On Stage: Mikal Cronin @ Bitterzoet

It only makes sense that rocker Ty Segall chooses to have musicians like Mikal Cronin in his band. The versatile multi instrumentalist has many talents and makes great music as a solo artist as well. He recently released his fourth solo album Seeker and is now touring in support of it.

Mikal Cronin at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, February 21 2020

Shannon Lay is tonight’s support act who I recently saw play with Cronin in Ty Segall’s band and earlier with punk rockers FEELS. Solo she’s taking it a lot more slow, with quiet ballads. She has a lovely voice and together with a clear fingerpicking guitar sound the room goes quiet. Something that will change when Mikal Cronin takes the stage.

Cronin's new songs are nicely varying and some of them have a wonderful Tom Petty feel. I love this sound and on stage Cronin adds some lively energy. He may not be the greatest singer, but he makes up for that with great guitar skills and song writing. Different from his work with Segall, Cronin’s songs are lighter and have more of a pop feel. This is what makes his music so attractive.

Most of the songs are quite compact and together with the rhythm section, the only other two members, go through them very smoothly. These two add a lot of groove to the fuzzy rock music that make them perfect to rock out to. The crowd is a bit hesitant tonight though and doesn't exactly go wild. To be fair there isn't a lot of time to get warmed up though since after just over half an hour the three leave the stage and return very quickly for one more song. With hardly forty-five minutes of stage time, the set is really short, but totally worth it nevertheless.

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On Stage: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets @ Bitterzoet

The stream of bands coming from Down Under seems to be endless. Many if which are quality groups and clearly the continent is a great breeding ground for talented musicians. Fortunately for me Australia also is home to many psychedelic rock groups with Tame Impala and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard as the front runners. The Best Kept Secret Festival revealed another gem in that scene, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and I couldn't wait to see them again.

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets at Bitterzoet, October 31 2019

Singer Jack McEwan almost didn't make it tonight as his passport got stolen in the UK. He spent the whole day arranging for a replacement passport and explains he only made it to the venue forty minutes before the show. The rest of the band look very relaxed and happy though and may have explored the local coffeeshop scene.

Fortunately it doesn't have any effect on their performance, which turns into a lively psychedelic show. Colourful visuals are playing behind the band, while they play their mind blowing songs and the crowd is slowly going nuts. The songs are enthusiastic psych rock jams that are a blend of The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour, Tame Impala style vocals and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard grooves.

It's an incredible contagious and tasty mix that results in a wonderful show that is a lot of fun. The band are all smiles, especially bass player Luke Reynolds who doesn't seem to be able to stop smiling. With great ease the Aussies go through the complex songs full of harmonies, stops, twists and turns. They released their new LP And Now for the Whatchamacallit earlier this year and clearly many people in here tonight have already studied it well. The band even squeezes in a bit of Lenny Kravitz' 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' into one of their songs.

The pit keeps growing bigger and wilder on the floor while crowd surfers are popping up frequently, riding the hands of the crowd around the small venue. The band watches this with somewhat disbelief in their eyes, loving every minute of it. It is only the first date of their tour around the European mainland and already it looks like a great success. Maybe this wonderful bunch can follow in the footsteps of those other Australian bands that made it big.

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Setlist:
01. Surf's Up
02. Found God in a Tomato
03. Buzz
04. Social Candy
05. Ergophobia
06. Marmalade March
07. Hymn for a Droid
08. Bill's Mandolin
09. Gurzle
10. Mundungus
11. Cubensis Lenses
12. Cornflake
Encore:
13. Nek


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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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On Stage: Bodega @ Bitterzoet

A wine shop or wine cellar is called a "bodega" in Spanish. In the US small convenience stores are sometimes called bodegas as well. It's also a band from Brooklyn New York that created a small buzz around them and are currently one of the most exciting NYC bands. Their sharp krautrock and old style post-punk does sound promising.

Bodega at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, February 26 2019

The small Bitterzoet venue has filled up quite well by a bit older crowd. It must be the retro style post-punk sound inspired by bands like The Fall that draws these fans. Bodega's first album Endless Scroll was produced by Parquet Courts’ Austin Brown and even recorded on the same Tascam machine Light Up Gold was recorded on. Indeed you can hear some Parquet Courts influences in their music.

