Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.06.2003, Síða 20

- the reykjavik grapevine -20 may 15 - may 29, 2003 - the reykjavik grapevine - 21may 15 - may 29, 2003
…Get smashed!
The inhabitants, of what used to be
a very isolated island until 50 years
ago, always drank in order to get
drunk. This is what the Norse gods
did, this is what our forefathers did,
this is what our grandparents did
when they were young and this is
how we still like to do it.
Surveys are proof that of all the
Nordic nations, Icelanders have
the top score in getting extremely
drunk, driving while intoxicated,
doing something weird while drunk,
having sex with a stranger, spend-
ing too much money while drinking
and getting the worst hangovers the
next day.
You might ask yourself…why? What
explains this primitive and raw be-
havior during the weekends? Why
only in Iceland and not everywhere?
Why does everyone become so wild?
Quite possibly the reasons are many
and come from different angles, but
let´s pick a few...
Relax -don´t do it…
1. Working hard is considered to
be the greatest of all good deeds
in our culture. Therefore it seems
crazy to drink in the middle of the
week because you have to work
the day after, (remember, we drink
to get DRUNK) for who wants to go
to work with a hangover? (We are
Japanese in the mid-week and get
Zulu on Saturdays)
2. No adult Icelander has grown up
with a vine and dine culture. There
has never been a point in drinking
one glass of wine because we didn´t
drink it for the taste until very recent-
ly (most of us know the difference
between red and white, but that’s
about it). Back in the early 90’s we
all rather preferred a coke with our
steak and still today in 2003, there
are a lot of people who don´t see the
point in drinking alcohol if you don´t
intend to get drunk on it.
3. Beer was illegal from early 20th
century until 1988. Because there
was no beer, there were no pubs
or cafés until the anti beer law was
changed fifteen years ago.
4. There is hardly any point in go-
ing out to a bar since drinking in the
middle of the week was, and still is a
taboo in our culture. Getting drunk in
the middle of the week is for artists,
actors, free-lance workers and the
occational accidental tourists.
5. If you get drunk in the middle of
the week. People are going to think
you are an alcoholic.
…when you wanna go to it
All this holding back, five days of the
week, results in a lot of stored drink-
ing energy. This energy explodes
every weekend, all over the country
in all kinds of people age 15-35. So
every cell, in every other hard work-
ing young Icelandic brain, finds the
ultimate release on Friday and Satur-
day night when the laws of our small
universe will turn around and all the
rules change. We screw the top off
the bottle and spill that Vodka down
our thirsty throats, our vocabulary
increases, we become sex ma-
chines, and we can shake our asses
in a night eternally young like there
will never be a tomorrow and at the
same time -shock and amaze tour-
ists from all over the world.
And our advise to you is -Don’t fight
it –Feel it.
...when you wanna come!
GET SMASHED! LISTINGS
N I G H T L I F E
There is a theory that says that the landscape and the nature
of a country shape the inner landscape and nature of its in-
habitants. This theory proves itself to be quite true here in Ice-
land, for as you might have noticed, Icelandic nature can be
raw and primitive as well as friendly, and so can the people. If
you need proof for this raw and primitive inner nature, just get
your booty into postal area 101 at around 4 AM on a Saturday
night. There before your culture shocked eyes you will behold
the shiny well dressed children of the “hippest” and “coolest”
nation in the north…
The Many Faces of Reykjavík. Photo Friðrik Örn
Grandrokk,
Fræbbblarnir
Friday, June 20th.
Fræbbblarnir were formed in Iceland
1978 and released a number of
records until they officially split in
early 1983. A punk / pop band in the
happy-go-lucky “sector” of the punk
movement playing short, melodic
songs fast and raw. They were inspired
by bands like The Clash, The Kinks and
The Sex Pistols among others. Since
1983 Fræbbblarnir have played under
various names with different lineups,
but in 1996 the band issued an album
under their original name. They don’t
hit the stage that often so don’t miss
the grandfathers of Icelandic punk as
they perform some of their classics,
songs with beautiful, romantic lyrics
like “tonight, tonight, I’m gonna fuck
you tonight,” roughly translated.
Grandrokk, Singapore
Sling,
Saturday, June 21st.
Formed in the last year of the millen-
nium, Singapore Sling is a reminder
of what rock n’ roll is and should be,
attitude and overdrive mixed with good
old Jack Daniels, no complications,
just the raw basics; drums, guitars,
bass and vocals.
The band just came back from the
States where they played at the “South
by Southwest” music festival in Austin,
Texas. Their new album, “The Curse
of Singapore Sling” (a lot of bad luck
during recording explains the name) is
to be released in the States by Stinky
Records on the 17th of June, Iceland’s
National Day. This means more touring
and the band will go back to the States
by the end of this month. Singapore
Sling has got good reviews and their
cover of “Dirty Water” by The Standells
is said to be something one should
hear them perform.
