|06-Nov-2014| Iceland has an app?   Apps have been a constant topic of discussion – wild, crazy ideas that get more outrageous as they bounce around the group.

Headed out for a cappuccino this morning then over to Brim to exchange our vouchers for tickets to Sunday’s closer show: The Flaming Lips! Zig-zagged back down Laugavegur taking in a few shops along the way. Kicked around until meeting up with Tristen and Andy at 12:30 to head over to Slippbarinn for lunch.

Decided after lunch to eat in tonight so we popped into Vínbúđin, the state liquor store, for wine. Among the sea of French offerings we found a couple of Argentinian wines for this evening.  Picked up pasta carbonara and a baguette at Bonus and we’re all set.

Jeff and I headed off to Húrra to catch RVK Soundsystem, a band that’s been on my list for a number of years. We stayed for three acts and caught up with the rest of our posse before moving on.

We left Húrra to encounter a HUGE line to get into the venue – at least 50 people. We were a little worried about getting into our next venue, Gaukurrin, which was just around the corner. As luck would have it, no line at the “metal” club.  This location use to be Sodoma, and has been in our regular rotation in previous years. They’ve cleaned it up a bit, moved the stage and upgraded the sound system since last Airwaves.  That’s one of the funny things about coming here year after year: the venues change names and maybe “upgrade” a bit, but they’re all familiar.

After our on-venue plans wrapped up we went to Dolly bar to catch King Lucky! Ingvar spins some funky afro beats. It’s enjoyable to see someone having so much fun.

D E A D Gallery featuring the work of Jón Sæmundur Auðarson, a visual artist and musician. His work is stunning – from  delicate details to bold images in a variety of formats. I liked his original print work; Jeff was taken by the screen printing on vinyl records.

Sunset – it was mild today and is supposed to be “nice” (aka not raining) for the next few days.

RVK Soundsystem … and friends.  Solid rocksteady reggae set, complete with toaster, and guest vocals from members of AmabAdamA, Cell7 and others.

Didn’t expect to see a flute being played; nor Icelandic rap by two dudes in track suits, one wearing a paint brush on a chain.  I mean really, how could you expect that?

These guys have been on my “must see” list for a while and they did not disappoint. A good time – I’d see these guys again.

Kött Grá Pje. Kind of old skool rap, gangsta’ style, but by a white guy, and in Icelandic.

Mind you, dude here has writing on his chest in black marker (“falafel”, I think) and by the end of the set wasn’t wearing pants.

You do the math…

Reykjavikurdætur. An all-female collaborative rap group – fourteen in total. I’ll wait while you process “feminist shock rap”.

So, what does that sound like? The rap is well executed, I suppose; I don’t speak Icelandic.  I do know they’re highly political and people either love them or hate them. I must say, we’ve never seen anything like it. And I can’t say I was missing it.

DIMMA – the metal band we came to this venue to see. Soaring metal. We saw them at Harpa last year and were very impressed.  You can definitely tell the bands that have toured extensively – they have excellent stage presence.  These guys have been at this a while and it really shows.

Another solid set from DIMMA.

 
And to wrap up the night:

King Lucky at Dolly