Pkg deals already being advertised

Icelandair is pushing them now, before they even hit the Airwaves site. (North American pkg deals that is)

Prices start at $877, which is way more expensive than last year. I seem to recall that this was the going rate for three nights, and this deal is only for two. I think there was also a “book early” bonus option that also isn’t offered yet.

I promise not to delve into the always riveting topic of the devalued krona, (weakest in 5 years, so they say) but how can this not be a factor?

This is a bummer.

And maybe it is early, but I tried to book a pkg just to see how much it would cost, and discovered a couple more things that had changed.

-Baltimore is not a departure option, but Toronto is  (The pkg I selected was about $2500.  Ouch)

-JFK is still listed, but there are no Sunday flights

-Boston is still available, and there are Sunday departures from Keflavik

I don’t want to rain on the party too soon, but this is about $600 more than we paid last year, I think.

No, I didn’t miss it

The first set of bands for this year’s festival has been announced, and I predicted exactly none of them! Damn you Mr. Destiny!

Ok, melodrama over, at least for now. When I get some time this week I’ll provide the unique perspective you have come to rely upon, nay, yearn for, no, graciously tolerate.

In the meantime, fret or rejoice over the news that the Kronur is not doing so well lately.

“The currency rate of the ISK dropped by 3.5 percent yesterday, reaching a new historic low. According to Ingólfur Bender, director of Glitnir Bank’s research department, the situation is caused by a lack of confidence in the Icelandic economy.

The euro is currently at ISK 130, 1 US dollar is at ISK 84, the pound sterling is at ISK 165 and the Danish crown is at ISK 17.”

My last post on this had the dollar at 74 ISK. I seriously doubt this means that travel pkgs for Airwaves will be that much cheaper.

Post-rock

A term that was totally lost on me, until being turned on to the terrific blog Kapritska, a thorough compendium of all things post-rock, with a dose of ambient and electronica. Mogwai and Godspeed You!Black Emporer are two of the more recognizable post-rock acts, which to truly be considered post-rock, you must reject the label. Not a lot of middle ground here. You either dig (or can dig) the long, instrumental jams that usually build up to a finishing crescendo, or think it’s totally self-indulgent twaddle.

So behold a “new to my world” act, Working for Nuclear Free City. Post-rock or not, label it anyway you want.  I don’t know much about them, except that this is a great instrumental track, and my latest candidate for Bands That Should Play Airwaves This Year, or B.T.S.P.A.T.Y.