George Glen

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We took a weekend trip to Reykjavik for Karen’s birthday and I managed to make that tie-in with the Iceland Airwaves music festival and a Kraftwerk concert. What a great weekend in our favourite place with lots of music along the way. It was too late to get full tickets for the Festival with access to all the official venues, and would have been OTT price wise too seeing as we were only there for two full days really. Luckily Airwaves has an incredibly busy ‘off-venue’ programme where nearly all of the artist play in bars and clubs and halls during the day with free entry. That let us see lots of who we wanted and have the evenings free to eat, drink and be merry … win-win then!

We started off with a morning visit to the Volcano Cafe (where we later watched a lovely film about Icelandic volcanos in their cinema). The event was a collection of Irish artists, the star undoubtedly being Conor O’Brien of Villagers, who I’d wanted to see for a while. His solo slot of half a dozen songs was just spellbinding, especially with us sitting with a coffee a few feet away. His great storytelling songs, nice fingerpicking and charismatic delivery, just blew us away. 9/11 for Conor alone! See video below. We also saw a nice set from Donal Lunny.

We headed onto other venues, first of all excited to see ‘Lord Pusswhip’. Unfortunately the performance didn’t live up to the promise of the name, strange Icelandic hip-hop rap. The only words we could make out were ‘f&%k this s@&t’!

Onwards via Kristen Karen in a rush to catch múm’s KEXP broadcast at KEX Hostel. We got there just in time to a mobbed hostel and I edged my way to the front ’cause I’m a big múm fan. Not disappointed, especially with Gyða back in the band, only 4 songs, but magical. See full video below. Seeing ‘We Made God’ performing in a shop window to a crowded Laugevegur rounded off an unusual but fun afternoon! A special birthday dinner at the Humarhúsið (Lobster House) was the perfect end to a perfect day … ‘so glad I spent it with you’ etc. etc. !

Next day we started the afternoon in a bar with bands on all day and stayed for 3. Aragrúi were really good with great vocals, Waveland less so, and Saytan played some devilish rock. We then headed to the Hotel Borg for Hymnalaya who were really popular, but a bit bland for me. Then a fun Americana set from Sarah McDougall ended our two days of the festival apart from Kraftwerk on Monday. A great holiday anyway, but brilliant to catch so many artists in informal settings and a lovely laid back party atmosphere. I’d go back to Airwaves anytime I could afford it … Not often then!

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I’m a bit embarrassed to say I’d never seen Peter Gabriel live before this night! As a big Genesis fan I had always liked his solo recordings but never thought about going to see him … Doh !  Part of the attraction this time was that Ane Brun had sung on his last New Blood tour and Jennie Abrahamson and Linnea Olsson were his backing singers now. How could I refuse this chance?

First time at the Hydro and I’m impressed. I had a decent seat quite close, but it strikes me as a quality vene. Jennie and Linnea got 4 songs (2 each) as support act and that was a real treat for me as a fan of both. Jennie’s ‘Snowstorm’ and ‘Pheonix’ were best for me … spellbinding and showcasing her wonderful voice that also worked so well in duet with Peter on ‘Don’t Give Up’.

Peter’s 2 hour set was a voyage of discovery for me, not being that familiar with his back catalogue, but I recognised many more songs that I expected and was well impressed. His singing is a strong as ever, the band were perfect and the lights and theatricals were stunning.  The audience also got well involved singing and dancing. A great night all round!

8.5 /11 Attended by George

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/peter-gabriel/2013/the-sse-hydro-glasgow-scotland-53c76fd1.html

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I’ve been a fan since that brilliant night I first saw JJR at Sneaky Pete’s in 2010. They always put on a great performance and this was no different. But a couple of things let this show down. JJR always play so loud (good) that you often can hardly hear Jim sing (bad). The Caves was bad for this yet again. Also if you ask for requests you have to play ‘Elemental’ whan Jan and I shout it at you for ages … that’s the law! They didn’t … unacceptable ! :o)

7/11 Attended by George, Jan

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Dead Meadow is a long established band from Washington D.C. who play a kind of ‘Stoner Rock’ that is not my usual cup of tea … but I quite enjoyed! Not as much as Andy who really dug them … right up his street!

6/11 Attended by George, Andy, Douglas

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I was so up for this one I leapt at the pre-sale and got front-row seats just to the right of Laura. What a treat and this solo show was just as intimate and enchanting as the first time we saw her in Tobermory (if I ignored the 2,000 strong crowd behind us).

Laura started off with the superb 4 song, 14 minute suite that starts her latest and best album ‘Once I was an Eagle’. See video of the suite below. I’m sure no pins were dropped by the rapt audience. That was one of many highlights of the show, consistently brilliant and breathtakingly confident. Couldn’t be more impressed and walked out floating on air!

9/11 Attended by George, Karen

http://jordancurtishughes.tumblr.com/post/63910532523/laura-marling-at-usher-hall-edinburgh

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I was never a big Prims fan but Jan was so seemed like a good idea. Tracy Tracy still looks the part, didn’t realise how tiny she is, and the band play fine. I recognised some of the hits and thought they were ok, but Jan knew all the words and loved it!

6/11 Attended by George, Jan

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I was impressed the last time I saw Fat Goth, but not so much tonight. I love their album ‘Stud’ but they simply played all my favourite songs speeded way up, which just doesn’t work well for me. Good tunes spoiled. The whole show felt polished but way too frantic. Sound not great either. Pity.

6/11 Attended by George

What a disappointment. I know these guys can play and sing ok, fair enough, but The Smyths are a very pale imitation of the excellent Smiths Indeed covers band, let alone the real thing.  Not true to the original songs and singer is really irritating. We couldn’t stand to stay more than 4 or 5 songs so just left.

3/11 George, Karen, Jan

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Loved the show and a few more adventurous songs on the setlist including ‘Mesopotamia’ and ‘Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland’ … Magic! Not quite the same without Keith Strickland on guitar, but … It’s the B52s (and Cindy Wilson of course! ;-). ) !

Attended by George

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-b52s/2013/o2-abc-glasgow-scotland-bc63906.html