Tag Archives: allston

Taste of Iceland Boston 2015

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tasteoficeland

The annual Taste of Iceland event is here March 12th through the 16th.  This year there is a great dinner menu at Tavern Road , a community discussion between specialists in Reykjavik and Boston on future Innovations in energy and transportation, the Reykjavik calling concert, and an Icelandic film festival at Kendall Square Cinemas.  You can make reservations, and learn about the entire event here.

Now let’s focus on the music. Reykjavik calling, an annual concert is once again at the Middle East Club in Cambridge March 14th, doors open at 8.

RC

Iceland Naturally traditionally grabs a couple bands from Iceland, and a couple bands from the local scene, then tosses them together to collaborate and put on a show.  These tend to be unique shows as the musicians really make it feel like a party.  It’s a chance to discover new artists or new things about the artists you already like.   Best of all, it’s free.

It’s recommended that you RSVP for the event via Eventbrite, but getting in is first come first serve.  This event gets crowded, so from past experience I suggest you show up early as the lines build quickly and I’ve seen them wrap around the Middle East more often than not.

This year two Icelandic bands, Kaleo and BeeBee and the BlueBirds, will play along with two Boston outfits, Love in Stockholm and George Knight with Pablo Palooza.

Kaleo began in 2012, and saw their S/T album hit number 1 in 2013.  A pleasant blend of Bon Iver and Black keys.

Beebee and the Bluebirds is a jazzy rock band fronted by Brynhildur Oddsdóttir.  She’s got one of those great soulful voices, and naturally entertains crowds.

Love in Stockholm is good old rock from Allston.  Blending classic with modern, they have a local reputation for great live gigs, and have built a great following around the New England area.

George Knight and Pablo Palooza are rock/soul/funk locals.  George, a DJ at WERS during the day, musician all the time perfectly compliments the Pablo Palooza players bringing a lot of energy wherever they play.

I asked a slightly altered version of my nonsensical questions.  Beebee & the Bluebirds (BBB) Love in Stockholm (LiS) and Pablo Palooza (PaB) were kind enough to answer.

1. If you combine all of your favorite colors, what do you get?

  • (BBB) Black striped violet red….
  • (LiS) ROY G. BIV
  • (PaB) Black

2. What are 3 of your favorite little known bands of Iceland/Boston origin?

3. If you could be any creature playing your favorite song, what would the creature be? And what is the song?

  • (BBB) I would be a black panther singing “Think”
  • (LiS) A minotaur playing “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
  • (PaB) I would be an Eagle playing “I Am” by Earth Wind and Fire

Taste of Iceland is always a fantastic time, make sure to check some of it out.  Check out more info on all the bands below, and we’ll see you there.

Ásgeir with Connor Youngblood at Great Scott

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asgeir

Anytime an Icelandic band comes to Boston, I do everything I can to be there.  As it so happens, the Ásgeir gig this last Friday coincided with my new purchase of a much faster camera lens.  So, I was able to practice and catch a great gig, two birds…one stone kind of thing and the like.  You can click any of these pics to see the actual photos on my Flickr account.

The gig was at Great Scott, a bar in Allston famous for hosting acts rather late in the night.  FM Belfast played there last year also to a sold out crowd.  It’s a simple set up, but the sound is typically good, and the beer and vodka rather cheap.

connoryoungblooc

Connor Youngblood opened for the band.  He’s a youngin’ out of Dallas Texas often seen on stage with multiple instruments strapped around him.  His pedal boards were impressive, and so was his ability to shift between the sounds and loops he created during his songs.  There is very little out there on him, but I did find this interview, and his website. (which could use an about me section.)

Ásgeir and his band of motley fools were next.  Filling the tiny stage to it’s capacity and beginning the soothing songs he’s famous for.  We luckily got to hear a few songs in Icelandic, and he did a very smooth, high pitched version of Heartshaped box a little more than halfway through his set.  The girls, and a few guys, were swooning and it made taking photos nearly impossible as the crowd was all but sitting in the band’s lap on the stage.

TrioasgeirI have to say that I loved his drummer, and even though the lighting wasn’t very good and he was in the dark a lit of the time, it was fun to watch him play.

I still have quite a bit of practice to get the hang of the new lens, there were noise issues, and a prime lens takes some getting used to.  But the concert was great, and good times were had.  So, thank you to Ásgeir‘s management for the opportunity to snap some shots, and thanks to  Ásgeir and Connor Youngblood for a great gig.

It was a fantastic Iceland music snack before ATP Iceland, which is less than a month away.  But that’ll be an entirely different post.