favour began crooning in a slow, smoky, ethereal realm of a scalding Sun- the very first evening of a festival started banging the drums – on to follow a performance like I bluesroom voice that belied her day morning church service. By remains unsure. What is certain is the opposite end of the room. Adapt’s, but Days of Our Lives man- age. Bart Cameron ¶ ¶ >>> the time Villi – tie loosened, collar that Tóti, the singer of Dogdaze, These veterans of hardcore punk aged admirably. With much of the Stealing the Hemm Hemm Spot- splayed, sweat running down his took up the audience’s vibe by set up across from the main stage, crowd gone, they went through a light <<< Judging from the line face – threw himself into Devil keeping his torso in an angle of actually flooring it, with no regard six-song set of promising materi- snaking out the door two hours That Woman, Vax had offered the 90 degrees (to the floor) through- first clue that there was some- out the entire set, which, together thing special going on here. ¶ with paraphernalia like baseball Benni Hemm Hemm followed, tak- caps and Deftones shirts, was ing the stage with a sea of camera true to their heroes, Bad Religion. phones and video recorders ¶ Nilfisk took the audience so poised to capture something much by surprise that, unfortu- magical. And they almost got it. nately, no one dared to move, as Taking a shambling cacophony of would have been suitable for such noise and cobbling it into a trium- a perfectly delivered set of dance- phant opening blast of brass and able garage rock. The shock that crashing cymbals, Hemm Hemm’s came with this sudden rise in ten-piece army announced their quality was just too unexpected. arrival with authority. ¶ But with ¶ Though their punk rock did not Benedikt Hermannsson’s baritone necessarily sound as if they had vocals buried low in the mix, won the Battle of the Bands, Bú- things never quite exploded the drýgindi’s singer Maggi definitely way that maybe they were ex- looked like it. This kid was preten- pected to. Some members of the tious as hell, and he put on an in- audience even started clinking credible performance, from com- their glasses together and shush- ments like “everyone in Iceland ing each other in an attempt to knows this song” to hurling the actually hear him sing. The band mic through the air and, finally, answered by lifting Hermanns- jumping over the banister to son’s sombre singing with a sil- scream into people’s faces.¶ very blast of steel guitar, which When Dimma finally came on, led them into the finale: A sweet there was bass that you could explosion of “la la las”, tinkling I ADAPT feel. A band that rocked hard and PHOTO BY RÓBERT xylophones, and orchestral fire- sported haircuts so hopelessly for the elaborate stage set up and al, which nicely blended powerful before their scheduled show time, works. >>> The crowd – sweaty, old-school I racked my brain try- lighting. Suddenly, what earlier guitar riffs with melodic song it was clear that the first night of stinky, and exhausted – could ing to figure out who could have seemed to be a relatively safe dis- lines. They ended their set some- Iceland Airwaves belonged to lo- finally exhale. Or so they created them. Though a ballad tance by the bar in the back of the what abruptly, but returned for cal big band troubadour Benni thought. <<< Because by the time (starting with the words “I touch room became the centre of the an encore after receiving warm Hemm Hemm. Too bad Vax and Ja- Jakobínarína – a baby-faced gang myself...”) proved the singer, mosh pit. ¶ The I Adapt set imme- applause. Sveinn Birkir kobínarína had to swoop in and hi- of 15-to-17 year olds – took the Hjalti, had a voice, this was their diately launched into a nine-song Björnsson ¶ ¶ Grand Rokk jack the evening. ¶ Not that stage, what was previously a con- only tender moment, with the rest set featuring three new songs. >>> The West-woman Blues <<< Hemm Hemm and his merry band cert quickly morphed into a fren- of the set being delivered with Between songs, I Adapt singer Last year, three young women didn’t deliver what the overflow- zied dance party. Shirts were such fierceness it was almost Birkir joked with the crowd, giving from the Westman Islands decid- ing masses wanted. They just shed, booties were shaken, even a cute. Julika Huether ¶ ¶ >>> his recommendations for Air- ed they would become a band and happened to run up against two member of Sigur Rós started push- Floored <<< Dikta played a six- waves (Kimono and Future Future) perform at Airwaves. This year, groups that took advantage of ing his way to the front of the song set of melodic guitar rock to and getting a message across the group, now named Vagínas, the hype to deliver “I saw them stage. As did a few conspicuous a crowded house. Intent on mix- about the gender wage inequality opened a night of eclectic music when…” performances. ¶ After representatives from American ing up different influences, with and the upcoming women’s day at Grand Rokk. The first half of opening sets by Vagínas, Benny record labels. And why not? With an opening song driven by a funk- off. ¶ The crowd was truly en- the set contained unremarkable Crespo’s Gang, and The Foghorns their lead singer, Gunnar, bopping inspired bass line, followed by a gaged. The main bar, which I stood and underplayed rock. The three (who delivered the line of the and preening around the stage mellow piano song, they seemed alongside, hardly sold beer during founding members of Vagínas are night: “This is a bad place to be like some pimply John Lydon, Ja- to aspire to do something more their set, and people in the back more a classic folk-style vocal sober”), Vax set a properly epic kobínarína kicked and screamed than run-of-the-mill pop-rock. were climbing onto tables for a group than a rock band, and it tone for the evening. With their their way through a set that owed And at times they actually deliv- better view of the floor. Mínus’s was only when they eased off on burly bear of a front man growl- more to the syncopated snarl of Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 13 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

The rest of the band looked as if No one here is trying to be a rock MC Nonni is either insane, men- this may have been a hobby that star; they just want people to have tally disabled or really, really stu- had gone too far. a good time. pid, but it appeared he was going for a combination of all three.