Sometimes it also reminds of LCD Soundsystem without the electronics and especially the songs where guitarist/singer Ben Hozie and singer Nikki Belfiglio are almost shouting their lyrics reminds a bit of early B-52's. All together it sounds pretty tempting and the somewhat sarcastic tone in the songs give it all a bit of a light touch. It results in catchy songs that are great to have a good time with and at the same time leave enough to sink your teeth in.

It's mostly Hozie and especially the energetic Belfiglio who are upfront while the rest of the band steadily keeps the groove. There is no standard drum kit but drummer Tai Lee is standing behind a set of drums, pounding away with an intimidating look on her face. It does give the music plenty of groove, but is also a bit limiting. This may get in the way after a few albums, but isn't a real problem for now. For now they treated us to an hour of interesting rock music with an inspired performance.



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On Stage: No Age @ Bitterzoet

Halfway their performance at Bitterzoet No Age's drummer and singer Dean Allen Spunt recalls the last time they played The Netherlands. After their regular show earlier that day they were invited to play on a boat, but were so fried they couldn't finish any of their songs. The noise rock duo from LA has quite a live reputation and are back with a new album Snares Like A Haircut.

No Age at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, March 26 2018

There are plenty of duos that are able to work big crowds, but not many where the drummer is singing. Spunt isn't exactly Phil Collins but is doing a good job at both. It is a drawback when the drummer is singing, since it can become quite static, especially when there's only two people on stage. Guitar player Randy Randall is standing in front of a big stack of Marshalls, but is hiding behind his hair the whole night. It doesn't exactly set the place on fire.

The duo have quite nice songs though like 'Glitter' and the explosive 'Fever Dreaming'. When you listen to their EPs and albums they are full of these kind of songs. They mix in some weird effects and electronics and try to this on stage as well. It actually slows down the performance a bit and Spunt's uncomfortable speeches in between don't really speed up things either.

It doesn't mean this is a bad show, since it isn't. The music is good and there are plenty of good songs on the set list. Just somehow you expect their music to be face melting where people lose their mind and hang from the ceiling. It is simply not as rough or explosive as you can hear on their records. Maybe a bigger drum kit could help as Spunt's one looks a bit small. Or maybe they should have used the huge guitar they sound checked at the beginning but never used. I still had fun though, but was expecting a more wild night.



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Setlist:
01. Cruise Control
02. Stuck in the Changer
03. Sleeper Hold
04. Secret Swamp
05. Snares Like a Haircut
06. Separation
07. Fever Dreaming
08. Glitter
09. Drippy
11. Popper
12. Soft Collar Fad
13. C’mon, Stimmung
14. Tidal
15. Send Me
16. Air
17. Teen Boy


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On Stage: Tamino @ Bitterzoet

I have seen Belgian talent Tamino several times over the past year and every time he was able to impress me. Now the year is drawing to an end I get a chance to see him one more time and I won't let this opportunity pass.

Tamino at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, December 17 2017

Since it is nice to have seen him grow throughout the year. His talent is unmistakable; his voice that he's able to bend any way he likes, is his strongest weapon. Together with his band he has worked on his repertoire and by now you can hear he has got it down. The venue sold out a while ago and looks more packed than ever as if they sold a few more tickets than usual.

When the singer takes the stage, you can see that slowly his stage presence is becoming more and more self confident without losing his charm. Playing gigs on a regular basis is turning him into a charismatic performer. When he addresses the audience he still comes across as a bit shy and modest though, but this adds to his charm. Tamino sincerely shows he's grateful for his talent and his fans. When he thanks his mentor and keyboard player Tom Pintens, who is playing with him for the last time, he is overwhelmed with emotions for a moment.

Tonight was the best performance I saw of him, which proves this young man keeps improving. The songs sound finished and convincing and Tamino looks comfortable while playing them. When he doesn't lose his edge and charm, this incredible musician should be able to make it big. I know I've said this all before and I still think the next time we will have to see him in a larger venue. The future is looking very bright and one can only imagine what it will bring for him.

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On Stage: J. Bernardt @ Bitterzoet

At last year's edition of the Into The Great Wide Open festival, Belgian band Balthazar was all over the island in many forms. Of course the band itself, but several of its members were playing shows as well, sometimes presenting very new material. One of them was Jinte Deprez who played one of his first shows as J. Bernardt.

