Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.04.2008, Page 2

02 | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 04 2008 | Year 6 | April 04 – May 08
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Vesturgata 5, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
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Published by Fröken ehf.
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The Reykjavík Grapevine Staff
Publisher:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson
publisher@grapevine.is
Editor:
Sveinn Birkir Björnsson / birkir@grapevine.is
Assistant Editor:
Steinunn Jakobsdóttir / steinunn@grapevine.is
Staff Writer:
Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir / vala@grapevine.is
Contributing Writer:
Haukur Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Ian Watson / www.ianwatson.org
Art Director:
Gunnar Þorvaldsson / gunni@grapevine.is
Photographer:
Gunnlaugur Arnar Sigurðsson
gulli@grapevine.is
Marketing Director:
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson / jontrausti@grapevine.is
Sales Director:
Aðalsteinn Jörundsson
adalsteinn@grapevine.is
Support Manager:
Oddur Óskar Kjartansson / oddur@grapevine.is
Distribution:
Þórir Gunnar Jónsson / thorir@grapevine.is
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Jane Victoria Appleton
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The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times
a year by Fröken ltd. Monthly from November
through April, and fortnightly from May til
October. Nothing in this magazine may be
reproduced in whole or in part without the
written permission of the publishers. Although
the magazine has endeavoured to ensure that
all information inside the magazine is correct,
prices and details may be subject to change. The
Reykjavík Grapevine can be found in Reykjavík,
Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Selfoss, Keflavík, Ísafjörður,
Kárahnjúkar and at key locations around road
#1 and at all major tourist attractions and tourist
information centres.
You may not like it, but at least it's not spon-
sored. (No articles in the Reykjavík Grapevine
are pay-for articles. The opinions expressed are
the writers’ own, not the advertisers’).
Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 30.000 copies.
Cover photo by:
GAS
On cover:
Sign
A friend suggested that I try and write something
a little more optimistic on this page. I’ll try, but
these are desperate times. But, summer is just
around the corner. This month, we celebrate the
first day of summer, according to the old Icelandic
calendar. Of course, summer is still months away,
but early celebrations are very much apart of the
Icelandic routine. In May, we will start to publish
the Grapevine twice a month. For me that official-
ly marks the arrival of summer.
Optimism sure is limiting.
I am actually looking forward to summer.
We will enjoy both the Olympics and the UEFA
Championship. Two big sporting events that make
it almost impossible to schedule the summer vaca-
tion. It’s a luxury problem really.
Summer also makes it possible to start using
the bicycle more. This winter has been terrible to
cyclist, cold and unusually snowy. The rising gaso-
line price gives us an added economic incentive
to use the bike instead of the car. That’s something
I guess. In my optimistic rage, I choose to view ris-
ing gasoline prices as an incentive to use the bike,
rather than a blow to my personal economy. I am
learning fast.
This issue we bring you the conclusive
truth about Aldrei fór ég suður music festival in
Ísafjörður: it rocked! We talk with Eldar Ástþórs-
son, the most influential player in the Icelandic
music industry. I seriously doubt that guy ever has
to pay for a drink at the bar anymore. Filmmak-
ers Tjörvi Guðmundsson and Olaf de Fleur make
films. We talked to them. Author Einar Kárason
writes books. We wrote about him. And others.
In closing, I’d like to remind everyone of the
Support Hannes collection.
From the Editor’s Chair
Opinion
The Reykjavik Baby Mafia 08
An opinion by Marie-Alexandra Hertell
Postcard from America 08
An opinion by Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir
Articles
Wanted: Musicians to Support 06
Interview with Kraum manager Eldar Ásþórsson
Reviews 22
Concert Reviews 23
The Faroe Islands / Agent Fresco with Dr. Spock / Misery Index
The Icelandic Music Awards 25
Calling Vatnajökull 25
Don Mexico-Harald 26
New Icelandic movie
Músíktilraunir 2008 27
Grapevine reviews Iceland’s Battle of the Bands
Features
The Hugest Small Rock Fest in the World 14
The Grapevine goes to Aldrei fór ég suður
Scenes from Suburbia 10
Outside Reykjavík
Scenes from the Road 24
Cruising with author Einar Kárason
28 Across the Country in 40 Days
Adventures of the Lonesome Traveller, Leg VIII
info.
Listings B2
Food Reviews B10
The Grapevine Summer Special B12
The Underground Kids of Ukraine B14