KEXP at Iceland Airwaves, Day 2: FM Belfast

Did you come to Iceland Airwaves to lose your mind? FM Belfast and their fans certainly did. Our fourth show of the day at Kex Hostel was Iceland's highest energy party act, as we once again featured the typically headlining band in this very intimate space during our broadcast. This electro pop outfit has a reputation of putting on a pure, good feeling bacchanalia and their performances are more dance party than anything else. This is the show that Icelanders go to to completely let loose and sweat their cares away.

We thought we had seen Kex crowded earlier in the day, but FM Belfast brought an over capacity audience and a line that stretched all the way around the building of hopefuls trying to cram in. The group turned the energy up to 11 immediately, launching in to their patented brand of feel good electronica. Featuring four singers, one of whom spent the entire set jumping, dancing, and shadow boxing with absolute abandon, and two DJs/electronic percussionists, there was no way to avoid getting swept away by the celebration. Throbbing lights flashed to the beat, and streamers other party supplies littered the stage. Everyone in the room was grinning and rocking out.As much fun as the crowd was having, the best time of all was being had on stage. The group sang refrains like, "leave everything at the door", "release and let go, so damn beautiful," and, "I don't want to go to sleep either," and the songs were precision crafted to keep the energy as high and happy as possible. The throbbing indie electro house inspired sounds had touches of LFMAO's goofy energy, and a bit of LCD Soundsystem at their most energetic as well. But in the end this is Reykjavik's own brand of party rock music, and it keeps away winter's dark and cold quite effectively. They don't take themselves too seriously, they don't over hype, but they certainly over deliver. They even segued into a couple verses of "Wonderwall" and the anthemic refrain of "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)". The ebullient audience smiled wider and danced even harder. These guys are so fun to watch, making full use of the stage and never stopping moving for a second. We hope you watched the online video feed. But really, you have to see them live. After the work out of this six song set, the whole building needed a shower.

Up next is Hermigervill live on KEXP at 1:30PM PST. Find out more about our broadcast during Iceland Airwaves here.