CYNIC GURU Nasa pravda mc nonni pravda

PiL then the electro-indie rock ble to Coco & Rosie immediately, a one-handers, Hermigervill turned on the surface of the sun), the have been swayed by his retarded they intended. Which is a much band she covered along with an the night around with big-beat, night’s theme was Electro Breakz charm. The crowd did not so much better thing. ¶ Gunnar even man- inspired reworking of a Destiny’s funky dance and Casio-styled (sic), and I found myself pleasant- as tap a foot. ¶ Panoramix is a aged to name-check the Wu Tang Child classic. ¶ Singer Jara’s per- loops. Halfway through the set, ly surprised by the general mod- one-man act. A young man clad in Clan, shouting triumphantly to the formance suffered from a series he shouted out, “Where are you?” esty of the electro scene. No one a tracksuit top stood behind an crowd, “Jakob ain’t nothing to of technical cock-ups and badly and a sweet soul singer with a here is trying to be a rock star; old-looking PC and delivered reck- fuck with.” ¶ Show closers Coral, planned stagecraft. A pleasant sense of humour managed to add they just want people to have a lessly standard beats, devoid of playing to a half-empty room, but irrelevant narcissistic video to the show. When she left, and good time. The ne plus ultra of any pretentiousness or minimal- found that out firsthand. Bart ism. He and his colleagues have a Blasengame NASA >>> Hermi- unified purpose: To make you gervill versus ABC Mint Chew- dance, and to make you dance ing Gum <<< NASA kicked off with now, and make sure you do not what at first appeared to be a stop dancing until they say so. ¶ wedding band, Cynic Guru, a five- Ozi took full advantage of the piece light-rock outfit whose dis- crowd’s drunkenness, throwing armingly charming lead guitarist/ them into a sloppy frenzy whilst vocal Roland also happens to be a swerving from house to hip-hop violinist in the Icelandic Sympho- to electro with gleeful abandon. ny Orchestra. Roland looked like Some of the songs were punctu- he was living his dream; at a guess ated by awkward stops that left this is perhaps the culmination of the dancers gagging for their next years of extracurricular air guitar fix…it was quite beautiful to and rock grimaces in front of a watch. ¶ The absurdly named bedroom mirror to the sounds of Zuckakis Mondeyano Project were Iron Maiden. The rest of the band up next, stepping on stage with looked as if this may have been a furs, hats and an ego that could hobby that had gone too far. ¶ power the spaceships they obsess You can’t deny the talent. These so much about in their lyrics. The chaps know what they are doing, crowd’s reaction to them was and the opening festival audience about as surreal as any cheer by BENNI HEMM HEMM generously responded to the cli- PHOTO BY SIGURJÓN people you’ve never seen before ché-ridden arrangements. The managed to hold up the perfor- Hermigervill removed his jacket, this were undoubtedly the night’s in a town of 200,000 for a band highlight was when Roland pulled mance after the first song. Cotton there was almost a riot. ¶ Have first act, Helgi Mullet Crew. Friend- you’ve never heard of. The music out his electric violin as he shout- + Einn know how to make an en- you ever eaten someone else’s al- ly-looking and shy, they intro- itself was a cheesy and ironic ed out, “No more of this guitar trance; their stormingly ridiculous ready chewed chewing gum? Well duced themselves and played a amalgamation of R and B and crap.” Quite. Do you know he ac- wigged and piggy backing en- Annie’s performance was much far too short and far too quiet set electro that they admittedly did tually pulled it off? He was in his trance was a welcome release. like this tasteless goo after the of brisk, funk-laden house beats put their all into. Their finest mu- element, as strings began to fly They proceeded to give NASA Hermigervill three-courser. Disap- before retreating into DJ-land. ¶ sical moment came during the off his bow in a genuinely pass- some dirty electro punk. In be- pointing, tired and just plain dull. MC Nonni is either insane, mental- second-to-last song, Composition able early Radioheadesque cli- tween white boy chanting, you Annie has the attitude – more ly disabled or really, really stupid, of Nature, with its prerecorded fe- max, though you still hoped he could hear rare glimpses of al- Blondie than Kylie – but she was but it appeared he was going for a male backing vocals making a sul- had a spare bow for his day job. ¶ most soul-girl squealing. Funk Har- stiff, not naturally pop-tastic, with combination of all three, which try whisper of the chorus chant. ¶ A lot of people had come just to mony Park. What to say? Big bass, a voice less rock star and more would have made for a good show Affable as they were, however, iro- see Mr. Silla. An old school friend uncharismatic blokes with ‘oh so soft mint. But the NASA crowd if these mindsets didn’t cancel ny is no substitute for talent, and of hers in the crowd told me “she crazy’ visuals. Still, with NASA seemed to love Annie despite the each other out. There was a cer- their songs were, for the most part, used to win these jazz and soul packed, people began to move. It gig’s shortcomings – was this tain conviction missing in Nonni’s as achingly plain as they were competitions.” It is no surprise is amazing what a good bass line making the best of a bad situa- performance, but it hardly mat- short and unoriginal. Oh, they were this girl is used to winning. She can do even when a performance tion, or because she was sucking ters, since the music speaks for funny, sure, but sometimes funny knows she’s good, though she is less than inspired. ¶ The award up so badly that it was fun? itself: lyrics that make Wesley Wil- just isn’t enough, and live instru- doesn’t quite know what to do for outstanding performance of Whichever, as the encores began, lis sound refined and intellectual ments on playback are never a with her hands. In theory she was the night goes to Hermigervill. people began to leave even were yelped, yelled and even turn-on, now matter how charis- spellbinding, but there was a lot Confident, enthusiastic, tight and though the bar was still open. belched out over playful and min- matic the performers in question of fidgeting. Against the plinky talented, he kept control of decks, Deborah Coughlin ¶ ¶ Prav- imal electro beats that sounded are. ¶ The man who saved the plonky, atonal backing from the mixers, synths and control pads da >>> Dance… NOW! <<< Accord- very familiar to anyone who has night was unquestionably Ewok. laptop and guitar, her soulful while encouraging the eager au- ing to the embarrassingly bad spent more than a half-hour fid- Aside from being involved with the voice seething sexuality and con- dience. From the Jingle Bells in- Festival Guide (let me put it this dling around with Propellerheads two opening acts, he played re- fidence, there was a façade of un- tro, through samples of James way: it couldn’t guide you to a software. Still, anyone who let cords as forcefully as one can han- comfortable modesty. Compara- Brown plus infectious synth jazz heat source if you were standing their guard down could easily dle vinyl. Sindri Eldon Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 14 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

