30 november 2010

Snapshots

And another camera I can remove from my wishlist: a Yashica T5.


I've found my luck again on Marktplaats.nl (Dutch 'Ebay') where a photographer was selling it.
The first film I used was el-cheapo HEMA-film (ASA 400) and I'm not really stoked about the quality. Tomorrow my second film will be developed, hopefully with better results (Kodak ColorPlus 200, not so groundbreakingly either though). And no, that's not my leg with the tattoo ;)










24 november 2010

What will you wear tonight?

Wicked track, wicked video. I felt like a hipster when I was watching this back in the days.

Ólafur Arnalds @ Bitterzoet (Amsterdam 23-11-2010)

*sigh* wat een beautiful concert from Icelandic wonderboy Ólafur Arnalds! Such an incredible experience in this small venue of the Bitterzoet. The entire audience was silent (and that's really something here in the Netherlands!)

Ólafur Arnalds (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 23-11-2010)
Ólafur Arnalds (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 23-11-2010)
Ólafur Arnalds (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 23-11-2010)
Ólafur Arnalds (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 23-11-2010)
Ólafur Arnalds (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 23-11-2010)
Ólafur Arnalds (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 23-11-2010)

23 november 2010

Seabear & Telekinesis @ Bitterzoet

Seabear (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 21-11-2010)
Great show of both bands! 2 artists from the Morr Music label: Telekinesis and Seabear.
I came especially to see Seabear; the last time I saw them was during Iceland Airwaves. I only managed to see the last two songs at that time, so I really had to make up for it. I arrived pretty early (infact I was even the first) and it was such a contrast to see nobody outside compared to the last time where I had to wait in line for over 30 minutes!

Telekinesis was the first act and it was awesome! Haven't heard of him before (project of Michael Benjamin Lerner and for the tour he performs with a band), but I was listening to his self titled album the same day and I really liked it. The show was even better: very intense, raw and the drum skills of mr. Lerner blew me away!
Telekinesis (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 21-11-2010)
Michael Benjamin Lerner

Telekinesis (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 21-11-2010)

Seabear was incredible as well. Finally I was able to watch their entire performance. It sure is a different experience compared to what I saw in Iceland; this time the venue is so much smaller (the rather obscure Bitterzoet vs. the majestic Iðnó) and unfortunately no other Icelandic artists who would join Seabear for the final song on stage ;) Frontman Sindri Már Sigfússon has such an amazing warm voice and I sure felt a bit nostalgic to hear the bandmembers talking Icelandic on stage.
Seabear (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 21-11-2010)
Seabear (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 21-11-2010)
Seabear (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 21-11-2010)
Seabear (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 21-11-2010)
Seabear (Bitterzoet, Amsterdam 21-11-2010)

Halloween
















14 november 2010

A month ago...

And how everything has changed after seven days...
Seven days in the land of fire and ice: Iceland!

My Airwaves 'bible'

So this was Iceland Airwaves festival. After having indulged in a week full of music in a wonderful place, concerts back in my home country aren't the same anymore. Infact: everything isn't the same anymore. Seven days of Iceland was the most breathtaking, surreal, magical, intense experience ever!

It's been a month ago and I'm still having the post-holiday blues. I'm cranky... I miss the relaxed atmosphere, the beautiful scenery, the soft mattress of my hotel bed, the endless hours of sitting in the basement of 12 Tónar listening to obscure records, having breakfast while still feeling tipsy from the night before, eating self-made waffles on a Sunday in Kaffibarinn, running to a venue not to miss the artists I'm eager to see. But most of all: I miss the friendly, relaxed, crazy, talented, creative and inspirational people!

Finally a dream coming true. Due to a couple of events back home I decided it's time to go for it. I didn't know that this trip gave me so much more than I could ever asked for. Takk Ísland!


