SÓLEY, RAY OF SUNSHINE. 

Lots of Icelandic bands I like have their names starting with the letter -S-, wondering why.

I saw two of them on Friday night. 

It was not Sigur Rós, Seabear, Sometime, Snorri Helgason, Sykur or not even Sin Fang. Sin Fang will have concerts once I'll be gone from Reykjavík for his new record ''Flowers'' which will be released in February. And I hate the fact that I won't see him again playing in Reykjavík! Seeing him hanging in the city is fine, but I'd rather see him playing! 

Anyway two bands I saw on Friday night were Samaris and Sóley. 

The venue called the ''old house'' was a very mysterious place as lots of locals didn't know where it was. 

After ''Google maping'' the place, after walking under the stormy snowy windy weather, we found THE place, next to the harbor. And what a place... 

Candles were sparkling all over the place, a few coffee tables, a few chairs, an empty old building had been turned into a beautiful magical cosy venue...

And old wooden boxes with candles had been placed behind the stage...

Let's start with Samaris. 

One of the bands I really enjoyed seeing live during Airwaves. The first time I saw them was during the first night of the festival, because I couldn't get in Iðnó to see Sin Fang and FM Belfast... too crowded!

They have a good vibe, it's a kind of electronic / lounge music, beautiful voice of the singer which is very well mixed with the sound of the clarinet. If you have a chance to see them, go!

My story with Sóley is a bit older...

She is a member of the band Seabear. 

In 2010 she's released her debut EP ''Theater Island'' which has been followed by her first LP ''We Sink''.

Both albums are very sweet with some beautiful songs like ''Pretty Face'' or ''The sun is going down''.

First time I saw her was during the Nordic Festival in Istanbul in April 2012, with Sin Fang and Amiina. 

Since then something with the Icelandic scene has started...

 Sóley & Sin Fang, Istanbul, April 2012. 

When you listen to Sóley you feel like dreaming, you feel like a little fairy comes and whispers nice things in your ears, with beautiful and entertaining tunes...

And when you see her, you want to hug her and thank her for her good music, you want to listen to her for hours, but unfortunately every time I see her I feel like her concerts are always very short, too short, you only start dreaming that you already have to wake up... 

And after a good evening like this, the best way to finish the night is going partying in one of the clubs in Reykjavík ; and spotting Sóley partying on the same dancefloor as yours is the best way to finish dreaming...

Samaris

Sóley

Here's a live concert of Sóley, have a look and dream for 45 minutes...

  

RADIOHEAD

Some may think their last album is bad. 

Some may think it's good. 

I prefer the Remix one -TKOL RMX 1234567- or their B-side EP Supercollider/The Butcher. Or the new ones played live this year. 

Anyway I am still in love with them. Whatever they do, Thom Yorke remains one of those ''music Gods''...

And their live shows are very memorable. Every single song they play become a piece of art. 

That's Radiohead. 

And I wanted to share some photos taken this summer in Nîmes and this Autumn in Berlin. 

Nîmes. 

Berlin. 

HJALTALÍN

- Since you've been in Reykjavík you're going to loads of concerts, aren't you?

- Yep. I'm trying to get sick of Icelandic concerts so that I won't miss them anymore. So there are some days I have a concert marathon from 5pm to 2am. 

- And have you heard of a band called Hjaltalín?

- Hjalta-what? 

- Hjaltaliín. They are very good. I mean veeeerryyyy good. They're playing in Gamla Bío in December. 

- Like in 2 months? I'll see...

Well, the next day I had bought my ticket for the concert, sometimes you have to trust your friends who live here.

The only thing I knew was that some of the members plays in some other bands, but is that really a surprise here...? :)

I'd been told later than their first two albums were completely different from the latest one, ''Enter 4'', but I had decided to go to the concert without listening to their music at all. 

21/12/2012 : I'm just finishing my second beer in the pub called Boston with an icelandic friend who lives in NYC, I guess that's why he wanted to come here, Boston, USA, homesick? :)
I arrive in Gamla Bío where everyone already sits, waiting for the band to start.
I like this venue, an old theatre with very pale pink comfortable seats.

What can I say about this concert?

I wasn't expecting anything from them as I had no clue what kind of music they play.

And the show was just perfect. From the first minute until the very last second. Except of the 15 minutes break which is something very icelandic! We need beer! :)
Sigga has just an incredible -amazing strong deep beautiful powerful- voice which fits completely well with Högni's voice. Together they've been able to give goosebumps to the whole audience.
And the musicians. When it comes to have some extra musicians, Icelanders aren't afraid to bring a whole music ensemble, and I love that!
Everyone has contributed to make this night unforgettable.

And a very special congratulation for the lights engineer. The light show was stunning.
It's definitely one of the best show I've been so far in Reykjavík.
And if you have a chance to catch them somewhere, just go!

LAST MINUTE LIVE MUSIC EVENTS IN REYKJAVÍK...

I've been in Reykjavík for a bit more than 2 months now, and after Iceland Airwaves slap I feel like it's Iceland Airwaves Festival every weekend in the city...
Usually nothing is planned until Wednesday, Thursday or even Friday, and then, all of a sudden, each band posts on their websites that they will be playing on the same evening or the day after in Kaffibarinn, Faktory, Kex Hostel, Iðnó, Harpa or even in a bus station... ;-)

Kid playing during the vinyl market @ KEX

Acoustic set from Múm @ KEX

Borko @ Idno

Tilbury @ Hlemmur

Pascal Pinon @ KEX

Ásgeir Trausti @ Háskólabíó

Tilbury @ Faktory

HARPA

Harpa is for me one of the most interesting building in the city.

I can stand for hours sitting on one of those big yellow square things with my coffee, music in the ears, looking at the mirrored ceilings, windows on the back, the irregularly-shaped glass panels of different colors on the front, the stairs going up and up, the whole building is very fascinating... Very interesting architecture. 

ROAD TRIP TO THE SOUTH, VÍK, ETC...

Driving on 10 cm thick icy slippery wet and snowy roads in Iceland : check! When you're driving on route [1] towards the South east, with the ocean on your right, the glacier with its unpronounceable name standing proud on your left, and then suddenly in your rear-view window you see a car sliding from left to right before completely sliding off the road then it's time to slow down. Really! 

Finally after two days we managed to find The Plane!

An abandoned U.S army plane in hidden away in the depths of Iceland...

For all the travelers, seeing the landscapes during winter time is completely different of summer time, if you can, you must come back! :)