J. Bernardt at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, March 27 2017

When he was playing the island, no one knew what to expect since his music was all still a big mystery. I was pleasantly surprised by the danceable electronic music and was looking forward to hearing and seeing more of him. By now a few songs have been released and they are very pleasant to listen to. I complimented Deprez at the festival on his music after the show, but he wasn't that content himself mentioning some things went wrong. Tonight however I can't hear or see anything going wrong at all.

Deprez looks very confident on stage and as one of the lead singers of Balthazar he is used to playing much bigger stages and crowds. Maybe that's why he's moving around the small stage a lot, sometimes climbing a small raiser at the side, something they are doing with Balthazar as well. It is clear that many people in the almost sold out venue haven't heard a lot of his music yet, judging from the somewhat hesitant reactions in the beginning. But slowly people get used to the warm electronic sound of the music. Adriaan van de Velde is creating most of that on keyboards while drummer Klaas De Somer is playing the groovy beats. These two musicians were the support act tonight as Pomrad, van de Velde's own funky project.

Deprez is adding sequences and samples, sometimes using his guitar. But mostly he's dancing around the stage while singing with his pleasant and warm voice. The songs mostly stay mellow, creating a sultry atmosphere, quite suitable for hopefully this year's warm summer. It isn't something to completely go wild on, but it's music to slowly submerge yourself in, like a warm bath and simply go with the flow. This time it looks like things went very smoothly and Deprez can be happy about tonight's show. I'm looking forward to his album that should come out later this year and hopefully see him play again as well.



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On Stage: Tim Darcy @ Cinetol, Cosmonauts @ Bitterzoet

Tonight Indiestad created a dilemma for me: go see Tim Darcy in Cinetol or Audacity and Cosmonauts in Bitterzoet. I decided to try both which means I have to go see Tim Darcy first and then rush myself to Bitterzoet afterwards. Unfortunately this means I won't be able to see Audacity who are supporting Cosmonauts and will start too early, which is a real shame since I love that band. Still, two out of three isn't bad for tonight.

Tim Darcy at Cinetol Amsterdam, February 21 2017

A few years ago Ought blew me away the first time I saw them and again after hearing their LP Sun Coming Down that ended up at my end of the year list. Now the group’s singer has released an intriguing solo album Saturday Night which he presents tonight. Darcy asks who came here because of Ought and who came to see him because of his solo project. It's an honest question since many people here tonight haven't heard his solo record yet.

Live the songs sound a lot like on the record except some of the more rocking songs have been tuned down a bit. Together with the two ladies in his band he creates an atmospheric environment for his songs. His pleasant voice floats reminds of Roy Orbison. Although it’s not always in tune, it definitely is fascinating watching him sing. With his head tilted a bit, staring in the distance Darcy is able to keep everyone interested. It may not be as mind blowing as Ought but it sure is fulfilling.



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Cosmonauts at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, February 21 2017

I race my bike through the rain across the city and make it to Bitterzoet in a short while. There Cosmonauts have just started there set. Things get a little more rough here than earlier tonight at Cinetol. These guys have an amazing sound, kind of like a mix of The Stone Roses and Sonic Youth. The way the two guitars blend into each other with a lot of effects is very clever. Alexander Ahmadi and Derek Cowart take turns singing with Cowart doing most of the vocals.

Their set is high on mid tempo psychedelic songs that create a spacy atmosphere. Now and then they pick it up a few notches and knock out a powerful rocker. Their set could have used a few more to keep everyone on their toes. I can see these guys filling larger venues with this overwhelming sound, especially if they can keep up their down to earth appearance.



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On Stage: Iguana Death Cult @ Bitterzoet, JAGD @ Vondelbunker

The music scene always slows down around the end of the year and together with my vacation in January things take a while to pick up for me. But now things are moving fast with lots of new music coming out and many bands going on tour. So tonight I could choose between two shows and decided to try to make both.