Here are some of my shots (more of them here). I've simply snapped way too many photos, but it was definitely worth it. Hopefully it gives you a better view of this incredible music festival:

I'll start with the Faktorý, one of the venues of the festival and my favorite one. Very dark, obscure but intimate.
Faktorý

Havarí; culture center, record store, art gallery in one. Home of Kimi Records
Havarí
Havarí

Almost everything is worth snapping. The street art is very inspiring for such a 'small' city
Street art in Reykjavík

Skúli Mennski off-venue gig in bookstore Mál og Menning
Skúli Mennski @ Airwaves 2010

Stereo Hypnosis: great father/son collaboration with incredible ambient electronica
Stereo Hypnosis @ Airwaves 2010

Streetview
Street in Reykjavík
Reykjavík

12 Tónar; the best record store in the world :)
12 Tónar
12 Tónar

And the place where we consumed most of our beers: Kaffibarinn
Kaffibarinn

Y0da Remote @ Kaffibarinn
Y0da Remote @ Airwaves 2010

Love them... Their music just simply stops momentum: Amiina. This year they released their second LP: Puzzle, which is pure class (and I can't stop listening to it). I wanted to see them for a very long time and now the opportunity was mine! It was amazing; I absolutely loved their show. For their song Mambó, the band members of Efterklang joined them on stage; *sigh* such a magical moment:

Amiina @ Airwaves 2010

It wasn't always a good time unfortunately. I was dying to see Seabear for example, but I was not the only one... For their show I had to stand outside in line for 40 minutes and as a result I only saw the last two songs. Fortunately these songs were outstanding and other artists were showing up on stage, which completed the incredible atmosphere in the beautiful Iðnó venue (hands down the most beautiful venue I've ever been to). Thankfully I'll see Seabear in a couple of weeks in Amsterdam :)
Seabear @ Airwaves 2010

During Airwaves, every nook and cranny is filled with music. Even the hair salon! So what better entertainment than live music during your haircut! Prinspóló were doing the honours ;)
Best entertainment during a haircut

Waiting to get their hair done or audience for Prinspóló? Perhaps both :P
Crowd in Sjoppan
Prinspóló @ Airwaves 2010
Prinspóló @ Airwaves 2010

Hval*Mart in Kaffibarinn
Hval*Mart

And another off-venue gig and this time in cinema Bío Paradís. After having watched the great lo-fi documentary Backyard, two bands who were also in the film performed in the lobby. Reykjavík! was the first one. Funny fact: their latest music video was shot in Kaffibarinn and I've witnessed the making of a part of it: the first day when I arrived in Iceland I had a meeting with two guys (who I've met in the plane) at the Kaffibarinn and when I entered the bar they were shooting the segment from the beginning where you can see the guys running. The two guys were also asked to be part of it. The entire video is shot in the Kaffibarinn:

Reykjavík! @ Airwaves 2010

After Reykjavk it was time for FM Belfast. Damn what a show and energy they have!
FM Belfast @ Airwaves 2010

And from the cinema off to another venue. We were heading to the Nasa where Berndsen kicked us back to the 80's with his funky new wave:
Berndsen @ Airwaves 2010

After all that partying it was time to relax. On a Saturday morning I headed to the Blue Lagoon; a geothermal spa. The best cure against a hang-over is... get drunk again and having another party!
Blue Lagoon anti-hangover party @ Airwaves 2010

Feeling a bit more relaxed (although swimming always makes me sleepy), I was ready for another evening with music. Eerie beautiful music to be more precisely; from the young and talented Ólafur Arnalds. Dreamy soundscapes combined with deep electronic samples
Ólafur Arnalds @ Airwaves 2010

Sudden Weather Change
Sudden Weather Change @ Airwaves 2010

Another band I was looking forward to: Ghostigital. It was insane and I even ended up on stage during the last song, dancing together with crazy Icelandic people. Definitely a moment I won't forget (there is a youtube video of this, but I saw myself dancing in it so I'd better not post it here ;) )
Ghostigital @ Airwaves 2010

Sykur
Sykur @ Airwaves 2010

The beautiful city of Reykjavík, taken from the top of the Hallgrímskirkja
Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja

The day after the festival... Time for exploring the city and find interesting little gems like this coffeehouse: Kaffismiðja
kaffismiðja
Coffee moment

Funny street art
Painter

0_0
Big Brother's watching you

This is the famous 'Backyard' from the movie I saw before. Unbelievable that such a small place held home to an incredible event last year:

Backyard

The movie reflected everything I experienced during this festival: great music, great artists, great atmosphere, great city, great people.

Ofcourse a week was way too short, so I'll return. No question about it