ARTIST The Perceptionists PLACE: GAUKURINN TIME: 23:00

>>>Toccata and Fugue in D Minor... No You Didn’t <<< DJ Therapy stepped up and began working a pair of turntables with incredible dexterity, warming up the crowd for the other two members of the hip- hop act that literally brought tears to my eyes, The Perceptionists. MC Akrobatik’s booming baritone and Mr. Lif’s nasal growl accompanied each other perfectly, delivering rapid-fire rhymes backed by a bare bones, bass heavy beat. They were able to work the crowd into a loyal frenzy with repeated calls to “make some noise,” bumping fists with people in the front row, and the occasional references to Iceland even within the rhymes themselves. And props definitely need to be given to DJ Therapy, if for no other reason than the man spun the first few bars of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor on top of a hardcore beat – and made it succeed with flying colours. In terms of lyrical content, Akrobatik and Mr. Lif had no problem swinging from old school party rhymes (“Pump your fist like this / Like what? / Like this!”) to more political numbers (“Where were the weapons of mass destruction? / We’ve been looking for months and we ain’t found nothin’”) seamlessly. Concise beats, complementary voices, great stage charisma and the ability to get the crowd up and keep them up, The Perceptionists are everything hip-hop is supposed to be. Paul F Nikolov

THE PERCEPTIONISTS PHOTO BY ÁRNI TORFA Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 15 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

ARTIST José Gonzales PLACE: ÞJÓÐLEIKHÚSKJALLARINN TIME: 23:40

>>> Sleepy González OR Misery Loves Company <<< After missing his connecting flight, being forced to wear the same black shirt and jeans for three days straight, and having to go to work with an atrociously bad loner guitar, José González was in need of a little love on Thursday night. By the time the sandwiched together crowd here physically pushed him back onstage for an encore of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart, it was perfectly clear that love, was indeed, in the air. ¶ “I got some emails from Iceland before I came here,” the 27 year old said as he huddled in a corner signing autographs and bracing for giant pats on the back from fans. “But I was really surprised when people started singing along to my songs or clapping when I would start a new one.” ¶ He shouldn’t be. Despite only being on the musical radar for the past couple of months, González’s sombre, flamenco-on-downers warbling has burrowed upward from a UK whisper to a legitimate underground buzz. Fresh off a crowded showcase gig in New York City on Tuesday, the Buenos Aires-born, -reared González arrived in Iceland to further spread the word. If only his luggage had made it with him. ¶ “I think my things are lost in Boston somewhere,” González explained. “They said maybe I’d get them tomorrow. But clothes are one thing. The guitar is what I really miss. I just played with the worst one I’ve ever held in my life.” ¶ Not that anyone could tell the difference. Bending strings, warping frets, and laying down a sparse beat with stomped feet, González hunkered down over his guitar with his eyes closed. This was serious work. What emerged were whispered, melancholy songs that floated easily through the room like a slow moving rain cloud. Each one was met with whoops, whistles, and the occasional sing-along. Not bad for a man who, two years ago, was studying for his PhD in biochemistry. ¶ “I couldn’t do both,” he says. “So I just decided to stick with music. Since then I’ve been playing nearly 200 shows a year. To be honest I’m surprised I’m still out here.” BART BLASENGAME

JOSÉ GONZALES PHOTO BY HEIDI HARTWIG Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 16 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

For this reason, perhaps opening “I’d like especially to welcome all THURSDAY his set with a children’s song members of the foreign press and NIGHT LIVE version of Peas Porridge Hot on record company executives. We top of an annoying techno beat love music!”