Expect a good show from this dirty
Icelandic Rock ‘n Roll band.
Leikhúskjallarinn,
Saturday, June 21st
DJ’s Gullfoss and Geysir name themselves
after Iceland’s most popular tourist sights.
Travellers on a journey through Reykjavik´s
nightlife often find themselves dancing
wherever the DJ twins are playing, since
these two are probably the city’s most
popular disc jockeys. They have a way of
playing with the crowd like no others and
you’ll seldom find them playing anything
you don’t want to hear. Whatever they
decide to play, and they’ll play whatever,
it quite simply seems to fit the mood of
the moment.
Admission 500 kr,-
Reykjavik Museum of Photography, The Five
Elements. Photographs and etchings from french-
vietnamese artist Claire Xuan.
Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum, The works of
Iceland´s first modern sculptor, whose works are
partly based on Icelandic folklore.
Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum, The works
of popular sculptor Ásmundar Sveinsson, who
believed sculpture should be part of the urban
environment.
Sunday, June 22
Reðursafnið, Phallological Museum, A fine
penis and penis related selection from various
mammals. First human specimen still awaited.
Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Anniversary exhibition
from the museum collection.
Austurvöllur out door exhibition, Earth from
Above. Aerial Photographs by Yann Arthus-
Bertrand.
National and University Library, Exhibition of
Lárus Sigurbjörnsson, the founder of the city´s
documentation.
Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Images of Iceland
- milestones in cartography
Árbæjarsafn, Folk Museum, Kite day. Bring your
own kite. Prizes for the best one.
Nýlistasafnið, The Living Art Museum, Matthew
Barney´s Cremaster project. Photographic works,
sculptures and films.
Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Photographs of the
bridges of Highway 1, which encircles the whole
island.
Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, Some of the works
of painter Jóhannes Kjarval.
Norræna húsið, Nordic House, The Big Nordic
Elephant Show. Children dressed up as elephants
especially welcome.
Reykjavik Museum of Photography, The Five
Elements. Photographs and etchings from french-
vietnamese artist Claire Xuan.
Skemmtihúsið Theatre, -18:00- The Saga of
Gudridur. A play about a Viking woman in America
performed in English.
Skemmtihúsið Theatre, -20:00- The Saga of
Gudridur. A play about a Viking woman in America
performed in English.
Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum, The works of
Iceland´s first modern sculptor, whose works are
partly based on Icelandic folklore.
Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum, The works
of popular sculptor Ásmundar Sveinsson, who
believed sculpture should be part of the urban
environment.
Monday, June 23
Reðursafnið, Phallological Museum, A fine
penis and penis related selection from various
mammals. First human specimen still awaited.
Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Anniversary exhibition
from the museum collection.
Austurvöllur out door exhibition, Earth from
Above. Aerial Photographs by Yann Arthus-
Bertrand.
National and University Library, Exhibition of
Lárus Sigurbjörnsson, the founder of the city´s
documentation.
Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Images of Iceland
- milestones in cartography
Nýlistasafnið, The Living Art Museum, Matthew
Barney´s Cremaster project. Photographic works,
sculptures and films.
Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Photographs of the
bridges of Highway 1, which encircles the whole
island.
Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, Some of the works
of painter Jóhannes Kjarval.
Norræna húsið, Nordic House, The Big Nordic
Elephant Show. Children dressed up as elephants
especially welcome.
Reykjavik Museum of Photography, The Five
Elements. Photographs and etchings from french-
vietnamese artist Claire Xuan.
Einar Jónsson Sculpture Museum, The works of
Iceland´s first modern sculptor, whose works are
partly based on Icelandic folklore.
Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum, The works
of popular sculptor Ásmundar Sveinsson, who
believed sculpture should be part of the urban
environment.
Tuesday, June 24
Reðursafnið, Phallological Museum, A fine
penis and penis related selection from various
mammals. First human specimen still awaited.
Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Anniversary exhibition
from the museum collection.
Sigurjón Ólafsson Sculpture Museum, -20:00-
Concert by two guitarists.
Austurvöllur out door exhibition, Earth from
Above. Aerial Photographs by Yann Arthus-
Bertrand.
National and University Library, Exhibition of
Lárus Sigurbjörnsson, the founder of the city´s
documentation.
Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Images of Iceland
- milestones in cartography
Nýlistasafnið, The Living Art Museum, Matthew
Barney´s Cremaster project. Photographic works,
sculptures and films.
Árbæjarsafn, Folk Museum, Námskeið í tálgun I
Gerðuberg, Cultural Center, Photographs of the
bridges of Highway 1, which encircles the whole
island.