Reykjavík Grapevine - 17.10.2008, Qupperneq 15

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Ingólfstorg
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Hafnarstræti
Nasa
Nobody bothered to inform the riled up crowd that Mau were re-
scheduled to take the stage when Ultra Mega Technobandið Stefán
finished their set. Actually nobody bothered to tell anyone, so the
only ones witnessing their set were 3 scantily clad girls, the guy
sweeping the f loor and the surly looking doorman. A sorry affair
because Mau’s set was excellent. It’s a shame nobody witnessed it,
since Mau made Nasa seem like the Hacienda in the nineties – sans
the people. Páll Hilmarsson
Organ
Having Skátar and Reykjavík! as last acts, Organ secured an action-
packed finale. Skátar, who have earned a reputation as an outstand-
ing live act, impressed at first by their stage dress. The selection of
colourful spandex pants and various face masks was later completed
by a hilarious winter coat for singer Markús. Their musical appear-
ance was as entertaining as their clothing. The show was intense for
band and audience alike and showed why Skatar is one of Iceland’s
finest when it comes to partying. Hey. Hey. The last band of the
evening were the hyperactive Reykjavík! Playing at an average of
two times a day did not get them tired at all, which is why this show
had everything a good rock show needs: a sweaty crowd, stage-divers
en masse and high spirits in the whole venue. Guitarist Haukur ex-
plained what it is all about: “Singing together in a place of drunken-
ness.” Mission accomplished. Florian ZüHlKe
Tunglið
Everyone is a little bit confused. The schedule has been thrown out
the window. Can Gus Gus clear up the confusion? The ‘instrumen-
tal’ set from Gus Gus includes no instruments at all. It’s just a DJ
Set. Nobody’s feeling it and one starts to wonder why we’re really
here. Gus Gus are not at fault though, the main blame lies with the
organisers. Soon after, Simian Mobile Disco become the saviours.
They plant kisses on lips with their spangly electro. 90% of the
crowd are making out and everyones hips are made of elastic when
dancing to their disco treats. marcus walsH
Drum and bass isn´t usually one playing drums and another guy
playing bass, but that ś exactly what DLX ATX provided. They took
a novel idea and explored it to its limits. The vocals were often not
more than harmonic wailing, but it suited their low-key, minimalis-
tic vibe. Despite their Slayer shirts and straight edge tattoos, Gavin
Portland provided anything but a short sharp shock. What they did
play was much more impressive: taking the free-thinking punk of
Refused and crossing it with the slow-burning heaviness of Neuro-
sis, they showed they knew how to work the stage as well as the room.
Their anarchist politics might be a symptom of their youthful angst
and idealism, but that same fire is what prompted them to produce
an electrifying, uncompromising set. Hopefully their next album,
produced by Converge ś Kurt Ballou, will give them more exposure.
Although, to be fair, they ŕe already turning heads on the under-
ground circuit abroad. Atomstation cancelled after their drummer
was put in the hospital earlier that day, but due to the cancellation it
was a long wait until Dikta took the stage, but their full-bodied indie
rock was worth the wait. Every song carried a sense of purpose and
created a strong atmosphere that held the crowd captive throughout
their set, as they recalled all of Elbow, Coldplay and Muse in places.
They couldn´t match Gavin Portland for intensity, but that was hard-
ly the point: their craft is unassuming and unpretentious and all the
better for it, during their masterfully controlled set. Agent Fresco
took any preconceived notions of what a band inf luenced by Dillinger
Escape Plan and opera could provide and blew them away. They blew
everyone in the place away, too. They came across sounding like what
might happen if Mike Patton and System Of A Down took turns pos-
sessing The Smiths, as they took control of the night and made it
their own. It ś rare that a band who´ve been around for such a short
time garner such praise and devotion from their crowd, but in the
case of Agent Fresco it ś totally justified. For a band who fill their
songs with tangential, interesting ideas they know the importance
of writing strong choruses, which mean people get drawn in to their
world. It ś a bumpy ride to a disorientating destination, but we were
all happy to join them. With their mix of aggression, style and sheer
musical ability, there ś no reason they can´t appeal to rock audiences
further afield. The 80 per cent female punk of Vicky prompted an-
other surprise, with them playing the kind of brooding, moody rock
at odds with their mohawks and glitter aesthetic. Their set, like the
band, was funny, sexy, edgy and proved that they have personality to
spare. Due to their line-up, comparisons to the likes of The Donnas
are perhaps inevitable but scratch the surface and Vicky reveal them-
selves to have a style and delivery all of their own. Just be careful
they don´t steal your hotel rooms, though, as an on-stage confession
revealed that apparently they have a tendency to do that.
alistair lawrence
Late Night
Hressó
Siggi
Höskarinn