Haukur is a special character. You will see him everywhere in Reykjavik all year around, but especially during Iceland Airwaves. He has not one, but two of the best jobs in the world. Firstly he is editor of the most awesome newspaper, The Reykjavik Grapevine – seriously, the first thing to do on every trip is to get hold of the latest issue. Secondly, and even more importantly, he is guitarist in the world's greatest live rock band (according to me) Reykjavik! (they're not from Reykjavik – crazy Icelanders).  HE know his stuff, which is why I asked him about some stuff, all sorts of stuff…

Hi Haukur, where are you right now and what are you doing?

Hey Mark. I am in my living room, just working on stuff. I do a lot of that, as it were. Turns out I am finishing our fancy ICELAND AIRWAVES special (for the Grapevine, you know). It's fun! Then, I didn't manage to finish writing this thing when I started writing it. So now, the Airwaves special is out, and I am at KB, preparing to shoot the final shots for a video we're making with the mighty Árni Sveinsson of BACKYARD infamy!

What are the plans for grapevine during Airwaves this year?

Man. We really wanted to do dailies again. But unfortunately, our TOTAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE doesn't allow for it 🙁 — print costs are up, sponsoship $$$ is down.. So instead we're writing a special Airwaves issue full of info and niceties, and then we'll be posting reviews of every single act on our website daily. And interviews and stuff. Maybe competitions? Like we did last year. That was fun, right?

So it'll be a lot of work. But work is fun. Unless you have a shitty job. I am very familiar with those. I used to work a lot in the fishing industry. The pay wasn't so good, and it totally kills your body. And your mind. But it's OK sometimes. Yeah. Fishing industry. Might go back there sometime. Who knows?

As well as editor of grapevine, you are guitarist in the band, Reykjavik! – will they be getting a good review this year?

I… don't know? I never write our reviews, and you can rest assured that I never try and steer my writers' opinion on anything. Especially not my band. That would be shitty and awful of me. Also, it's kinda like winning a boardgame with cheating, you know. That's no fun. Well, maybe if it's a cash game, I don't know. I never gamble. I would probably lose all my money. Anyway. Yeah.

Me being editor might affect the Grapevine's writers, though, for all I know. Most places, writing a bad review on your boss would be sort of frowned upon by that same boss. But we're a pretty anti-establishment rag from what I can tell, and do not promote reverence for authority figures. Myself included. Or I hope we don't.

I might also note that after six years of playing around we've yet to get a single bad review, anywhere. Even places where I'm not editor (we occasionally get mentions in those).

Can you introduce us to the rest of the band?

Sure.

djók!

OK. There's Bóas. He's the singer and uh… we founded the band together based on our mutual love of philosophy, cigarettes and un-shitty emo. He teaches children in his day job, and he also has a couple himself. He is furthermore the only one from the band to not come from Ísafjörður. What a guy! What a guy!

Then there's Valdi. He also merits the exclamation: "What a guy! What a guy!" He used to inspire me with his rockingness back when I was a kid (and he was a slightly older teenager) — no one else in Ísafjörður had that sneer and irreverence and greasy long hair and total composition that Valdi did. These days, he travels the world composing music for modern dance pieces (he is bff with FABLED MODERN DANCER ERNA ÓMARSDÓTTIR – they also have an awesome band together called LAZYBLOOD) and uhm. Being coo.

There's also Gummi. He's my uncle, and I love him. What a guy! What a guy!

He is loved by all. He is handsome. He has enough common sense and amiability in his body for the rest of the world.

Dude, this is going to take forever! SHEESH!

OK. Kriss Rokk. Drummer. Fucking great guy too. He manages Kimi records now, and he is very knowledgable about all sorts of music. Kristján Freyr Halldórsson, he's called. Gave me a job in a record store when I was young, and I always sought musical guidance from him too. Top notch character!

Then there's Geiri. Ásgeir Sigurðsson. He can fix things, he can laugh at things, he can drink things. He is a charming person, an excellent bass player, an even better guitar player, super smart, gets angry when he's drunk sometimes (it's real fun. He doesn't get angry at *you*, he gets angry at government and shit. His rants are unbelievable).

There will be 5 other bands playing at the same time as you – so why should people choose your show?

Because it will be really fun! Oh I don't know. You're all about putting people on the spot there. I guess that you should come see us because maybe there will be something there for you.

I think you played 4 shows last year – can you beat that?

I'm pretty sure we played seven. But sure, we can beat that. We once played twelve in a day (that was rough). However, we're not going to try and beat it this time around. Man, we're always playing everywhere. If folks can't manage to catch us at NASA this year (or at that Nikita garden party), then they will just hafta hunt us down on the street and catch us there. Might play a private show at my house? That would be fun!

Have you seen the festival line-up? What other bands are you excited to see?

SLAYER!

Also, Neon Indian and JJ. I hope they're good. Toro Y Moi. That dubstep band, Mt. Kimbie. And Bob Cluness.

Oh and the local bands. They always rule our world.

And finally, how about a few local tips for the festival first-timers?

Uh. Don't be an asshole. See local bands. Don't get picky – most of the bands are pretty good. Read Grapevine. Go swimming. Shop at Havarí. Dare to be surprised. Spend all your money so we can buy new flatscreen TVs and SUVs.

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OK, so a lot of that made great sense. Do not miss Reykajvik at Nasa on Thursday at 9:10pm. Also as Haukur said at Nikita at 5:45pm on Saturday. Loud and fun.