On Stage: Millionaire @ Paradiso

This really is the last one of the year. The last concert...I think, no really. And I go out with a bang, since Millionaire are here to do the same as they play the last show of this tour. As a desert Cocaine Piss are definitely the ones to leave us with a kick in the crotch.

Millionaire at Paradiso Amsterdam, December 30 2018

When I arrive I get to see a few last songs by Naive Set, that really sound good. The Dutch band have an incredible sound with lovely melodies and clear ringing guitars. I hope to catch a full show by them soon, maybe in the new year? Downstairs it's time for Millionaire, the Belgian band around Tim Vanhamel. I got to see them a few times on this tour and it's nice to be able to see them when they are about to wrap it up for this tour.

This band is guaranteed to play a loud and banging rock show, fronted by the crazy and lively Vanhamel. This evening is part of the Indiestad pass, but still the main hall is only half full. This makes the sound of the band too blunt and adds too much resonance. It's not that Millionaire is playing subtle music, but this way it misses some of its effect

It 's not the band's fault and doesn't bother them for a bit. The group makes sure their last show of the tour is a good one. I always have a bit of trouble getting into their shows in the beginning, but after a few songs I slowly get dragged in. The hooky songs with breaks and changes are not average rock songs but are actually quite clever. I really like the new album and tracks like 'I'm Not Who You Think You Are' sound so good live. The crowd seems a bit hesitant tonight, no matter what the band tries. I guess it is the drawback from a pass like the Indiestad pass where people also just come to check out a band they don't really know or simply to have a good time.

Millionaire are all about good times though, with the master of silly moves Tim Vanhamel at the front. They shortly leave the stage before they play a long encore where they give all what they have left in them. The explosive 'Visa Running' delivers the final blow in a show that could have knocked the roof off Paradiso if only the crowd would have allowed it. Fortunately a new album is in the works.

Afterwards it is full at Cocaine Piss' show upstairs, where a small group have still plenty of energy left for a wild pit in front of the stage. There they get fired up by singer Aurélie Poppins, whose sharp voice is very suitable for the aggressive and spiky punk songs. This is definitely the loud end of the year I was hoping for. Let's see if the fireworks can even that tomorrow.

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Best Kept Secret 2018 Day 2

After a very good first day I am preparing for a very busy one. My time schedule is pretty much impossible so I'm gonna have to go with the flow and see how this day develops. One thing is for sure: this should be a good one. Best Kept Secret 2018 Day 2, June 9 2018

Omni

After that amazing first day we can use a band that will wake us up and put is in the right mood again. Omni are the right band for this. Their post rock with unexpected breaks and changes is a hookier and lighter version of Ought with a bit of Lou Reed in there, that sometimes has a restless feel. Frontman Philip Frobos has a very laid back style of playing his bass and singing. And laid back is exactly what we need right now.



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Bully

Fronted by ‎Alicia Bognanno, Bully don’t look like they are going to be laid back. I like their nineties Seattle grunge sound with a pop coating and their new LP Losing is pretty good. On stage it misses a bit of an edge although Bognanno is screaming on top of her lungs now and then. At the end of their show the band do let things rip for a final climax.



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Johan

Whenever I get the chance to see Johan play I’m gonna be there. Many people have turned up at the second biggest stage of the festival to see this wonderful band. The new songs of their latest album already sound familiar to the fans and the rest of the crowd can appreciate them as well. Old hit songs are greeted with loud cheers. Johan has no problem handling larger stages like this.



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Wolf Alice

On the main stage Wolf Alice return to this festival for the third time. In a few years time this band has grown pretty big, especially in their home country across the canal. The young group shows why they are getting this big with very good songs and a confident performance. Ellie Rowsell is a strong and at the same time charming front woman. All band members show a lot of energy and heart on stage. It is hot in the sun this afternoon but Wolf Alice make sure no one is dozing off. After the show we quickly run over to the other side to see Pip Blom play. The young woman with her equally young band have already started her last song unfortunately but by the looks of it she did very well.

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Mattiel

After seeing Mattiel play London Calling recently I really want to check her out again. Dressed in a red overall she impresses me again with her no nonsense attitude and incredible band. I know some people don’t really like her voice but when you do, it is clear how good her songs are. The compact soul and rock songs with a garage style approach go down pretty good.



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Downtown Boys

Today we kind of stick around stage five mostly since there are so many exciting bands lined up here. One of them is Downtown Boys who released a very good album earlier this year. Live the political songs about living in the USA nowadays sound even more urgent. Singer Victoria Ruiz’ stage presence is full of fire but very positive at the same time. The mostly Spanish lyrics sound fierce while she’s dancing around stage. Backed up by a very focused and lively band the leave a lasting impression.