REVIEWS DJ PLATURN GAUKUR Á STÖNG Reykjavík!’s singer-guitarist

Pravda >>> This Place is Gonna Be would have noticed that there still translated into a much deeper and player and starting off with a shouty, accompanying MC – especially after an Packed <<< Tourists, when you think of wasn’t a queue, nothing alluding to the thicker sound – Twisted Minds Crew atonal assault, they proceeded to play a evening of MCs being – Reykjavík the first musical genre that party inside. It just proves it’s the quiet sounded stereo to everyone else’s collection of samples of their favourite the impression left was that he probably comes to mind may well not be ones you’ve got to watch. Deborah mono. The crowd finally began to show rappers: we got to hear ten seconds of would have fared better being put first drum’n’bass, and Pravda may not be Coughlin ¶ ¶ Gaukur Á STÖNG >>> tangible signs of life. Rappers Rain and Eazy-E, Tupac, Biggie Smalls, and on the bill instead of last. Paul F the first place on your list of places to Hip-Hop in Stereo <<< Gaukur á stöng Mystic One showed their strength, others while wondering why they Nikolov Þjóð- visit. Pravda is a bar like many around got off to a slow start. Opening act backed up by the performance of wouldn’t just do their own material. leikhúskjallarinn >>> Shuck- the world with colour-by-numbers Spaceman and Cheese suffered for Beatmakin Troopa and DJ Kocoon as Dóri DNA then launched into his and-Jive to Perco-lating Pop <<< Pétur décor designed to appeal to the general, being first. Despite their demands, they well as the extended group of live rhymes with bravado, getting the crowd Ben weathered a late start and a rash or rather not to offend. ¶ The first thing never managed to “get [our] hands in instrumental players. Sveinn Birkir on their feet, especially when doing of broken strings to bask in a rapturous you notice is the lack of queue: NASA is reception from his native fans. And as packed, Grand Rokk is full, but this far as his shuck-and-jive six-string work townie-type bar is, well, empty at 9pm. was concerned, it was certainly Half an hour later it isn’t much better; deserved. But lyrically, songs about the the entertainment is basically just a evil of television, loving each other, and glorified bog standard DJ slot with his awkward attempts at social nothing to embellish the music, no commentary probably translate better visuals. ¶ At first Ewok’s set is like in his native tongue. Sung as they were background music to a few patrons’ in English though, they just came off chitchat. That soon changes as a naïve. ¶ Eberg closed the evening in reasonable deal on Heineken softens typically eclectic style: slap bass, drum, the self-conscious. Still, the bar staff and that electronic, effects-heavy coat outdance the patrons. ¶ So how popular hanger. Together they made a beautiful is drum’n’bass in Iceland then? Well one noise, providing a nice afterglow of guy was quite convincing, “Drum’n’bass danceable percolating pop to top off an has become much more common in the evening full of dimly lit amour. Bart past year, year and a half. It’s coming Blasengame Hafnarhúsið >>> out of the underground.” At this point Keeping Warm in the Museum <<< This flyers are distributed for an upcoming six-band show – five local acts plus New Mistress Barbara gig at Pravda. The York art-punks New Radio – was short guy’s girlfriend joins in, “She’s amazing, on good songs but long on kinetic we really love her here. Every 1st or 2nd energy and well-manipulated noise. of the month there’s a drum’n’bass From gentle pitter-patter to ear- night in Pravda. We have people coming bursting guitar fuzz, the barrage of from all over, international, plus DJ sound amply filled Hafnarhúsið – the Lelli and Kalli.” ¶ The interesting thing cavernous art gallery-turned venue – DANÍEL ÁGÚST about this night is that it is mainly PHOTO BY KARL PETERSEN even when warm bodies were in short locals, and they all seem to know each the air.” Intact followed with a short set, Björnsson >>> Pump Your Fist Like material from his previous group supply. ¶ The evening began well: After other. More and more people come in, playing new songs from their This! <<< Hip-hop veteran Cell 7, Bæjarins Bestu. So good was Dóri’s Bacon turned out mostly improvised and photographers that had come and forthcoming album. They rightfully accompanied by DJ Big Gee, kicked delivery that the stylings of Daníel instrumentals in front of only a handful gone before are now back and taking claimed to sound a little psychedelic things off with a slow ragga beat and Deluxe seemed completely unnecessary, of onlookers, Skakkamanage, a co-ed pics of Lelli as he finishes while DJ and ambient, with the DJ cutting some seemed to be holding back a bit at first. holding him back more than helping guitar-organ-drums trio, worked up Kalli takes over and the deck skills are jazzy samples. They kept things upbeat But once every girl in the club pushed him. Here’s hoping Dóri will have the tender, rainy-day folk songs based raised a bar. This is now pure drum’n’bass and seemed to enjoy themselves, which her way forward and started to bounce, confidence to step up to the mic alone around keyboard drones and gentle – they aren’t slipping in anything in almost affected the small crowd already she started delivering rhymes with a in the future, because that’s where he murmuring. Though their heartfelt order to make it more user friendly and gathered. ¶ Third in line were seasoned sincere, relaxed self-confidence devoid really shines. (See page 12 for The lullabies tended to hide their heads in the burgeoning crowd is lovin’ it. ¶ High members of the Icelandic hip-hop of cockiness. Most of her songs were Perceptionists.) ¶ DJ Platurn was left their hoodies, their set incorporated Contrast are from the UK and, as it scene, Bent & 7berg, joined by DJ relatively short for hip-hop numbers, in the unfortunate position of having to more melody than the next two acts draws closer to the HC set, Pravda Paranoia. They played a tight set, which with beats reminiscent of that laid-back follow this explosive act, and things combined, leaving the fairly spare actually begins to look packed. Before, benefited hugely from their West Coast sound from the early 90s, didn’t fare well for him. Half the crowd crowd ill-prepared for the noise assault where there had been a few chairs free, commanding stage presence and nice until she kicked things up a notch with a left the club the moment The to come. ¶ “I’d like especially to there is no room, the few brave souls lyrical flow. Members of a growing Miami “beat jeep” number that got both Perceptionists left the stage. For this welcome all members of the foreign who used to occupy the dance floor group of audience finally started genders dancing along. If her set had reason, perhaps opening his set with a press and record company executives. seem to have bred. It’s hard to find a bobbing their heads and putting a few been longer, and if her songs were at children’s song version of Peas We love music!” exclaimed Reykjavík!’s place to stand and watch. ¶ HC start hands in the air. ¶ Twisted Minds Crew least doubled in length, she would have Porridge Hot on top of an annoying cardigan-clad singer-guitarist as his and people are really into it, hands in brought some help along, for the first almost certainly stolen the show. ¶ techno beat wasn’t the best choice. He five-piece band took the stage. Easily the air, cheering, and that’s just the bar time accompanied by a live drummer, a Following up was Dóri DNA with Daníel had obviously good scratching and the loudest band of the evening (if not staff. If you left before the end you bass player and a guitarist. The add-on Deluxe. After plugging in the MP3 mixing skills, but without an the loudest band in all of Iceland),

