Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.12.2010, Page 2

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The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 18 — 2010
Editorial | Haukur S. Magnússon
The Reykjavík GRapevine
Hafnarstræti 15, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
grapevine@grapevine.is
Published by Fröken ehf.
www.froken.is
Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association
www.saf.is
Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 25.000 copies.
Editor:
Haukur S Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Journalist:
Anna Andersen / anna@grapevine.is
Editorial:
+354 540 3600 / editor@grapevine.is
advErtising:
+354 540 3605 / ads@grapevine.is
PublishEr:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson / hilmar@grapevine.is
+354 540 3601 / publisher@grapevine.is
Contributing WritErs:
Valur Gunnarsson
Bob Cluness
Íris Erlingsdóttir
Sindri Eldon
Catharine Fulton
Snorri Páll Jónsson Úlfhildarson
Egill Helgason
Bergrún Anna Hallsteinsdótti
B.R. Neal
Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl
Dr. Gunni
Paola Cardenas
Paul F. Nikolov
Wiebke Wolter
Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir
Katarzyna Growiec
Editorial intErns:
Eimear Fitzgerald / eimear@grapevine.is
Alda Kravec / alda@grapevine.is
on-linE nEWs Editor
Paul Nikolov / paul@grapevine.is
art dirECtor:
Hörður Kristbjörnsson / hoddi@grapevine.is
dEsign:
Páll Hilmarsson / pallih@kaninka.net
Geir Helgi Birgisson / geirhelgi.com
PhotograPhEr:
Hörður Sveinsson / hordursveinsson.com
salEs dirECtor:
Aðalsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is
Guðmundur Rúnar Svansson / grs@grapevine.is
distribution:
distribution@grapevine.is
ProofrEadEr:
Jim Rice
PrEss rElEasEs:
listings@grapevine.is
submissions inquiriEs:
editor@grapevine.is
subsCriPtion inquiriEs:
+354 540 3605 / subscribe@grapevine.is
gEnEral inquiriEs:
grapevine@grapevine.is
foundErs:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson,
Hörður Kristbjörnsson,
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson,
Oddur Óskar Kjartansson,
Valur Gunnarsson
The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times
a year by Fröken ltd. Monthly from November
through April, and fortnightly from May til Octo-
ber. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced
in whole or in part without the written permission
of the publishers. The Reykjavík Grapevine is dis-
tributed around Reykjavík, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir,
Seyðisfjörður, Borgarnes, Kef lavík, Ísafjörður and
at key locations along road #1, and all major tourist
attractions and tourist information centres in the
country.
You may not like it, but at least it's not sponsored.
(No articles in the Reykjavík Grapevine are pay-for
articles. The opinions expressed are the writers’
own, not the advertisers’).
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO LIFE, TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT IN ICELAND
www.grapevine.is
POLITICS
Constitutional
Assembly: FAIL?
An encyclopaedia
MUSIC
Three Icelandic
Dylans
FOOD
The veggies are
too damn expensive
TRAVEL
Hike Eyjafjallajökull
CHRISTMAS
IN THE ISSUE Issue 18 • 2010 • December 3 - January 6 • 2011 COMPLETE CITY LISTINGS - INSIDE!
gain, Christmas is upon us. And while a lot of things are still pretty wrong in the world, we feel the only sensible
thing to do is indulge in some good old-fashioned Holiday indulgence. And who better to indulge with than some of Ice-
land's most lovable musicians. Happy Holidaze!
O, Three Kings
Bearing gifts, they wait at a bar.
+
Photography: Baldur Kristjáns
(www.baldurkristjans.is).
Stylists: Ellen Loftsdóttir and
Hulda Halldóra Tryggvadóttir
Make-up: Steinunn Þórðar
from MAC cosmetics
Special thanks:
Herrafataverslun Kormáks &
Skjaldar, Einar at Bílamálun ehf
& Hjörtur Hjartarson
Comic | Hugleikur Dagsson
What a Christmas party, eh? The legendary Me-
gas hanging out and smoking cigarettes with the
likely soon-to-be legendary Bragi Valdimar Skúla-
son and Logi Pedro Stefánsson. We bet you’d love
to be there, exchanging one-liners and Xmas cheer
with these merry men. In fact, we were there. And
it was awesome.
But why are they gracing our front pages these
days? We’ll tell you why. Because we love them—
and we think you should love them too! That’s why.
