On Stage: Mozes and the Firstborn @ Bitterzoet

Dutch garage rock band Mozes and the Firstborn are a group that know how to have fun with their music. There's always that tongue in cheek touch in their songs, without making it too cheesy. On stage these guys can throw a big party too so I try to catch them whenever I can.

Mozes and the Firstborn at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, March 7 2019

This time the band just got back from a 6 weeks tour in the US, where they release their music on the illustrious record label Burger Records. It makes sense that company contracted the Dutch rockers since they fit right in with bands like together PANGEA. That band is all about having fun as well and at the same time know how to write convincing and killer tunes. They even teamed up with them on their new LP Dadcore for the title track. Currently the four lads are touring around in support of that album, this time without their regular drummer and producer Raven Aartsen.

You can hear a broader sound on the new record, showing the band keeps on growing. Tonight this becomes even more clear when you hear the new and older songs alternating. New songs like that title track 'Dadcore' and 'Sad Supermarket Song' are powerful rock songs but are also quite different. Light happy punk songs are followed by Weezer like rock and heavy grungy 90s stompers. The band sounds confident and is playing more tightly than ever. This may sound like a playful garage rock band with gritty slacker rock songs, but these guys can play for sure.

Fronted by the charismatic Melle Dielesen there's plenty going on live on stage as well, with a lot of energy flowing. Dielesen has always been an entertaining singer to watch, but seems to grow more and more into his frontman role as the band gets older. He's able to get a party started anywhere he plays, even when the crowd seems a bit hesitant like tonight. But these irresistible songs together with a band having so much fun is guaranteed to win even the biggest grump over. Their music is far too gritty and hooky to become mainstream, which is only a good thing. But somehow I hope this band could get bigger, only because I know they could make so many people happy and give them a good time. They always make me leave with a big grin on my face, that's for sure.



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