LAUGAVEGUR 55 Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 17 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

It was clear that Reykjavík! could They seemed like they were going From pre-recorded walls of have set a smaller venue on fire. to start something interesting... harmonies to live samples of his and then Bryndís walked onstage. voice and trumpet, Daníel Ágúst elated the crowd at the packed

REYKJAVÍK! HAFNARHÚSIÐ BRYNDÍS NASA venue. DANÍEL ÁGÚST NASA

Reykjavík! dropped punk barnburners tunes were dark and stylized, but the level when you’re playing in front of a including rapping, catchy choruses and Valentine’s songs turned out to be that set the singer’s throaty vocals – surfeit of unmitigated gloom seemed to vacant lot full of mannequins attending clap-alongs. The audience seemed about our lord and saviour. What also one part Thom Yorke, three parts fall on deaf ears: by the time the singer a funeral. By the time they walked off, familiar with more than just their top made this band an act of its own was desperate screech – over speedy, deftly paused to take a picture of the crowd even Magnús, the bored-looking bassist three single Move Your Feet and went the fact that all five members sang syncopated stomp, with the guitarist (“for our mothers”), there wasn’t much was having fun (how it’s possible to stay completely wild, managing to drag the along in every song. Their sound was shouting coarse interjections like an crowd left. ¶ Afterwards, the venue and that still when playing the astonishingly band back onstage for an encore. simple and acoustic, with a box drum, Icelandic Flava Flav. Their salvo of crowd got mixed reviews from band cheerful crescendos he plays is beyond Julika Huether 12 tónar >>> bass, kettledrum and guitar. Overall, jagged guitars and desperate wailing members, but most saw the show as a me). ¶ Although people had gradually Crying Punk <<< At 12 Tónar record their performance was fun and was sometimes hard to take, but during point of pride for the local scene. “We been filing in all evening, Bob Volume store, local talent Þórir, a.k.a. My humourous, and lead singer Pétur some well-conceived passages – mostly play small places,” said Bacon had no effect whatsoever on the crowd, Summer as a Salvation Soldier, played Jóhann Einarsson’s great voice made it especially when the singer and guitarist bassist Bogi Reynisson. “It was cool to and rightly so; they blew. Profoundly. for a full, albeit somewhat small, house. a pleasurable experience. ¶ Shadow engaged in some syncopated call-and- play a bigger place like this. Now I want Evidently these absolute idiots had sat Þórir is locally known as a member of Parade specialize in slow, melancholy response – it was clear that Reykjavík! to go home, warm up and come back to down, listened to a bunch of prog, taken the Icelandic hardcore punk scene, rock. The band members played with could have set a smaller venue on fire. see more great bands tomorrow.” every lame element they liked and playing guitar for both Gavin Portland effortless ease and sophistication. The ¶ Skátar – five jokester hooligans in Christian Hoard NASA >>> patched it together into the sorriest and Fighting Shit as well as serving as drummer Magnús Magnússon, and the white biohazard suits – sounded like a Mannequins in a Vacant Lot <<< A collection of slimy guitar rock songs to a member of folk punk heroes Death bassist Andri Magnússon, who happen retro-minded punk-funk band with a very slick band began playing at seven ever see the light of the NASA stage. I Metal Supersquad. As a solo act, to be brothers, had a tight connection, pocket full of eccentricities, kicking out thirty sharp, looking groovy and soulful could prattle on endlessly about however, Þórir is a far cry from which resulted in a solid, muscular big PiL-style riffs and boomy beats with their slicked-back hair and everything they did wrong, but my time hardcore. Sitting by himself, guitar in framework. Shadow Parade gave away while the singer shouted dadaist rants expensive suits. They seemed like they and the reader’s would be better spent hand, he quietly strums through lo-fi free CDs with four of their songs to and dropped circus-like keyboard were going to start something shovelling llama dung or doing tunes in a broken voice that sound so everybody in the audience. Next up was squiggles. Things grooved by breezily interesting... and then Bryndís walked something equally productive. Sindri full of angst and desperation that it the power trio Nr. Núll, the only band of much of the time, but when Skátar onstage. ¶ An unremarkable songwriter Eldon >>> Mocking It Big <<< brings you to the edge of tears. He the night who performed their songs in worked up a maelstrom of ice-pick with an equally forgettable voice, Beautifully sad string arrangements played a wrenching four-song set, Icelandic. The lead singer had an guitar, big beats and jokey war-whoops, Bryndís provided NASA with the and the sea rolling into the venue on a including numbers from last year’s impressive vocal range and was their art-school approach gained ample perfect opening act: quiet, utterly screen in the background raised debut album, I Believe In This and his arguably the best singer of the night to forward motion. Too bad the crowd was pointless soul-funk performed by a expectations of an epic rendition of newly released follow up, Anarchists that point. ¶ The last act was without a either too frigid or too reticent to band that did exactly what was required Daníel Ágúst’s solo material. What the Are Hopeless Romantics. Sveinn doubt the Zep cream of the crop. Deep