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The power of drums – Slagverk

My first summer in Reykjavik was really memorable. And, I guess, forever and ever, it will remind me of two interesting summer projects that were brought to life thanks to a youth center called Hitt Húsið (but primarily thanks to clever minds). One of those projects was Slagverk that combined visual arts, percussion instrumentation… and somehow I have to add also a smell of rain to this list. Every year Hitt Húsið gathers youngs ages from 16 to 25 that want to express themselves in a compelling way and explore fields of art, culture and education. You will probably never experience performances of groups organised in summer specially for this purpose during more than one season. So Slagverk played or rather performed in that shape only in 2013. Still I think there are some things in this town that should be saved from oblivion. Exactly like Slagverk. At least because… Keep Reading

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Watching you, watching me, watching Muck

Once upon a time I met in Cracow four pretty cool guys from Reykjavík. They just stopped by my absolutely favorite district and gave a show, one of a dozen of them on their European tour. Before the gig I heard among others about joy of being challenged with new music and new sounds. Those four guys brought to (then) my city a kind of volcanic eruption since as soon as they entered the stage they turned from pretty cool people into crazy, fast and angry creatures teaching me immediately that I will not forget the name of Muck. Indeed, they provoked me. And also they challenged me saying that everything for a forth-coming album is ready but in the end I have waited for Your Joyous Future for over 2,5 year. Here comes out the second album of Muck – finally, February 24th! Damn, I easily became a Master… Keep Reading

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Getting lost in the darkness – DIMMA

When the last edition of Iceland Airwaves somehow got me down I decided to finish the night in a proper way to not let me feel that bitter taste of disappointment next day. Sometimes you just want to experience something memorable. So I popped by Gaukurinn to enjoy local hard-rock stars called DIMMA. I think the darkness of Gaukurinn is a natural environment of this band and musicians can easily turn into real animals of the night on stage… in effect, unrelentingly stealing the show. To be honest, they gave my second favourite show of Iceland Airwaves 2014, so long live DIMMA! I don’t like to start from beginning so maybe this time I will try from the end. In short, huge stage experience and impressive skills of four members of DIMMA are jaw-dropping and every time I see this band live I wonder why they spend more time playing… Keep Reading

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Now or never – say goodbye to Sudden Weather Change

Each of us has thought probably at least once of the soundtrack of our lives. Without a blink I am able to say that my soundtrack contains Sudden Weather Change songs. I had been waiting to experience this four-piece rock band on the stage for a quite long time and it had taken me more than two years to discover step by step how good they are live. Still, I didn’t expect I will be so excited for that November night in 2013 at Gamli Gaukurinn even though it was my first and at the same time, sadly, the last feast with Sudden Weather Change. Funeral parties at Gamli Gaukurinn are kind of epic, would you agree? Do you know that good feeling when you’re in the right place, with proper people, at the right time? Sudden Weather Change had their admirers not only in the first row although that… Keep Reading

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Kickin’ the trash out with Pink Street Boys

This year Reykjavík Grapevine wrote an article about the most interesting bathrooms in 101 and there is definitely something about it. I got used to see in those temples of contemplation many art pieces including even Hate The Comfort drawings (hell yeah, check it out!) but this month I was just hanging out in one of very popular venues of Reykjavik downtown… and while washing my hands I stared at the mirror. Instead of my face I saw three big letters P S B. Exactly in this order. Pink Street Boys. How could I not smile to my thoughts? Some women’s rooms are better than others. That one definitely contained positive vibes. A garage punk band Pink Street Boys claims that the guys are actually the loudest team in the city. I think I’m still able to argue with this thesis because nobody has unplugged them yet during the show… Keep Reading

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Dancing your shoes off – Brim

Water. Water is all you need. After Brim gig. I mean… Christmas ball. I haven’t danced that much since… ah, since I saw them first time when they danced on a table almost crashing my glass of beer. But of course, I would forgive them as soon as I would see those big smiles on their faces that actually can eat you alive if somehow you didn’t join the party. It was August and I simply ended up in the right place at the right time. I was asked then if I like surf rock. I guess my answer now would be definitely more enthusiastic (damn, ask me again, please!). Well, people who haven’t watched Harold and Maude can definitely talk to my hand (the same will probably happen if you haven’t seen yet Pulp Fiction but here I’m a bit more indulgent…). So from now on those who don’t… Keep Reading

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Dancing with the wolves – Johnny And The Rest

An alarm clock. A snooze. Again and again. It becomes a never-ending loop. At some point I started wondering how was it possible that last winter I had been waking up at around 5 a.m. and then I hadn’t needed extra 2 hours to get up from bed. Was that a miracle or what?! God bless Rás2 for playing every single morning Wolves in the night so I had been immediately up… how I miss it recently in those dark mornings! And for now 8 a.m. is enough, I promise, it doesn’t have to be earlier. On one hand, darkness in Iceland doesn’t allow me to get out of bed and lately I realised why some bands will forever and ever explore in their lyrics the subject of sleep and dreams. On the other hand, it creates perfect conditions to befriend some new bands. Like it happened in the dimness… Keep Reading

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Putting your bean into my mind – Godchilla

Apparently, I cannot exist without drinking coffee. I confess to being addicted. I had broken the record of 97 hours without so precious caffeine, risking some damages in my surrounding. Even though I’m blessed with coffee beans covered with chocolate. But every time I open a box of them to feed my addiction I hear in my mind words Concentrate on putting your bean into my mind. So I concentrate on putting MY mind into THEIR bean. Godchilla’s one. Montag The Magnificent. There are a few young bands here that in 5 years will definitely kick your ass to death. Just give them enough time. Beyond any doubt Godchilla is one of them. I will begin with the flashback to October 2013. Finally I got the opportunity to see Godchilla in its full glory. A characteristic loft of good old Gamli Gaukurinn was decked out in fairy lights. Three guys… Keep Reading

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Open up your fridge, they will be there – Grísalappalísa

I opened my fridge in the morning to grab something to eat. My gaze fell upon a ham package. Weird, immediately a picture of a little blond smiling boy appeared in my mind. Looks like Ali. Ali… Wait, what?! Ok, since that moment I hadn’t needed any cup of coffee, this coincidence just kicked me strong enough. Apparently, the debut album of Grísalappalísa and a brand of ham have way more in common than I used to think. Welcome in Iceland. Pig-legged Lísa (Grísalappalísa) set her first steps in Reykjavík previous spring. She has been loud and really spectacular. It´s actually nothing strange about that because the band is created by seven experienced musicians that this time made… an explosive mixture. They promised they won´t let listeners stay untouched and, no soap, they have kept a pledge! When I saw them first time at Volta, one of their very first… Keep Reading

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Going by lift to heaven – Mono Town

Have you ever received a birthday gift that knocked your socks off? I was enough lucky to get an entire festival for my first birthday celebrated in Iceland, woohoo! I will endlessly bless organizers of Reykjavik Music Mess for that. Seeing a band like Mono Town closing the third and the last day of the festival was the kind of experience that will get stuck for a long time in your mind. It was Sunday, around midnight so people started leaving the concert room of venue called Volta that no longer exists (under the name Volta… but right now it’s our good good Húrra) because next day was Monday and the last foreign artists just got off stage (yeah, Withered Hand, you were so good). Before the gig I hadn’t known much about the band except the fact they are pretty promising team. Ok, shame on me. Now I understand… Keep Reading

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