Besides, who better to instil Christmas cheer
and good will to all men than these three? Through
their inspiring music, words and attitudes, they
have all consistently made Iceland a better place
to inhabit. If only the rest of us had some of what
they’re made of, a lot of unfortunate events might
have been avoided.
Now, the mighty Megas needs no introduc-
tion (but if you’re not familiar, we suggest you
read Valur Gunnarsson’s piece on page thirteen.
Then you can go and purchase any of his albums
for your listening pleasures – the new one is quite
good). However, Logi and Bragi might be a tad
more obscure to some of you. But don’t fret. Read
on!
Bragi Valdimar Skúlason is probably best
known in Iceland for his contributions to beloved
web-zine Baggalútur.is (sort of an Icelandic ver-
sion of The Onion), who manage to be very funny
while presenting some sharp social critique. Bragi
has furthermore made a name for himself as an
excellent songwriter and lyricist through several
musical ventures (including Baggalútur – the
band), every one of which seems to resonate dearly
with the Icelandic nation.
His latest musical project was the intriguing
‘Diskóeyjan’ (“The Disco Island”) is an insanely
ambitious concept album about a ‘Professor of
Disco’ (voiced by Óttarr Proppé) who helps square
kids turn hip to the beat. While the release notes
claim it is a children’s album, most adults we know
seem to love it even more than their kids. It is most
awesome, as you may read in our review of the
thing.
Then there’s young Logi Pedró. We’ve been
keeping an eye on him ever since he first stepped
into the limelight with his band Retro Stefson.
Now, any Grapevine reader will know that we are
fans of their patented brand of adventurous, inde-
finable and fun music. Having just released their
sophomore LP, ‘Kimbabwe’, they seem on top of
their game. Yet, with all their success it’s easy to
forget how out of step this group of youngsters was
when they first started performing around Reykja-
vík in 2005. Other local bands played pop, rock or
electro – these guys sang in Latin while jamming
bossanova beats.
Bassist Logi was 13-years old when he played
his first jittery live shows alongside his brother
Unnsteinn Manúel and the other Stefsons. Five
years later, he’s all grown up, the young man’s spir-
it, vigour and dedication to music deeming him a
worthy role model for all you deadbeat teenagers
out there.
Megas, Bragi and Logi are all exemplary Ice-
landers, each in their own way. What they have in
common, besides their love and dedication to mu-
sic, is that they each do their respective thing in a
thoughtful, meticulous and modest manner that
ensures their work speaks for itself.
And they are great fun at Christmas parties.
And now you know why we feel safe to refer to Bra-
gi, Logi and Megas as ‘Three Kings’ on our cover.
What else is there to say this month? In my
mind, I had readied this big rant about how I
don’t trust the Icelandic media. How countless
examples (as well as some direct experiences of
mine) have left me convinced that our whole me-
dia environment actively discourages the seeking
of and/or representation of any sort of truth, and
that, sadly, this destructive behaviour has more
to do with a mixture of carelessness and laziness
than any malevolent inf luence of the media’s own-
ers or some unknown evil forces (at least having
evil forces to fight would be EXCITING. Fighting
apathy is much less involving. Oh yeah, at least one
newspaper I know of actively and willingly distorts
facts for political purposes).
But then I thought: Hell, the outlook is bleak
enough without me adding more bile to the pile of
awful we’re currently sitting on. Maybe after the
Holidays I’ll spew some poison out there. For now,
I’ll be content with wishing y’all readers a merry
Christmas and a happy New Year.
A Long-Ass Note On Our Xmas Covers +
Some Bile
Haukur’s 34th editorial
Good news everyone! This issue’s FREE TRACK is by the one
and only Agent Fresco. It’s safe to say that a lot of people
have been waiting a long time for their début long-player,
which was finally released last month. They’re calling it ‘A
Long Time Listening’, and every review of the thing we’ve
read (including our own) has been overwhelmingly positive.
It’s no wonder. The album rocks like we all hoped it would.
Local crowds have been singing along to some of the songs
on this album for two years now – download this sample of
the hour-long affair and join in!
www.myspace.com/agentfresco
Agent Fresco: A Long Time Listening
TRACK OF THE ISSUE
Download the FREE track at www.grapevine.is
TRACK OF
THE ISSUE
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free track at
grapevine.is
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