dance. ¶ Hafnarhúsið was packed by of them – no more, no less. For all their audience got instead was a set of Birkir Björnsson >>> Zep Cream of Jimi and the Zep Creams were the time hometown heroes Apparat soulful posturing, it quickly became masterly crafted songs reaching their the Crop <<< Mike Pollock, a musician absolutely mind-blowing. Their name is, Organ Quartet (really a quintet) took painfully obvious that they were nothing brilliance only by the singer/composer’s who has been in the “biz” in Iceland for of course, compiled from the names of the stage. Their well-received set was but fill-ins, a session band for an poking fun at them, overdoing it all by an impressive three decades, opened Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, Led an admirable mix of soft and hard, with unimaginative musician. The intros to dancing like a nymph dressed the evening with a series of Bob Dylan, Zeppelin and Cream, and they play epic a loose-limbed drummer ploughing the songs were by far the most completely in black with a feather-collar Hank Williams and Johnny Cash rock similar to these musical legends. ahead while the four guys up front interesting thing in the set. Jerky and and gloomy make-up. From pre- covers, performing his original stuff in The huge line that formed outside of contributed a rainbow of cascading stop-start almost to the point of being recorded walls of harmonies to live between. Following Pollock’s act were Grand Rokk proved that they’re an act organ lines, mechanized Kraftwerk arrhythmic, they let the rest of the samples of his voice and trumpet, The Telepathetics. Their performance worth seeing. Deep Jimi and the Zep vocals, and echo-ey keyboard band’s scant light shine until the songs Daníel Ágúst elated the crowd at the consisted of powerful, melodic rock Creams had an unparalleled onstage atmospherics. Apparat’s set was actually started. ¶ A breath of fresh air packed venue. ¶ Plunging from tender that was slightly reminiscent of early performance. Apart from Mr. Pollock, weighed down by too much techno after the stale boredom of Bryndís’s male/female duets into guitar-driven Radiohead, with excellent vocal they were the most experienced diddling, but they evoked the night’s soulless soul, Dýrðin had it all: rock spiced up with 80s keyboard harmony between the bassist Hlynur performers of the night, which was biggest cheers when they dropped a Simplicity, energy, heart and precocious, chords, epo-555 got the audience Hallgrímsson, and the lead singer Eyþór underlined by their confidence and soaring pastoral jam – all swirling, precious honesty. Hafdís and Sigrún led dancing, not least by means of their Eyríksson. They also did a little acoustic accuracy. Singer Sigurður Eyberg was heaven-bound organ lines and ecstatic their band through their cheerful girl- singer/guitarist Mikkel, who expended cover of Billy Joel’s For the Longest like a force of nature on the stage, with singing – near the end of their forty- guitar pop with enviable determination, so much effort he ended up lying on the Time, while waiting for the guitarist to breathtaking vocals and amazing minute set. ¶ New Radio came off a bit perfectly expressing the nature of their stage gasping for breath. ¶ Powersolo replace a broken guitar string, much to interpretation. The remaining band like a curiosity: three skinny guys – music with song titles like Candyfloss vigorously tried to extend their the audience’s amusement. ¶ Pan were members, Björn Árnason, Þór including the black-haired frontman, and Bubble Girl. ¶ Just as the simple shortened set as much as possible, less melodic and more hardcore than Sigurðsson and Júlíus Guðmundsson, looking like a goth street urchin in a energy of their first few songs began to which the audience clearly appreciated, their predecessors. They played with all had impressive stage presence and ratty black-and-white striped shirt and wear thin, they went for a touch of being greatly amused by the singer’s sincere ambition and enthusiasm, but incredible skills, resulting in a kick ass a cartoonish top hat – manned two depth, expanding their melodies ever impersonation of animals’ voices and got frequent onstage visits from the rock’n’roll experience. The crowd cellos and an upright bass, respectively, so slightly to carry them home to the simple but rocking redneck songs. ¶ sound guy, due to a bass tuned so low couldn’t get enough of them, and Deep with the drummer dropping sturdy greatness I knew they could achieve Junior Senior came onstage with a big that it felt like CPR to the audience. Jimi and the Zep Creams were cheered hard-rock grooves much of the time. when their set began. There were party consisting of a drummer, a bassist, Black Valentine followed – their first back on the stage for an encore. In case Their songs ranged from dark, mournful moments, however, that a greater blood a second guitarist and two background move was to create a little altar at the you missed them, they’re playing at art-rock ballads with weepy string lines alcohol level in the average crowd singers and left the audience partying front of the stage with a picture of Dillon on Friday and Saturday night. to punk barnburners in which the cellos member would have been appreciated; big. Their feel-good songs mocked the Jesus Christ, surrounded by candles. Þórdís Elva Þorvaldsdóttir sounded like overdriven guitars. Their it’s hard to maintain that high an energy styles of several decades of disco music, And yes, every single one of Black Bachmann Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 18 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

