airwaves

ah, yet another airwaves is over and what a relief - four days of waiting in lines to get into overcrowded venues. i may have spent more time waiting in the cold than actually listening to music. but then again there wasn't really much to miss - this was probably the least exciting line-up in a while. i was pretty excited about seeing ratatat but that didn't happen - mostly thanks to gus gus who for some inexplicable reason always draw huge crowds of people despite being the fourth most boring band in the world. maybe that says something about icelanders. at any rate since gus gus played right after ratatat there was no hope of getting in. i did, however, manage to catch annie (non-offensive pop but wastly overhyped - it clearly pays to be a blonde), new radio (who proved that playing bad rock music with cellos doesn't make it any better), the zutons (who exceeded my expectations), architecture in helsinki (who managed to live up to my expectations), ampop (slightly better than coldplay but equally unexciting), eberg (who i have been trying to hype but now i think that their album may just have been an happy accident) and some other bands that were neither good nor bad enough to mention. except for ulpa. once again this band saves the day - they are just freakishly good. sort of pre-orchestral flaming lips with the foot firmly planted on the effect pedals. and their new song sounds like a (good) remix of jon spencer but with a touch of greg dulli's swagger. right now they blow every other icelandic band out of the water. (an old song linked above)

hadn't it been for ulpa airwaves gets two thumbs down this time around. & it is the last time i will attend until i'm provided with a good reason - better bands and some certainty that i will won't have to freeze my ass off to catch the bands. besides, once you factor in the price of the alcohol consumed, one might as well just buy a ticket to nyc to see your favorite band instead.