Category Archives: iceland

15 Favorite Live Shows of 2015

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2015 brought some fantastic performances from newly discovered artists and a few old favorites. I’m always on the hunt for new sounds and several artists on this list have exactly that! My favorite part of this past year is finally seeing larger acts that I’ve been missing for decades… The Rentals, Social Distortion, Belle and Sebastian, The Decemberists, and GusGus. 2016 is going to be an even bigger year and I can’t wait for new discoveries.

2015 Breakdown: 271+ live artists // Loudest month: March (61) // Most quiet month(s): Feb (4) & Dec (4)

wackdelly_auroraAurora (NO) @ Reykjavík Art Museum for Iceland Airwaves: The incredible voice radiating from this tiny 19-year old absolutely blew me away.

wackdelly_axelflovent.jpgAxel Flóvent (IS) @ Iceland Airwaves: It’s just a matter of time until Axel becomes huge. I know this to be true.

wackdelly_balthazarBalthazar (BE) @ Tractor Tavern: I’ve been following these Belgians since 2011 and finally saw them for the first time in 2012. They did a mini west coast US tour that included several performances at CMJ. There was barely anyone at this Monday night Tractor Tavern show and I have no idea why as overseas shows are sold out.

BrianaMarelaBriana Marela @ Neumos: Captivating! This chick radiates talent. (Photo source: 107.7 The End)

BRNSBRNS (BE) @ Iðnó for Iceland Airwaves: Equally vibrant beats and haunting ambience. (Photo source: BRNS fb)

DIIVDIIV @ Neumos: I could not miss this show and dragged my sleepy self out on a Monday night with pajamas under my raincoat. Nothing I love more than zoning out to a band that can perfect that shoegaze/dream pop in my ears. (Photo source: AMBY)

wackdelly_hikesHikes @ Spider House: Folk, nature-inspired math rock from a bunch of Austin youngins. Tryin to get them up to Seattle soon!

wackdelly_jeffthebrotherhoodJEFF The Brotherhood @ Crocodile: Rad. That is all.

wackdelly_joycut JoyCut (IT) @ Gaukurinn for Iceland Airwaves: I scouted out this band prior to SXSW and loved them so much I had partake again at Airwaves. Nice guys too.

StrandofOaks  Strand of Oaks @ Sasquatch: I’ve been following Timothy Showalter for years. After every one of his shows, I reach in my bag for a cigarette only to realize I don’t even smoke. Incredible live. (Photo source: Brittany Bollay // KEXP Blog)

TheBotsThe Bots @ Bumbershoot: These brothers stole the whole festival for me! (Photo source: The Bots)

wackdelly_therentalsThe Rentals @ Crocodile: Matt Sharp forever! Guy still has so much energy.

wackdelly_victimmentalityVictim Mentality @ SXSW: Listening to Victim Mentality, you will wonder if it’s for real. Yup, Korean glam metal at it’s finest! Don’t miss them at SXSW 2016!

WevalWeval (NL) @ Iceland Airwaves: Trip-hop greatness. (Photo source: Weval Fb)

wackdelly_yellerkinYellerkin @ SXSW: Eric and Wild Honey Pie always curate the best SXSW shows and Yellerkin was the cherry on top for me.

