Among many cute Icelandic things Icelandair does, like naming each plane in their fleet after an Icelandic volcano, is playing Icelandic music in the cabin before take-off and upon landing. The first time I heard the song Goða Tungl was while the airplane named Katla taxied to the gate at Keflavik Airport, delivering me to Airwaves 2012. I thought, “How cool! Björk covered Einstürzende Neubauten.” Of course I was wrong, and that’s why I need your help. Read More
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Help! I Have a Samaris Question
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Airwaves in August
Younger Than Karin
This used to be my favorite season, but the past couple years, I’ve found myself getting a little blue in early November. No matter what wonderful things may be going on in my life, a part of me is wishing I was in Reykjavik, attending Iceland Airwaves again. Fortunately, this year there have been a couple of chances to see some favorite Icelandic bands and discover others here in Seattle. I’ve already written about Reykjavik Calling.
There was also a curatorial exchange between Bumbershoot and Iceland Airwaves that resulted in some of the most painful scheduling conflicts of my festival, pitting local rockers against Icelandic electronica. Of course you know how the story ends. Read More
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Skipping Asgeir Trausti
Ásgeir Trausti released his first album in spring of 2012 but I’ve already seen him five times. I was one of the first people to interview him in English. My post, Stalking Asgeir Trausti, about watching Ásgeir perform 4 times in one weekend is by far the most viewed item on this blog.
I loved Low Roar’s debut album. I was crushed when circumstances conspired against a planned interview and kept me from seeing his Airwaves 12 performance.
On October 21, Asgeir and Low Roar played the intimate Columbia City Theater, and I wasn’t there. Wild horses couldn’t have kept me from this show, so what was I doing instead? Read More
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Reykjavik Calling at Neumos
Sin Fang
Only a couple of weeks before Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik Calling is a consolation prize for those of us who don’t have tickets to Reykjavik. The concert, hosted by KEXP and Iceland Naturally at Neumos, is part of the annual Taste of Iceland event. This collaboration between Icelandic and local musicians that exposes a local audience to emerging Icelandic artists. It generates new connections between some of the most promising musicians in both scenes. It was also the final item on my Reykjavik staycation itinerary. Read More
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Reykjavik Writing Jam
I took a Reykjavík city break last weekend without ever leaving Seattle, thanks to the Taste of Iceland event sponsored by Iceland Naturally and KEXP (among others). After visiting the Odin’s Eye exhibit at the Nordic Heritage Museum, the next item on my itinerary was the Reykjavik Writing Jam. Read More