Immediately After... Jakobínarína Stun Grand Rokk on Wednesday PHOTOS BY JULIA STAPLES

The Calm Before... Þórir at Prikið, Refusing Breakfast Because of Exhaustion, One Week after his 21st Birthday. PHOTO BY HEIDI HARTWIG Laugavegi 176 105 Reykjavík www.hljodfaerahusid.is [email protected] 591 5340 Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 20 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

DRINK A Foreigner’s Guide to Drinking in Iceland

BY PAUL F NIKOLOV

The first thing you need to know is, if you just arrived in Iceland, you better have bought some booze at the airport. Especially if you’re visiting someone. No forgiveness on this one. Still, if you’re here, we guess you have to deal. A large beer in a bar will cost you 600 ISK (about ten US dollars) on average, but it is possible to drink both cheaply and with quality in Iceland, provided you know where to go. Any night out involving drinking should begin with a trip to Vínbúð, also known as The State Alcohol and Tobacco Monopoly of Iceland. A half-litre of Víking beer, which in a bar goes for 600 ISK, is only 216 ISK at Vínbúð. Stock up here, go home, get your drink on with some friends and then go out around midnight (the bars don’t begin to get interesting until then anyway) and you’ll end up spending a fraction of what you normally would on a night out. For those who are more interested in quality spirits than getting wasted for less, Vínbúð not only has a decent variety of quality wines, but the price of a hallucinogen-free), you should know that not all Vínbúð outlets are created good European wine is often lower than that of a cheap American wine. For equal. You’re more likely to find more obscure products at the larger outlets. example, while 750mL of California’s Delicato Merlot goes for 1220 ISK, the For Reykjavík, this means either the Kringlan mall or Heiðrún, which is in the same volume of France’s Le Piat d’Or is only 920 ISK. That’s right: now you east of town. can act like a Sideways-style wine snob without killing your budget. Except of course they drink California wine in that movie... and we just dissed American For more information on your alcohol options, Vínbúðin Austurstræti (downtown Reykjavík) wine... ahem. plus locations, you can check out Vínbúð’s Mon-Thurs. 11:00-18:00 website at http://www.atvr.is. Fri. 11:00-19:00 In terms of liquor, keep in mind that low quality spirits often sell for about Sat. 11:00-14:00 the same price as top shelf stuff: 700 mL of Smirnoff costs the same as the same volume of Finlandia, 2990 ISK. This is because prices for liquor are Vínbúð at Kringlan Vínbúðin Heiðrún (best selection) Mon.-Thurs. 11:00-18:00 Stuðlahálsi 2 Tel. 560 7720 determined by alcohol content and popularity, so you can drink like an adult Fri. 11:00-19:00 Mon-Thurs. 9:00-18:00 instead of a college freshman for the same money. Sat. 11:00-18:00 Fri. 9:00-19:00 If you need something particularly exotic, like sake or absinthe (albeit Closed Sundays Sat. 9:00-16:00

DRINK TÍU DROPAR (ten drops) on Iceland’s Favourite Beverage

BY ELIZA REID

Beer was illegal in Iceland until 1987. A very cheap bottle of wine costs 800 ISK (12 USD). It is no surprise that no tradition of casual drinking has developed here. Instead, coffee is the drink of choice. Ironically enough, coffee-drinking is one area where the Icelanders are not highest “per capita” (the Finns have achieved this honour), but coffee drinking and coffee culture are staples of Icelandic society. Here are the local favourites for this non-alcoholic beverage consumption:

Café Paris and Segafredo: Most known for their locations near key pedestrian squares. Great for people-watching. Kaffitár and Te og Kaffi: Leading importers of coffee in Iceland, along with Segafredo, Kaffitár and Te og Kaffi dominate the local barista competitions. Kaffi Mokka: Is the local institution—the oldest and most storied coffee shop in town.