**Photos by Annie unless otherwise noted**
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2015 list

AAN, Ab-Soul, Acapulco Lips, Acid Tongue, Action Bronson, Airplane + Spaceship, Alcest, Alki, Allelujah Choir, Amina, Arthur James, Asonat, Atmosphere, Audur, Aurora, Axel Flóvent, Balthazar, Battles, Beirut (2), Belle and Sebastian, Big Data, Big Phony, Big Scary, Big Wild, Black Pistol Fire, Black Whales, BØRNS (2), Boyfrndz, Brand New, Brenda Xu, Brian O’Brien, Briana Marela, BRNS (2), Calliope Musicals, Cardiknox, Cell7, Chimurenga Renaissance, Chris Staples, Classixx, Cloud Nothings (2), Colony House, Courtney Barnett, Crater, Cuff Lynx, Dad Rocks!, Daktyl, Dan Bejar, Dances!, Danielson & The Nine Fruit Tree, Dear Boy, Death Cab for Cutie, Devotchka, DIIV (2), Dotan, Dude York, East India Youth, Edmund Wayne, Eliot Sumner, Elle King, Emily Donohue, Emma Ruth Rundle, Eugene Munro, Ex-Cops, Ex-Cult, Fantastic Negrito, Father John Misty, Fauna Shade, Five Iron Frenzy, Flosstradamus, Flume, For A Minor Reflection, Foxing, French for Rabbits, Gabriel Wolfchild, Gardens & Villa, Gateway Drugs, Girl Pool, Grave Babies (2), Grayson Erhard, Great Caesar, Great Mountain Fire, Group of the Altos, Gruska Babuska, Gunnar Jonsson Collider, GusGus, Health, Heather Maloney, Helado Negro, Helka, Heo, Hey Marseilles, Hikes, HimeHime, Hooves and Beak, Hunter Hunted, Icky Blossoms, Iska Dhaaf, Jacco Gardner, Jack Garratt, Jared and The Mill, JEFF The Brotherhood, Jenny Lewis, Jesse Macht, Jose Gonzalez, JoyCut (2), Jungle, Junius Meyvant, Kate Tempest, Kiasmos, Kim & Ryan of Smokey Brights, Kite String Tangle, Kris Orlowski, La Luz, La Priest, Lady Lamb, Lana Del Rey, Las Rosas, Lighthouse and the Whaler, LITE, Lonesome Shack, Lucy Rose, Mammut, Manatee Commune (2), Mansionair, Metalachi, Mia Dyson, Michael Lind, Midday Veil, Milky Chance, Milkywhale, Milo Greene, Minus The Bear, Modest Mouse, Moon Hooch, Morning Bear (2), Mother Mother, Murder Vibes (2), MXPX, Nahko And Medicine for the People, Newaxeyes, No Joy, Of Monsters and Men (2), On An On, Orla Gartland, Ought, Phox, Pictureplane, Pink Street Boys, Plain White T’s, Positive Disturbance, Public Service Broadcasting, Punch Brothers, Purfume Genius, Radiation City, Ratatat, Real Estate, Rey Pila, Reykjavikurdaetur, Roger Sellers, Royal Blood, Runaway Symphony, Ryn Weaver, Said The Whale, Sam Slater, San Cisco, San Fermin, San Juan, Sassyblack, Sekouia, Shana Cleveland & The Sandcastles, Shannon & The Clams, Shovels and Rope, Sin Fang, Siomha Brock, Sisters, Skylar Spence, Sleep Over, Slow Bird, Small Pools, Smokey Brights, Snooze Infinity, SOAK, Social Distortion, Soft Sleep, Song Sparrow Research, Spencer Glenn, SSDD, Stafreann Hakon, Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil, Strand of Oaks, Sufjan Stevens, Summer Heart, Swervedriver, Sylvan Esso, Talk in Tongues, Tallest Man on Earth, Teitur Magnusson, Temples, The Acorn, The Belle Game, The Bots, The Broods, The Cave Singers, The Decemberists, The DØ, The Ghosts, The Knocks, The Mighty Oaks, The Native Sibling, The Rentals, The Thoughts (3), The Velvet Teen, The White Buffalo, The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die, The Zoltars, Thee Oh Sees, Thunderpussy, Timbre Barons, Tinnarose, Toe, Tomo Nakayama (2), Tonik Ensemble, Tracksuit Wedding, TTNG, Turbo Fruits, Twin Forks, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Until the Ribbon Breaks, Verite, Victim Mentality, Viet Cong, Vox Mod, Waxahatchee, We Are The Willows, Weaves, Wesen, Weval, Whitney Flinn (2), Wild Child, Will Butler, WMD, Wolf Alice, Woodpigeon, Woods, Yellerkin, Yolawolf, Young Buffalo, Yumi Zouma, Þórir Georg, Þórunn Antonía og Bjarni, other unknown artists (6)

Previous years: 2014 / 2013 / 2012 / 2011 / 2010

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I love Seattle: Reykjavik Calling

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Reykjavik Calling is having the third go around tonight and of course I will be in attendance. The first two years were fun and incredibly unique at the Crocodile. The new venue is Nuemos, also one of my faves in Seattle. My fellow music-festival-junkie-husband and I have been wanting to go to Iceland Airwaves for the last few years but family holiday commitments seem to take precedence with this late-in-the-year fest but 2013 will be the year! Over the years we have learned about and loved many overseas acts from Iceland and are happy they are sharing the love to its music-loving sister city of Seattle.

Iceland bands to check out: Péter Ben :: Sin Fang :: Borko :: Björk :: Múm :: Sóley :: Seabear :: Retro Stefson :: Lay Low :: Gus Gus :: FM Belfast

Gus Gus :: Ladyshave (my first intro to Icelandic music in the 90’s)

Gus Gus :: Over (geez he’s like a fine wine, gets better with age…I want to seem him live dammit!!)

FM Belfast :: Underwear (I’ll give you $1 if this song does not repeat in your head all day after hearing it… btw, good luck proving it.. and yes, the video is supposed to look like that.. )

I would gladly move to Iceland, Italy, or Sweden. I love the songs about mundane crap in other countries, but that’s just me.

Pojke :: She Moves Through The Air

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I can not stop listening to this new track from Pojke, a new project by Sindri Már Sigfússon. The sound has a way more pop elements than what I’m use to hearing from his band, Seabear, and solo work as Sin Fang. I like this. A lot.

