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| Icelandic artist performs in EMP restroom |
by Albert Rodriguez -
SGN A&E Writer
Mugison
May 13
Experience Music Project
In what can only be described as an intimate affair, Iceland-based artist Mugison performed to a cluster of admirers and onlookers inside a bathroom - that's right, inside the tiled floors and mirrored walls of a men's loo.
The well-known Nordic singer-songwriter, who resides in the remote town of Suoavik and is featured in a Wikipedia listing online, was invited to Seattle by the Icelandic Tourist Board to play for 200 travel industry and media professionals as part of Icelandair's official launch festivities at Experience Music Project. Mugison jammed through a few songs to a full crowd, including the sexually motivated "Jesus is a Good Name to Moan," but when asked if he'd continue playing on the main stage he declined and said he'd prefer to perform in a public restroom instead.
Mugison (real name Elias Guomundsson) has received some airplay on Seattle-based indie powerhouse KEXP, so it wasn't a surprise to see a pod of radio personnel among those partaking of wine, beer and great tunes with a backdrop of urinals and closed stalls (we did hear double flushes during one song) - KEXP DJ Kevin Cole, a former colleague of mine at Amazon.com, was one of the invited few to this private little gala. Mugison played a four-song set, beginning with "To the Bone" and then launched into "I'd Ask," followed by "2 Bird" (per request) and "The Pathetic Anthem."
Winner of two Icelandic Music Awards and friend of openly Gay dance artist Paul Oscar, Mugison was truly entertaining. His lyrics are bold and witty, his acoustic guitar chops are considerably good, and his vocals are strong enough to vacillate from blues to folk to rock. Dressed in matching plaid vest and trousers with a scruffy beard, you could easily dismiss this 30-something musician as a hopeful street performer, though he's nothing of the sort - Mugison landed a spot at last year's prestigious Austin City Limits Festival (which also boasted Seattle's own Fleet Foxes), and he's trekked through the East Coast and Southwest regions of the US on separate tours.
Minutes before he took to the stage, I shared a conversation with Mugison in which he stated that the first album he ever purchased was Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced. How fitting for him to perform at Experience Music Project, where original memorabilia of the rock 'n' roll icon are displayed - in a completely different room, of course.
The second leg of Mugison's flight to Seattle was delayed, prompting the artist to drive 10 hours in a rental car through severe weather to get here - he certainly made the trip worthwhile. Visit www.mugison.com to learn more about this intriguing musician.
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