Vancouver's Brasstronaut Enlist Special Guests at Iceland Airwaves

Posted on Oct 19th 2009 12:00PM by Jonathan Dekel
Comments

A day after packing an in-store performance at Reykjavik's Skifan records, Brasstronaut reaffirmed their title as the unexpected breakout band of Iceland Airwaves by playing to a full house of 4,000 fans at the city's Art Museum, the festival's largest venue. With an assist from surprise guest appearances, the band delivered on the street buzz they had been receiving all week long.

Combining elements of jazz, klezmer, space rock and piano-driven indie-pop, Brasstronaut's melodic, multi-instrumental sonic explorations have undoubtedly struck a chord with Icelandic audiences who have embraced the up-and-coming Canadian band as kin to their country's rich tradition of eccentric takes on popular music.

One eager fan went so far as to send the band an Icelandic reinterpretation of several songs in anticipation of their appearance at the festival. To show their appreciation, the band invited the young singer, who has a stunning voice of her own, to perform with them, lending the evening a jovial, carefree air generally lacking from such high-stress showcases. But she wouldn't be the only local guest of the evening.

The band later brought out the horn section of local heroes Sigur Ros -- whom Brasstronaut's trumpet/flugelhorn/glockenspiel-player Bryan Davies had run into the night before -- to perform on closing number 'Requiem for a Scene,' with singer Edo Van Breemen and his new Reykjavikian assistant singing in Icelandic.

Whether or not this solid festival buzz translates into European success -- as like-minded Canadian Patrick Watson managed in 2006 -- is yet to be seen. Signed to Unfamiliar Records, also home to hip noise-rock duo Japandroids, Brasstronaut's debut full-length is due early next year and after Airwaves '09, there's no doubt that Brasstronaut is leaving Iceland hotter than they've ever been.