Reykjavik Calling at The Crocodile 11/5/2010

[pahouk]

According to an e-mail I got today KEXP and The Crocodile are sponsoring a show featuring some Seattle artists along with some artists from our sister city, Reykjavik. The website doesn't list the Seattle artists but the e-mail reads:

Friday 11/5 KEXP, The Crocodile & Iceland Naturally Presents: Sister City Showcase: Reykjavik Calling with Icelandic Artists: From Seattle: John Roderick of The Long Winters, Visqueen's Rachel Flotard, Rusty Willoughby of Cobirds Unite: From Iceland: Mugison, Sin Fang Bous of Seabear, Lay Low, Petur Ben 8pm doors Free

I don't know anything about the Icelandic artists but I am a big fan of all the Seattle artists. And the show is free! (Which probably means it's going to be a zoo, unfortunately.)

[grant]

If you turn your jacket inside out, the Icelandic artists won't be able to see you.

Also, it would be considered rude to attempt to shake their hands while wearing silver jewelry or touching cold iron - try to keep your key chain either in a bag or else let someone else hold it while making contact.

[Unremarkable]

I thought Kobe, Japan was our sister city...

[Flyn]

We have many sisters, from many misters. I think that Sondre Lerche informed us that Bergen, Norway was our sister city as well.

[Mike McCusker]

Comrades, you used to be twinned with the Soviet city of Ташкент (Tashkent, capitol of Uzbekistan).

[Moni]

We have many sisters, from many misters. I think that Sondre Lerche informed us that Bergen, Norway was our sister city as well.

Looks like you and Chris are both correct:
http://www.seattle.gov/oir/sistercities/cities.htm

That's a very cool list. Wanna trade Reykjavik for Moscow? Pretty please?? Oh well, I know, no one wants to be Count Vlad's sister :-/

[Liesbeth]

21? I'm all for international dialog, but isn't that a bit over the top?
Utrecht has 2, which seems more than enough: one cute European one (Brno, Czechia) and one exotic Latin-American one (Léon, Nicaragua).

[Moni]

Wait. Vienna has Brno as sister city as well. Does that mean we are city cousins?....
Have to say though, 21 cities makes you look a little greedy, guys!

[John]

Everybody wants a piece of us.

[Liesbeth]

wow, how come Utrecht and Vienna aren't twinned then? Then I could get subsidized to come visit, we'd call it cultural internet exchange.

[Squid]

Dang. I gotta go aaaaaaallll the way to SXSW for hott Icelandic action and meanwhile all the dottirs and sssons are coming to Seattle's doorstep. Hmpf.

[pahouk]

Last night's show was fun. I think they did a great job of pairing Seattle artists with Icelandic artists. The Long Winters performed some songs alone then Mugison came out and joined them. I'm really bad at set lists but I think this is what was played:

Give Me a Moment
Mimi
Bride and Bridle
Commander (with Mugison on guitar)
Nora (with Mugison on keyboards)

They joined Mugison for a song (I'm sorry I didn't catch the title) then Mugison did two songs solo. At the end everyone came out and did Stand By Me.

At one point (I think before Bride and Bridle) John brought up a friend who had knitted him an Icelandic sweater. He put it on then asked for confirmation from the Icelandic representatives that it was truly authentic. He played one song with it on but then had to take it off because it was too hot. I'm amazed he kept it on that long. The place was packed and I was dying of heat in the audience. I can't imagine how hot it was onstage.

Edited to add: Here's some footage of TLW and Mugison I found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLiRnwbIO60. Now I remember they actually did two songs together. This was the second song. He said when he wrote it he imagined it was the song Elvis was singing when he died on the toilet. (Mugison's banter and sense of humor seemed like a good fit for John's. Some day they need to do a whole show together.)

Mugison (who also has an impressive beard) asked the audience if he looked like John. After we all agreed he said he felt like he had met his long-lost brother.

Here's some footage of Nora: http://www.youtube.com/user/nightdriver ... _afiR0_Jfw. When John announced the song Mugison asked if the song was called "Boner". Also towards the end of the song John's guitar strap went flying but it didn't slow him down at all.

[Moni]

Thank you for the detailed report, Pat!
Here's the video from Mugison & TLW on Fox: http://www.q13fox.com/videobeta/5585af4 ... ttle-Music

[dianna]

If anyone tracks down any photos of John playing in the sweater, it would be greatly appreciated!

[Mike McCusker]

Yay Dianna! Talent will out.

[pahouk]

If anyone tracks down any photos of John playing in the sweater, it would be greatly appreciated!

Dianna, this article has a picture of John in the sweater: http://backbeatseattle.com/wordpress/?p=36129. How long did it take you to knit it? I once made a futile attempt to learn to knit but realized I just don't have the patience.

[grant]

Wait - was Mugison wearing a sack suit?

Whatever it is, I like the look.

[Squid]

Grant, you've really got to get out of my brain. Though I like those magazines you leave around sometimes while you visit...(OOOOEEeeerr Missus) !

Which is a roundabout way of saying: I was wondering the same.

Actually, that wasn't my first thought. My first thought was that he looks exactly like an ex-boyfriend of mine and it made me think: Why didn't he just TELL me he was Icelandic? We could've worked it out! I have an affinity for glacial living!

It's just so unfair.

[dianna]

Thanks for the Back Beat link! That photographer is, fittingly enough, a knitter I know. She said she'd send some more photos my way.

And this clocked in as my fastest sweater ever, knit start to finish in 6 days. Normally I'll give myself a couple weeks, though, at least.

[Moni]

6 days? Wow, that's impressive! And that sweater is beautiful.