Iguana Death Cult at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, February 17 2016

The Rotterdam based garage rock band Iguana Death Cult is one of the many exciting new bands that are country has been producing in a steady pace. Their energetic performances didn't go unnoticed and they released their first album The First Stirrings Of Hideous Insect Life this week. I listened to their music and instantly liked it. The comparison with Thee Oh Sees is spot on, since many songs have the same drive and feel including the shout outs and are high on reverb. On stage the band is lively and their energy gives the music even more power. It's as if the band and crowd are electrified and everyone is kicking off their Friday night on a high.



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JAGD at Vondelbunker Amsterdam, February 17 2016

Picture: Reinout Bos

I've been following JAGD for a while, simply because I know one of the band members. But also because they make great music. They won the "Amsterdam Pop Award" ("Amsterdamse Popprijs") in November and recently joined the Friendly Fire portfolio. It means the band is on the right track for greater things but for now are mostly trying to spend as much time on stage as possible. Tonight they are playing the Vondelbunker, an underground stage in Amsterdam. It's a great environment for this band and even though the sound is totally crap, it doesn't matter to them. Their powerful songs and convincing performance pays off. Their groove driven songs with an eighties new wave vibe go down well, especially because they play them with a lot of heart. Keep an eye out for this band, because we are going to hear a lot more from them.



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There you have it. Not a bad way to get out of my hibernation and start off the weekend. And there are so many bands lined up to play in or around my home town in the coming weeks, so check back here regularly.

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On Stage: Dans Dans @ Bitterzoet

One of the things I like about festivals is discovering new bands. Especially smaller festivals with a razor sharp line-up usually have a few gems on the bill. My favourite festival Into The Great Wide Open usually has a few treasures up their sleeves and I saw Belgian trio Dans Dans play there a few years back. Now they have released their fourth album Sand and are playing a club tour.

Dans Dans at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, December 21 2016

This show is part of the Indiestad pass and the venue has filled up considerably. It is also part of something called "Supersonic Jazz", where Paradiso is programming acts that are blending jazz with other genres in a new way. This definitely is true for Dans Dans that are mixing jazzy grooves with blues, psychedelic rock and rock 'n roll.

There's a mic on stage, but it is hardly used since this is an instrumental band only. A few times guitar player Bert Dockx is saying "thanks" in the mic and mentions there's really not much more for him to say. Which is true, since the music does all the talking and it is talking plenty. In general the music is a bit dark with lots of character and definitely cinematical. It's as if they are playing the soundtrack of a David Lynch movie filled with unexpected twists and turns. You almost expect some femme fatal to walk in or some surrealistic plot twist to happen.

The three prove to be very skilled musicians and their music is usually loosely based around some jazzy theme on which they improvise. Now and then they will break out a catchy rock 'n roll tune or a lengthy psychedelic jam. Both Dockx and bassist Fred Jacquest are half facing drummer Steven Cassiers most of the times which shows how much they are challenging and following each other. At the same time it feels as if everything is actually thought out, which is a compliment, since everything is so tight and fits together perfectly. Dockx will sometimes kneel down to start a sample from a cassette player or other sounds. It may not always be straightforward music but on the surface it is very accessible and even hard to stand still to. This is exciting and well played music that is breaking down boundaries and should appeal to many.



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On Stage: Girl Band @ Bitterzoet

At the Into The Great Wide Open festival in 2015 I saw an Irish band play an intense blend of punk and techno. It was an intriguing and impressive performance that asked for more. Unfortunately Girl Band cancelled their European tour later that year but have now returned.

Girl Band at Bitterzoet at November 22 2016

The band opens the night with the Blawan cover of 'Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage', that was hitting me hard over a year ago. It's an impressive opener to another intense show by the Irish quartet. Singer Dara Kiely draws all attention with his screaming vocals and his passionate performance while the rest of the band is playing the wild and energetic music.

And boy, this band is tight! The songs are sometimes short songs, like the mad techno track 'The Last Riddler', that are right in your face. At other times the violent beats are full of twists and can come to a sudden stop. Or they simply are going into every direction like 'Fucking Butter' with that sliding bass line. The band is playing all of them with great ease and very convincingly. Their sound is quite unique and the crowd doesn't know when to dance or when to go completely mental.

