Reykjavik Music Mess

More exciting news from planet RMM… we decided that we didn’t have enough acts, so thought, what the hell, lets get that crazy guy Futuregrapher to close the Saturday night at Faktory Bar!? He comes fully equipped with dancers and we hope for lasers, but that may be a bit much for our little budget… still, we can always hope…

Name of your band, where you are from?
Futuregrapher. I was born in Patreksfjörður, grew up in Tálknafjörður. Southern Westfjords, baby.

What is the best thing about playing gigs in Reykjavik?
E.T., Gunnar Smári (my brother), random old people who show up really drunk and show their dancing skills, María Lilja Þrastardóttir, crazy young kids with “fire walk with me” attitude and no sleep ‘til monday thingy.

Who is your ultimate musical hero and why?
The late, great Biogen (Sigurbjörn Þorgrímsson), Keith Flint from The Prodigy in the 90’s (because he went from being a dancer to a vocalist and was a pop icon for being a maniac) and Karl Hyde from Underworld. “The art is to know what you want and how to get there” - and these three guys showed me the way.

What’s the most annoying interview question you’ve ever been asked? Perhaps it has been asked already?
There has probably been many bad questions, I’m sure. But the worst interview of all time was when me, Dj AnDre, Orang Volante, Bragi from Yoda Remote and Fu Kaisha were interviewed by Mtv Canada at Kaffibarinn. It was probably the worst night of my life. We were interviewed by three girls who asked questions of no relevance and basically just wanted to get drunk and flirt. In the end we ended shouting “greetings from Iceland to Mtv Canada” to the camera. Shameful evening.

Touring on a tight budget is tough, what advice can you give budding musicians out there to stay sane whilst on tour?
Meditation and plenty of ambient music (all night long. yes, sing it like Lionel).

Best and or worst gig experience you have ever had as a performer
I would probably say that Extreme Chill festival and Airwaves festival in 2011 were my best gigs. Brilliant times. My worst would have to be when I played a gig in 2008 in the backyard of Dillon. I was horrible and the vibe was bad.

Are there any local bands you think people should hear about?
Skurken for those who are into electronica (he’s the greatest) and Samaris for those who are into something else (there’s a clarinet player in the band). Also check out the label Möller Records.  

Best piece of advise you have ever received?
Kiss Kiss. Always works. Advice from my man Beatmakin Troopa (Pan Thorarensen).

What is the best video clip you have ever seen
It’s easy to sum it up. We’re talking about practice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d29VsG35DQM

STOP PRESS! We have added a new night/venue to our already, even if we do say so ourselves fantastic, finger licking good line up! 

Yep, indeedy! On Thursday night, otherwise known as 24th May we are taking over the soon-to-be defunct NASA club

Dika, Morðingjarnir, Tilbury & Cheek Mountain Thief will all be playing!

Did someone say PARTY!? 

This addition is covered by your festival ticket, however, if you only want to come to this night only, it will cost you a mere 1000isk…

We spoke to those psychedelic dudes from The Dandelion Seeds and it turned out like this…

RMM: Name of your band, where you are from
TDS: The Dandelion Seeds, Reykjavík

RMM: How would you describe your sound?
TDS: Our sound derives mostly from the late 60’s, carrying on from the British Invasion with loads of fuzz, walls of noise and feedback. Anything really, from sweet pop up to loud psychedelia.

RMM: What is the best thing about playing gigs in Reykjavik? If not, what are you most looking forward to finding in Reykjavik?
TDS: Honestly we can’t wait to get out of Reykjavík, but its always nice to play shows packed with friends.

RMM: Who is your ultimate musical hero?
TDS: Leutenant General John D. Taylor

RMM: Touring on a tight budget is tough, what advice can you give budding musicians out there to stay sane whilst on tour?
TDS: Drink Landi instead of buying beer.

RMM: Best and or worst gig experience you have ever had as a performer?
TDS: We were playing a Halloween gig once that got way out of hand. We had just found a news article about a Papua New Guinean tribe of man-eaters that had published a formal apology for eating two missionaries the month before. We decided to dress up as them, bodies painted black with smudged skull patterns, wearing Tunisian man-dresses. No other band showed up in costume. Not even any of the audience. We still had a great time on stage and were all really impressed with ourselves except for the drummer who was sober and not amused.

RMM: Are there any local bands you think people should hear about?
TDS: We just moved into a new rehearsal space with Caterpillarmen, Muck and Plastic Gods. All pushing boundaries at what they do, good times ahead.

RMM: What is the best video clip you have ever seen?
Psych-Out (1968) - “Purple Haze” Ripoff Scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYcjnHoiSGI

We spoke to the very loveable and affable Snorri Helgason for this here blog. And what a charming chap he is!

RMM: What is your name and where you are from?

SH: Snorri Helgason and I am from Reykjavík. Guðmundur Óskar Guðmundsson plays bass in my band and he is from Innri-Njarðvík. Sigurlaug Gísladóttir plays ukulele and sings and she is from Reykjavík too.

RMM: How would you describe your sound?

My music is primarily folk based but I we add a lot of different elements from all over the musical spectrum as well. I’ve been listening to a lot of old crooners and the works of the great old American songwriters like Irving Berlin, Hoagy Charmichael and Cole Porter for the last  year or so. But I grew up with brit-pop and The Beatles and that is where I started out from and I think you can still hear a lot of that in my music.

 RMM: Who is your ultimate musical hero and why?

SH: Bob Dylan. Because he’s very very brave and that inspires me.

RMM: Touring on a tight budget is tough, what advice can you give budding musicians out there to stay sane whilst on tour?