My absolute favorite artist of 2010 keeps on delivering the goods ♥

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Sin Fang :: Clangour and Flutes (video)

declare independence

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over the years i have never been a björk fan, especially back in high school when everyone was freaking out about her. i’m guessing it was her obscure sound at the time and everyone was on the verge of breaking out of the cliques to be more unique. i was listening to mostly rock and some punk back in those days. but recently, i have fallen in love with several icelandic bands and artists. so naturally, i am coming full circle and giving björk another listen. i do like her now. go figure.

although, i have always liked it’s oh so quiet:

addicted

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every so often i get absolutely hooked on something. this week, i’ve had a few addictions…

after seeing backyard at siff, i can’t stop listening to icelandic electro-dance-pop band, fm belfast.

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ginger mints! you can buy them in bulk from amazon!!

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taking too many photos of my dogs.

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the editing of my drunk kitchen is genius. hannah hart is hilarious!

siff picks – part II

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siff picks – part I              siff picks – part III

every song is about me

Ramiro is a thirty-something man who fulfills his passion for literature in his uncle’s small bookshop. During daily strides along the streets of Madrid, he dreams about romance and poetry. One day, he comes home to find a letter left by his fiancée Andrea in which she puts an end to their relationship. In his attempt to forget her, he spends his spare time hanging out with his friend Lucas, who suddenly decides to marry an Argentinean barmaid for immigration purposes. Depressed, Ramiro gives a new try to romance, but it is Andrea he truly wants. Literature, love and life intertwine in this delightful and retro Spanish romantic drama. Like the title reflects, the screenplay explores both the absurdity and beauty of young life, set against a charming Madrid backdrop. The atmosphere of the French New Wave genre inspires this first film by Jonas Trueba, without leaving aside the contradictions of the modern world. Nominated for Best Director and Best Actor at the Goya Awards. Director Jonas Trueba scheduled to attend. (source)

backyard

Árni had an idea. He just wanted to record some group of friends in a simple way in his backyard. He’d set up some equipment in his shack, invite a few bands, and feed them all pizza and pancakes. He passed out a few flyers and before he knew it, some of the most exciting, young Icelandic musicians showed up to play. His humble project evolved into one of the most popular intimate live events of the year, gathering a crowd of neighbors and music lovers from all around the city. This concert documentary gives us a glimpse into Reykjavik’s up-and-coming music scene—a tight, supportive group of musicians who bounce inspiration off one another’s sounds, from the sweet post-rock of Borko to the bouncy synthpop of FM Belfast. Mùm—experimental electronic veterans of the scene—also perform, as do newer groups such as Hjaltalin, who won Album of the Year at the 2010 Icelandic Music Awards. Backyard is a record of the independent Icelandic music scene with some of the most celebrated artists in Reykjavik today. Director Arni Sveinsson scheduled to attend. (source)

the most important thing in life is not being dead

With a title that is as obvious as it is absurd, The Most Important Thing in Life Is Not Being Dead evokes the early work of Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro (Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children), with a little Terry Gilliam thrown in for good measure. Crafted by a collective of three directors (two from Spain, one from Switzerland), the delightfully deadpan narrative follows a piano tuner suffering from bouts of insomnia. To make matters worse, the pianos that used to mysteriously fix themselves for him during the night are now stubbornly sticking to reality and staying broken. One night, he sees a strange man in his living room, but when he tells his wife, she refuses to believe him. Or, maybe, she’s just telling him that… Set during the end of the Franco era in Spain, a period of political deceit and distorted reality, this visually inventive and funny film continually finds new ways to set things topsy-turvy. Director Pablo Torrado scheduled to attend. (source)

Music Monday: Pétur Ben

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exposing unsigned or lesser known bands to the masses…or to the three people that actually read this. today’s artist:

pétur ben

local artist  to: reykjavík iceland

riyl: folk rock, singer-songwriter, nick cave, jeff buckley, little bits of thom yorke

etc: pleasant discovery from the reykjavik calling kexp showcase

stylespion

pétur Þór benediktsson is a singer and guitar player from iceland who regularly performs his own material. he was one of the highlights at the last iceland airwaves festival, and he will be playing various festivals in other countries this year. recently, he completed the arrangement of nick cave’s score for the production of woyzeck, which debuted at the barbican center in london this month. he has also arranged music for and performed with mugison, slowblow and other icelandic artists. he is working diligently on his first solo album which is due for release this coming january. last.fm

listen

Music Monday: Sóley

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exposing unsigned or lesser known bands to the masses…or to the three people that actually read this. today’s artist:

sóley

local band to: hafnarfjörður iceland

riyl: seabear, amiina, kira kira

etc: i am coocoo for the band seabear, and sóley is a gorgeous offspring of the icelandic band.

sóley from iceland is a member of the indie-collective seabear. she also studied composition and is a passionate piano player and singer. in 2010 she released her solo-debut theater island – a pop record, that sounds like a dream: sweet and weird at the same time.

*photo & blurb courtesy of the morr music. listen and buy her beautiful music here.*