Saturday
After an afternoon spent partying in the Blue Lagoon; a geo thermal spa north of the capital before taking a tiny plane to go volcano and glacier spotting; the evening’s entertainment was all about the Clash party. With a wrangled hybrid of Icelandic, UK and US acts the scene was set for even more melodic adventuring.
First out the blocks was Singapore Sling who served up driving classic rock with the flourish of snarled up vocals in the mode of Reed or Gillespie riding high over stabby guitars and racing rhythm section. Solid serving and will do well through their sheer musicianship. Second in were one of 2009’s hotly tipped bands yet unfortunately Boy Crisis are far from the finished article yet… a tad schizophrenic in their approach to songs its hard to extrapolate any sound or consistency whilst some of their members seemed irrelevant and lost in their role. Another north American outfit saw The Handsome Furs swing by from Canada as Dan Broeckner of Wolf Parade team up with his life partner for an invigorating wander into just exactly what is achievable with just two people on stage. This boisterous duo jammed together heavily produced keys and programming over Dan’s thrashed up guitars and distinct vocals. A talented couple bound by fun.
The penultimate act was the Junior Boys; electronic mavericks with a sweet soul and even sweeter vocals were here to make our lives even better thanks to their perfectly pitched electronic pop. With their singer resembling the fifth Young Knife resplendent in tank top and a fringe swept over a sturdy pair of specs; his guitar work was equally impressive as The Young Knives in the same venue the night before. Rapturously received from the off they managed to jack the venues pulse exponentially higher thanks to well travelled anthems such as ‘In the Morning’ and ‘Double Shadow’ they were an incredibly suitable precursor to the headliners to come.
FM Belfast are here and they look like they are here to stay. Coming out of the leftfield like a chirped up Hot Chip this collective of geeks and femmes of chic are as joyous band intent on making you smile. Storming the stage they unleashed a ‘state of the nation’ address calling up the spirit of the irrepressible and endurant Viking ancestors. It wasn’t going to be about money, Gordon Brown applying anti terrorism laws to Icelandic financial situations or about the spate of hardworking citizens losing their jobs. It was about music and having a fucking good time. And FM Belfast rocked it!
Revelry on a stick it was hard to pin down who is meant to be in this band as a community rose up on stage to shout, dance and boogie their way through collaborations and a primal unleashing on joy. Angled more like a show of faith in the own society this was the perfect end to a weekend under pinned by turgid belief; and a need to let your rather long hair down. FM Belfast, everyone at the Clash party and the entire nation of optimists in the hardest of times – we salute you and your attitude to music, people and life!