It's the kind of music that is dark and can make you a bit uneasy, but at the same time is very hard to resist. It's music full of creativity and energy that is at its best live on a stage. It bags plenty of edge and is rough around the edges and with the techno and dance influences added to the mix the band have found a great combination and there's nothing quite like it. Drummer Adam Faulkner knows how to come up with interesting grooves by using odd time signatures now and then or adding sounds to his drum kit in a clever way. The drum beats are kind of central to the songs and define the music. In the end it's a band you really have to experience preferably live. I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing more from these guys.



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On Stage: Warhaus @ Bitterzoet

At the Into The Great Wide Open Festival in September, Balthazar members performed with the different solo projects they started. It was interesting to see and hear how the separate projects were kind of a dissection of Balthazar's sound. Maarten Devoldere started Warhaus, a project he had been working on for years, recording songs at home and on the road. Now his main band is going on hiatus the time is right to release an album and hit the clubs.

Warhaus at Bitterzoet Amsterdam, November 2 2016

That album We Fucked A Flame Into Being came out a few weeks ago and its style is dark and sultry. At Into The Great Wide Open we already saw how good this is live on stage too, but there his girl friend Soldier's Heart Sylvie Kreusch was missing. But this time fortunately Kreusch, who sings the backing vocals on most of the songs, is joining them on stage. With her "femme fatale" appearance and sensual dancing she makes the songs even more sexy and hot and her vocals are vital for the songs.

The setting is perfect for the mostly slow songs that at the same time have a summer's night vibe to it, when you feel it's cooling down, but the heat is not gone. Bitterzoet is a dark club tonight and with this music it takes you back to a fifties jazz club, except the smoke is missing. Devoldere proves to be a very creative musician, the way the songs build up, layer by layer, skilfully backed up by Faces On TV's Jasper Maekelberg on guitar and Balthazar drummer Michiel Balcaen. He's using loops as foundation of some songs, and throws in a few blows on a trumpet now and then. It gives the songs a kind of lovely awkward feel and causes them to crawl under your skin.

When he's singing his low and relaxed voice give the songs a dark edge, in the same way Nick Cave can do this. It's just too bad some people really can't keep their mouth shut and have to keep on chatting, something that already goes by the name of "the Dutch disease". It's very annoying for everyone and disrespectful to the musicians. Fortunately Warhaus doesn't pay any attention to it and keeps the mood and atmosphere of their music alive. I'm looking forward to more music from this talented bunch of people.



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On Stage: Taxiwars @ Bitterzoet

A year ago Taxiwars introduced themselves to the world. The quartet with well-known dEUS frontman Tom Barman successfully released their self-titled debut record and played a string of exciting club shows. Now they are back with a new record, Fever, and more of that freaky jazz.

Taxiwars at Bitterzoet, October 30 2016

It's easy to think that Tom Barman is the name that draws most people to see this band, which is probably right, but at the same time is selling the others short. This band is so much more than the famous singer. When the audience is clapping enthusiastically after an instrumental piece, Barman returns to the stage and is joking "don't overdo it, this was without me". It actually proves how proud he is to work with these great musicians, which is obvious when he is watching them play solos from the side of the stage, now and then shouting with excitement. And who wouldn't if you get to see this band play every night? The freaky and groovy jazz pieces are full of twists and turns, partly improvised and the musicians are constantly challenging each other.

The new songs are in line of the older ones, which means they breath the same restlessness and are just as pungent. Saxophone player Robin Verheyen is using the whole spectrum of his saxophone in sometimes wild solos, not always trying to fire off as many notes as possible, but instead trying to grasp the essence and atmosphere of the compositions. The rhythm section, bass player Nicolas Thys and drum player Antoine Pierre, keeps the beat going, making sure the groove doesn't stop. They provide the basis for Barman's lyrics, that spice up the songs and give them even more edge. Sometimes his words are combining into something of a rap, blending in with the groove completely.

The band doesn't let any boundaries restrict them, but instead stretch them as far as possible. That's why it isn't only attracting your typical jazz audience, but also appeals to many others, including dEUS fans. Contrary to the last time at this same venue when people were pretty noisy, they are now completely into the performance and in the quiet parts everyone is listening closely, not a sound to be heard. After an hour the band shortly leaves the stage while the crowd keeps roaring until they come back for an encore. Then it's really over and 75 minutes feels a bit short to me. I guess this simply never can get too much.



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