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Cocaine Piss

Cocaine Piss is keeping the fire going with a aggressive and powerful performance. Singer Aurélie Poppins is a ball of energy bouncing around screaming her lyrics on top of short punk songs that the band fires at us. At the same time this is a very positive show as well, with a band that are heaven so much fun. At the end Poppins runs off stage and lands at my feet halfway the tent with a huge smile on her face and dripping from sweat. It’s a fitting end to the last show of our run at this stage. Time to make our way to the main stage.

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The National

When you’ve seen this band play you know you’re up for something good. By now they are a most wanted headliner since they will always deliver big. Tonight the band is even at their best with a very relaxed Matt Berninger who is in a good mood. While the sun sets the dark songs sound even better than ever. The crowd is totally into it and in the quiet parts of songs you can hardly hear anything as everyone listens to Berninger’s dark voice baring his soul. Traditionally this tour the band ends with an acoustic and unplugged version of ‘Vanderlyde Baby Cry’ at the front of the stage while the whole crowd joins in. It’s an impressive ending to this amazing day, one that was dominated by bands fronted by powerful ladies. Time to hit The Casbah again!



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Best Kept Secret Festival 2018 Day 1
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Klikofest 2017 @ Patronaat

The annual garage rock n roll festival Klikofest has proven itself as a celebration of upcoming and established garage rock bands and is something to look forward to every summer. It is a night festival that totally suits the music and this year’s line up promises to be a killer one.

Klikofest 2017 at Patronaat Haarlem, July 15 2017

Fifty Foot Combo

One of the reasons I definitely didn't want to miss this year's edition was this Belgian surf band. I saw them a few years back on the North Sea Surf festival and they blew my mind. It's the first show of the night in the main hall and it isn't really crowded yet. The people that are here still need a bit of warming up, but you can leave that to this energetic band that have been around for quite some years. Tirelessly the group play their powerful surf rock songs with a lot of fire. Slowly the hall is filling up and their contagious performance is catching on. In the end their hard work pays off and everyone falls for this incredible combo.



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La Muerte

Another Belgian band that have been around for long are La Muerte who also recently started playing again after a long hiatus. Their mix of punk rock and Motörhead like hard rock has moved to the hard rock side more. Candles and skulls on the stage together with singer Marc Du Marais’ outfit are quite a sight. Their music is heavy and tight, but at the same time I find all that stage decoration too much of a distraction so we decide to check out the last bit of The Skidmarks’ show who play uncompromising rock n roll.

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The Gories

The festival is slowly filling up and many people have moved to the main hall to see The Gories. This band goes all the way back to the eighties and also returned about ten years back after a long hiatus. Their garage rock with blues elements sounds good on paper but it looks like the band are playing in slow motion. Drummer Peggy O’Neill looks quite uninspired behind her minimal drum setup and doesn't put a lot of variation in her drumming. At the end it gets a bit better but it's a pretty pale and disappointing performance altogether from a band that seems to have run out of fuel.



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Bartek

Fortunately we can check out Amsterdam trio Bartek who are leaving quite an impression everywhere they play. For a good reason the three prove tonight, since their contagious rock music is a great mix of nineties grunge and garage rock. It sounds amazing and the band play very tight and with a lot of energy. The small third hall of the festival is exploding with their music and even a few crowd surfers ride the small waves in front of the stage.

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New Bomb Turks

The main hall has filled up for this legendary band from Ohio. I never saw them play before but their reputation has preceded them and many people don’t want to miss out on this punk rock band’s show. From the first beat on the band lives up to their reputation. Singer Eric Davidsons is bouncing around stage as one big energy bomb. He is making funny faces all the time, puts the microphone in his pants regularly, dives into the crowd and is having fun with the crowd. He's all over the stage while the rest of the band are firing off their explosive songs. Because you’d almost forget their music is top notch as well and this band is playing with a lot of power and tight. The pit in front of the stage has people in their fourties and above jumping around like teenagers, together with a people of some of the other bands. It's one big glorious and rampageous mess and one of the highlights of tonight.



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Belgian band Cocaine Piss a band on the rise and their name is buzzing around. Their punk rock music is pretty heavy and singer Aurélie Poppins' screaming vocals are powerful and sometimes hysterical. Still after a few songs the first shock has worn off and I notice the vocals make it all sound alike a lot and also get on my nerves. I can see why people may find this very impressive and interesting but it is not for me. We go to the second hall to see Swedish band Viagra Boys but their performance is definitely not working for us. It doesn't have a lot of variation and the vocals aren't great while the band doesn't play very tight. Great moment to get another beer.

Meatbodies

I saw this band a while ago and liked their music a lot. Tonight in the main hall it sounds even better. The psychedelic rock songs are clever and tight and the band is playing very well. It's getting late and you can see it getting less crowded. Meatbodies are treating the ones that have stayed to a very convincing show. It is clear this band has grown since I've seen them and have improved on their already great sound.

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After that we decide to go home as well which means we have to miss the last few band. Night festivals are all about endurance and we have simply run out. However we leave in a very good mood after a very good edition of this wonderful festival.

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