Life is extremely busy these days: classes, classes, prep for classes and more classes. Then again life is also extremely exciting these days. Adventures to London and Carmarthen, seeing Icelandic ambient/post-rock bands live, eating marvelous hamburgers, classes, meeting casts of UK tour musicals.

I’ve been meaning to blog for ages but somehow there was always something else that got my attention. So with the news yesterday of Sigur Rós’ new album Kveikur coming out on the 18th of June I thought it was the perfect opportunity to blog about my weekend in London two weeks ago (only two weeks? – it seems longer and yet shorter).

I can’t exactly remember whether I blogged about this before or not but in July of 2012 I spent two mornings sitting at a computer refreshing maniacally to get my paws on tickets for Sigur Rós’ London gig. They were coming to Belgium a week or so before but by then I would be here in Cardiff so Julie and I devised a plan to go to the gig on Friday and then spend the weekend in London together. Sometimes we just have good ideas.

Love the old-school lettering. Finally!!

After my last class that Friday  I ran off to the train station, little red suitcase trailing behind me. Of course I had plenty of time before the train left, I was just a bit anxious not to miss it. A couple of minutes of delay on the train but that was fine, a quick underground ride later I was reunited with my best friend. Hugs but then rushing off to Brixton.

We assumed that the pre-program would start at 7.30 so we would be just in time for the actual show. Of course we were wrong and we were there quite early. We found the perfect spot right behind the sound tech guys. A special mention to the lovely security guy there who we asked if we could put our coats/bags on the divide so we could lean there without having to worry for our stuff. He was lovely so we offered him a digestive biscuit (our dinner due to lack of time – classy as always) which he politely declined.

Great sound and I could just see Jónsi next to a light-up Christmas tree.

Finally the music started. Moving, exciting, ridiculously awesome. Words are just not enough really to describe how much I enjoyed finally seeing and hearing Sigur Rós live. The energy and excitement in the venue was palpable. A bit of a chatty audience at times but the sound guys were rather very outspoken about that (yes, giggles ensued when they actually told a couple people standing next to us and talking loudly during a quiet song to “shut up!”).

Fljótavík made me cry. Not the song I expected it from but I’ve never before been so happy about crying.

I can’t wait for the new album. Their new single Brennistein sounded amazing that Friday and I’m very curious to see what else they have up their sleeve. The gig at Wembley Arena in November will probably not happen for me as it’s on a Thursday but I’m not despairing yet. There will be more music playing. Endless and buzzing.

It’s freezing here in Belgium. So when this video with a song written by Tim Driesen (you might remember him from my WWRY post from last year, lovely bloke) and David Ribi showed up in my twitter feed I had to click it.

It’s all I have been listening to today. Yes. It is that catchy. And now I want a onesie. Maybe. (okay, I totally do).

(picture by David Miller)

I love this song. I’ve loved it for such a long time. Yes I’m a proud kid of the 90s.

No worries, I won’t go all depressed on you guys. Diana pointed me towards the following youtube video last night and it’s too awesome not to share.

So time to get your headphones out (or just blast it as loud as you can) for the guys and gal of Walk Off The Earth and one guitar. The guys are awesome but Sarah Blackwood’s voice seriously got under my skin.

You can find Walk Off the Earth on facebook right here and the lovely Sarah here.

Unfortunately I was forced to skip the four days to Christmas post as my browser crashed and burned a million times in a couple of hours. However I’m back!

The following video is pretty awesome but I do hope that for all of you Present Face will be minimized this year.

Christmas needs a playlist of awesome, retro and kitschy songs to get yourself in the holiday groove. One of my favourites is this year’s Girls with Glasses Show Christmas song.

And their blog isn’t too shabby either… Just a thought.

This week has been so incredibly busy at school, but more about that in the next post.

This morning I wanted to share this song I’ll be studying for school. I’m a big fan of Lea Salonga. She just has this incredible voice which still sounds so young and sparkling and all kinds of awesome.

Okay, now I’m off to study all of those lyrics… It’s a lot of text.

A bit of No Doubt on a Monday morning. Takes me back to my childhood. Awesome. Just keep the spaghetti food-fights for the weekend eh.

Have a great week!

Oh Garfunkel and Oates. How I love your candid, sometimes too honest and too frank lyrics.

This is the very first song of them I heard thanks to my friend Ellie. Still one of my favourites (together with Present Face - extra points if you can spot two Gilmore Girls actors and one from Big Bang Theory…).

There is something about girl groups. Actually most of the following were introduced to me by my best friend Julie who’s an avid vinyl collector.

Perfect soundtrack for a sleepover. This needs to be accomplished asap.

Actually I have a vinyl of the Shirelles in my possesion right now which should make its way into the hands of Julie. Or I could start collecting myself… Dangerous.