SH: Use the good beds well. If you get a good room with a nice bed while you are on tour, use it well. Try not to go out that night or at least keep your foot on the brakes because you never know when you’ll get another chance at a good nights rest. I know this sounds boring and not very “rock ‘n roll” as you kids say but believe me this little rule of thumb has saved my health and kept me sane through a lot of rough touring.

RMM: Are there any local bands you think people should hear about?

SH: Tilbury just released their first album and it is wonderful. It’s a shiny beacon of hope in the often very bleak world of indie-pop. Then there is Ojba Rasta, a great dub/reggae band that are recording their first album. And of course Mr. Silla will be releasing their EP pretty soon. I can’t wait to hear that.

 RMM: What is the best video clip you have ever seen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoEWtJWMZV4

So, there is this young chap who performs as Man Made, his name is Nile Marr, and yes, that Marr name is from his very famous guitar swinging hero of a dad, Mr Johnny Marr… we asked him a bunch of questions and he kindly gave us some very lovely answers! Takk Mr Man Made!

RMM: Name of your band, where you are from?

MM: Man Made, and I’m from Manchester, England.

RMM: How would you describe your sound?

MM:That’s a tough one, and I don’t think what I say about it should be given any significance. Everyone hears music differently, and thinks about music differently. People should make up their own minds. Alternative Pop?

RMM:If you  have played in Reykjavik before, what is the best thing about playing gigs  in Reykjavik? If not, what are you most looking forward to finding in Reykjavik?

MM: I’ve never played anywhere in Iceland before. I visited once when I was younger and it blew my mind. I’m looking forward to walking around and being outdoors as much as I can. As a kid one of the things that I really remember were the general ‘look’ of all the houses, so I can’t wait to be around the place again.

RMM: Who is your ultimate musical hero and why?

MM: It would probably be Ian Mackaye from Fugazi. Being a huge Modest Mouse fan, all I kept hearing from them was how amazing Fugazi were so I got into them that way. Getting into Fugazi just focused my whole outlook on music, and gave me ideas about how things should and could be done, in a really positive way. Everything Ian Mackaye does is all about positivity I think, and it’s really inspiring. I watch the Instrument Film on a near nightly basis.

RMM: Touring  on a tight budget is tough, what advice can you give budding musicians out  there to stay sane whilst on tour?

MM: GO OUTSIDE ! just leave the venue as often and for as long as you can. I get really low, if my touring experience is just the inside of venues and service stations, plus i feel like a dick, not taking advantage of the fact i’m in a new place. If you’re lucky enough to travel the world, make sure you at least go out and see it.

RMM: Best and or worst gig experience  you have ever had as a performer

MM: My favourite show was one I played in Paris in early February. I’d never played in Europe before, so i was already just buzzed to be out there. The sound on stage was really weird and quiet, you felt like you were really exposed. The audience were amazing, silent during the set, really polite and attentive. Them being quiet just added to the really heavy vibe on stage. It was intense. I loved it.

The worst show was in a bar in London. Apparently, the place had just been bought by new owners and turned into this ‘trendy london spot’ when it used to be this old irish pub. So these really old guys filled the whole bar in front of the stage. They were the kind of old school regulars that turned up with their own booze in carrier bags, and were just pissed off by these ‘young people’ crowding their spot. It was hard. Locals only…

RMM: Are there any local bands you think  people should hear about?

 I wouldn’t say they were local, but I think everyone should get into this band Sharpie Crows. They’re really intense, and I love everything about what they do. They’re from New Zealand I think. But a great English band are The Computers, their live shows are out of this world. The first time I saw them, 30 seconds into the first song the singer ‘Al’ started bleeding everywhere and had broken the mic stand. You just knew it was going to be good.

RMM: What is the best video clip you have ever seen

MM: I’m going to link everyone to the fugazi film ‘instrument’ that i mentioned before. I’m not sure it should be up on youtube so ssshhhhh….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jTjALyY8NM&list=FLlB7mjE6AxK4ShMndkt8TnA&index=1&feature=plpp_video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jTjALyY8NM&list=FLlB7mjE6AxK4ShMndkt8TnA&index=1&feature=plpp_video> 

Those crazy boys from Reykjavik! took some goddamn time to answer some goddamn questions for us… and goddamn they are good!

RMM: Name of your band, where you are from
R: Reykjavík!, from Ísafjörður and Reyðarfjörður.

RMM: what is the best thing about playing gigs in Reykjavik?

R: All the great people there!

RMM: Who is your ultimate musical hero and why?

Loji Höskuldsson of Sudden Weather Change. Him and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Because both men are motivated, inspired, creative and sexy.

RMM: What’s the most annoying interview question you’ve ever been asked? Perhaps it has been asked already?

“How has the economic collapse affected you as musicians?” is a really fucking annoying question. God damnit.

RMM: Touring on a tight budget is tough, what advice can you give budding musicians out there to stay sane whilst on tour?

R: Drink lots and lots. Don’t be afraid to assert yourself to your fellow musicians. Drink some more. If you skip dinner, there will be room for more drinks. Try to make a really big deal out of every little thing; otherwise life on the road will get boring. Bring an exchange of socks, a deck of cards and some hot sauce. Also something nice to read.

RMM: Best and or worst gig experience you have ever had as a performer

R: One of our best experiences was surely playing at the Nýhil International Poetry festival at Klink og Bank. All fucking hell broke loose. It was a fucking pandemonium. At a goddamn poetry festival. Boy, was it beautiful.

We have never had a bad experience playing live music.

RMM: Are there any local bands you think people should hear about?

R: Yes, definitely. A lot of them are playing RMM, even. Our local scene here is goddamn awesome and we are not hesitant to represent.

RMM: Best piece of advise you have ever received?

It was probably something Ben Frost said.

RMM: What is the best video clip you have ever seen

http://youtu.be/wb6NJaDbVOw