GRAPEVINE, GISP!, Gallery Lobster or Fame and JPV Publishers Present:Comics in a Bomb Shelter
Comics and large concrete subterranean rooms: ah sweet sweet nostalgia. Of course, few of those involved in the exhibits adorning the walls at the Lobster or Fame Gallery below the
The Raven Auteur Director. On film, politics and testicles.
This is how Icelandic filmmaker Hrafn Gunnlaugsson described the opening scene of what will probably be his last film, one that remains entirely in his head, and one that bears [&h
Erro and the Comics
It can even be claimed that comics have served as foundation for his visual language throughout his career. To begin with, the contribution of comics to Erró’s work consisted me
THE SHADOWS: inside with the unknowns of the drug culture
Alcohol is Iceland’s drug of choice – a recent Gallup poll indicated that close to 86% of all Icelanders said that they’ve had alcohol in some form or another within [&hellip
GRAFFITI: PUBLIC DOMAIN STORYTELLING
When it comes to Iceland, there are plenty of amazing landscapes to choose from: There’s the geyser and the waterfalls, lava fields and glaciers, just to name few. But how [&hell
Professor Hydrogen, Dr. Bragi Árnason
I meet Professor Bragi Árnason at his small office in the basement of the chemistry building at the University of Iceland. In the opinion of the Economist, World Technology Intell
Not a Rational Decision
A couple of American emigrants stopped by The Grapevine office this week to discuss their move, our paper, and the future of Iceland. As it turned out, they were from […]
Bezt í Heimi:Ostabúðin
Bookstore employees in the city centre complain about the bothersome tourists that bump in from the rain, one after the other, wet, confused, with a map in their hands, asking [&he
Bubbi gets help from Wonder Barði
BUBBI: PARADÍS AND ÁST. INSIDE ICELAND, BUBBI MORTHENS IS THE MOST CELEBRATED AND FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL SONGWRITER AND SINGER MAKING ALBUMS TODAY. HE IS ALSO THE BIGGEST TARGET,
Comfort: The Reason You See Scandinavians at Hotel Frón
What is it that the traveller really needs? Spending a few nights in places such as in a good old cosy tent in Þorsmörk after 20 kilometre hike from Skógar, […]
Outside Reykjavik: All Tourist Sites Bow to the Power of THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
When my father left the North American continent for the first time in his life to visit his expatriate son, I knew that I had to take him on the […]
Raven Flies: Revenge ages well
Determined to create the first authentic Viking film, Hrafn Gunnlaugsson wrote and directed “When the Raven Flies,” a movie now available on DVD which is his seminal work and t
On Tolkien’s Trail in Oxford
ohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien lived in Oxford for 50 years. I had come to see the dim pubs where he drank and found inspiration and to visit the homes where […]
Comics Ain’t Storyboards But Sometimes They Make Decent Movies
Superheroes: Fantastic Four (2005)—By previews, looks glossy and vapid; Sin City (2005)—Direct transference of comic onto film. Very brutal, slightly derivative comic, but at l
Hip-Hop revisited
Hip-hop hasn’t always been about bitches and bling, you know. It actually used to be a powerful and united movement of young African-Americans concerned with social justice and e
CIGARS AND CHOCKOLADE
Grand Rokk’s upper floor was packed with people and spirits were high on last Thursday night for Apparat Organ Quartet’s first gig in a year. Promoting new songs among some [&h
ANTONY and the JOHNSONS:I AM A BIRD NOW
The first time you hear Antony’s voice, a gothic church-going blues instrument that sounds both pure and profoundly experienced, you think this is out of this world. In fact, you
HÖLT HÓRALOVE ME LIKE YOU ELSKAR MIG
The snare drum on this album is amazing. Crisp and full, every beat is remarkable. Guitars are in tune, and in good time. The disk also has a 21:18 playing […]
KIPPI KANÍNUS HAPPENS SECRETLY
A travelling California musician in Iceland to visit the home of Múm and Sigur Rós highly recommended this new release from 12 Tónar to the Grapevine. Some of the chords [&helli
NÚMER NÚLL
A pleasant new demo making the rounds, Númer Núll blend country with classic hard rock. The production value here is excellent, and the guitar work of frontman Gestur blends T [&
DAVÍÐ SMÁRI: YOU DO SOMETHING TO ME
What do you do when you come in second on Icelandic Idol: you cover every great pop singer’s most cherished song. Davíð Smári takes the Edge off of U2’s One, […]