Café Paris, Austurstræti 14, 101 Reykjavík, 511 1020. Segafredo, Lækjartorg 5, 101 Reykjavík, 562 5200. Kaffitár, Bankastræti 8, 101 Reykjavík, 511 4540. Te og Kaffi, Laugavegur 24 and 27, 101 Reykjavík, 562 2322. Kaffi Mokka, Skólavörðustígur 3a, 101 Reykjavík, 552 1174. &&"&&H`aV\ViV &&"&&AVj\VkZ\jg DeZcBdcYVn";g^YVn/%."') DeZc')]djgh HVijgYVnHjcYVn/&%"')

&&"&&8dckZc^ZcXZHidgZ 9dlcIdlcGZn`_Vk†` ™;gZh]anWV`ZYeVhig^Zh ™;gZh]Xd[[ZZ ™HVaVYWVg Grapevine Airwaves 2005 { 22 } Friday October 21 – Issue 1 of 3

DRINK The Nohito and Other Brennivín Cocktails

BY BART CAMERON AND HELGI ÞÓR HARÐASON

When the nicest guy in rock, , recently visited Iceland again, he insisted that the local rotgut, Brennivín, was the best liquor in the world. Rumour is that he wants to import it to America on the large scale. Brennivín is a fine, hard caraway-flavoured schnapps, traditionally served as cold as possible. So cold that the liquor gels, if possible. To achieve this effect, place the bottle inside a milk carton full of water, and let it freeze overnight. This allows the bottle to maintain a solid block of ice. Grapevine decided that if Brennivín is going to be the next big hard alcohol, there should be some appropriate Brennivín cocktails. For the most part, this led to gastrological disasters, which we will list below, but one charming bartender at Sirkus, the place in Iceland you’re least likely to order or be served a cocktail, invented the definitive Brennivín cocktail, the Nohito—with alternative spelling No-Heat-O, if you’re in the mood. To enjoy a Nohito, combine one part Brennivín, one-and-a-half parts Martini Bianco, one-half part dark rum, lemon and lime, a dash of Bols Peppermint, and top off with three parts ginger ale. The result is a full-bodied, sneaky drink reminiscent of Burt Reynolds in his 70s heyday. Yes, that smooth. After investigating rumours from the North, our reporter swears by the something called the Pink Pig, made at Sirkus, which was nicknamed the ultimate Icelandic cocktail. He calls it the Mountain King. Ingredients are two Appendix by a man who claimed his appendix burst after one sip, and the OC, parts Brennivín, four parts mysa (the dairy runoff you get when you make Original Confusion, a Brennivín and Egils Appelsín orange soda beverage that yoghurt, available for purchase in most grocery stores), and Mountain Dew. hurt a great deal. The other classic from the North was the 1972 — not quite a cocktail but The long and short of it is this: Brennivín can work well in cocktails, namely extremely popular in Húsavík. Coca-Cola is rested on a radiator until extremely the Nohito and the Mountain King, but be extremely careful. You’re playing warm, then combined with three shots of Brennivín. with something a lot more powerful than fire. And the fact that it can have Along the disaster category, the first is Brennivín and Magic energy drink, such disastrous consequences makes the whole experience that much more which both tasted bad and produced dastardly effects on mind and liver, pleasurable.

DRINK How We Get Our Drink On

BY BART CAMERON

Icelandic Beer—Thule Icelandic beer has a heavy, extremely hoppy taste, similar to Carlsberg. Locals prefer Viking Gullfoss over Egill’s two to one, but many Americans prefer Thule, which is the most accessible of the local beers.

International Beer—Cobra from India You can’t buy it everywhere in the world, but at the Kringlan Vínbúð, pick up this outstandingly rich pilsner. It comes in a small can, but people will still respect you, cause you’re drinking Cobra.

Malt Liquor—Faxe 10 If you miss Olde English 800 or Mickeys, or you just want to get angry, grab the black can of Faxe. It’s expensive, as beers are rated according to their alcohol content, but it also takes a long time to drink, so perhaps that’s value.

Brennivín There is only one. The traditional Icelandic spirit is consumed in the winter over heavy foods, typically. But tourists should try it. Though beware, it is strong.

Whiskey—Jameson All the superstars and musicians in town drink Jack Daniels. But Jameson sells at a much lower price for outstanding blended Irish whiskey. There simply is no cheap bourbon in this country, so if you didn’t bring it yourself, give up.

Landi (Moonshine)—Don’t do this. Causes brain damage. The unfunny kind. It’s the journey, not the destination

The best and easiest way to get to know the rugged beauty of Iceland is simply to have your own car. We are your car rental experts in Iceland.

Hertz locations in Iceland: Keflavík Airport, Reykjavík, ÍSLENSKA AUGLÝSINGASTOFAN/SIA.IS HER 29862Ísafjörður, 10/2005 Akureyri, Höfn, Egilsstaðir. +354 50 50 600 • www.hertz.is Reykjavík! Bóas wears: printed t-shirt from Dead and trousers from Spúútnik Gummi wears: white afghan scarf printed hoodie from Dead, red Levis, army jacket and green doc. Martins from spúútnik Photo by: Gúndi Stylist: Anna Clausen design [email protected]

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