Klikofest 2019

I love the summer, that is for sure. Not only because of the nice warm weather but also because of all the festivals taking place. Like the Klikofest at Patronaat, the indoor festival for garage, rock, punk, and anything that comes near.

Klikofest 2019 at Patronaat Haarlem, July 13 2019

Every year this festival seems to grow their line-up and come up with even bigger names. This year there's plenty to enjoy again and we head to the festival on time so we can catch the first band.

Sons

Unfortunately the Dutch railways aren't cooperating and our train has a twenty minute delay. As a result we miss half of Sons' show, which is too bad since I really wanted to see this Belgian garage rock band. You could call them the Belgian Oh Sees for their catchy and irresistible rock songs that sound dirty and heavy, full of fuzzy guitars, rolling fills and big grooves. I'm glad I'm still able to see the last part of their show and see with my own eyes this is indeed a fun band to watch. The quartet are able to write great compact songs that rock heavily and play them with plenty of energy. We're starting this year on a high right away.



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Petrol Girls

In the second hall Petrol Girls have started their set, a hardcore punk band on a mission. They are outspoken about many subjects and singer Ren Aldridge introduces the songs with little tales about mental health, feminism and gender neutrality. Aldridge is bouncing around stage while screaming her lyrics. After a while I think I have seen enough. It is not bad, but I think the band could use better songs that have more variety, despite their good intentions.

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The Blinders

Time to move ahead to the smallest stage in the cafe, that is always full and where it's hard to see the band. It usually makes up for it with a great atmosphere though. There we find The Blinders in the middle of their show, a punk rock trio that combines music with political views and poetry. The lyrics are hard to hear though, so I have no idea what their songs are about. Singer Thomas Haywood sounds like Jim Morrison sometimes when he recites his lyrics backed up by heavy rock music. I find it hard to get into and the songs can't really catch me. I will have to give them a proper listen to really hear what this band is all about.



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The Schizophonics

We got tipped to definitely watch the next band, The Schizophonics from San Diego. It becomes clear right away why, because this band have quite the live reputation. Singer and guitarist Pat Beers is moving around stage like a mad lightning bolt. He's constantly running from left to right, jumping, doing splits, rolling over, while playing his guitar at the same time. Whenever he comes near the microphone he barely has time to sing his lyrics. Their roadie is keeping very busy picking up the mic or even repairing it at one point. It is an explosive live show, that's for sure and their punk music is actually quite nice. But I do notice that at one point Beers' insane stage performance is getting really restless and in the way. Because of his insane stage performance he sometimes is not able to hit the chords or sing. Of course he does fire up the crowd who love it, but at the same time this is just too much overkill.



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Crows

At the second stage Crows are halfway their set. I saw them a few weeks back at the Loose Ends festival, in the middle of the afternoon in the sun shine. There I had mixed feelings about their performance, but now they are in the dark and everything really comes together. Tonight the vocals of James Cox blend together nicely with the noise of the guitars and the songs really have an impact. The vocals are intense, sharp and edgy, while the band sounds relentless and dark. Today Crows are definitely a winner with their raw and vicious post-rock songs.

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JD McPherson

We decide to take a look at the main hall, where JD McPherson are starting. This is a totally different cup of tea, a complete change from the heavy and explosive bands we just saw. McPherson plays old school rock 'n' roll music that sounds a bit dull at this point. It's not bad but never really gets exciting. The band isn't exactly setting fire to the place that isn't really filling up either. It seems many visitors are taking a break and have a beer instead. That's what we're gonna do as well.

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Los Chicos

In the cafe Los Chicos are about to start playing, a band from Madrid that has been around for almost twenty years. It is quite a big band for such a small stage, but the band manages to fit it all up there. Their gritty country and blues rock sound reminds me of music that could come from a movie like From Dusk 'Till Dawn. The band puts a lot of heart in it and are really working hard to entertain the crowd. But the music isn't all that great and the band doesn't sound really tight. This is a band that definitely can get a party started but doesn't bring a lot more to the table. Time to move on again.

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The Psychotic Monks

We head to the The Psychotic Monks, a band that I never heard of. It turns out the band from France is playing music that ranges from vicious hard core noise rock like METZ and Girl Band, to more psychedelic groovy rock music. Their performance is really intense, playing in the dark with the lights flashing like strobes. The band create their own world that is both intriguing to watch and listen to. I like their dark and strong sound, which really impresses me and will definitely check out more from them.



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Cloud Nothings

For me Cloud Nothings are one of the headliners of the festival and I expect a full house in the main hall. However it is almost seems like most people have already gone home. Singer Dylan Baldi mentions he finds it weird that they are playing this late and doesn't seem to know this is a so called night festival, one that starts early in the evening and lasts throughout the night. Fortunately this doesn't get the band down and their blend of noise rock and indie rock still is convincing tonight. They can play rock songs with a poppy side that almost sound like Britpop, and then follow it up with heavy noise rock. Still it all stays together and never feels out of place. Their set is well balanced and despite the low turn up, the heavy rock songs come across with great effect.

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Flamingods

I heard about Flamingods several times so I want to see what they are all about. The members are from London and the Middle East and their music is a blend of those worlds. I like the exotic twist of indierock and psychedelic songs. The band members look like they came from a costume party though, which is a bit too much I think. But besides their wardrobe, it is clear these are skilled musicians with a lot of creativity. It appears they are all multi-instrumentalists since they are changing instruments about every song. Fortunately this never really holds up the music and it is a nice tropical summer's breeze at this festival.

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King Khan & The Shrines

I know this time it is gonna be a long night, since King Khan and his Shrines are playing late at night. I also know we definitely don't want to miss the crazy but wonderful King Khan who seems to start a new band every year. You just gotta love his blend of garage rock and soul, that is both swinging as it is rocking. Tonight the band starts somewhat slow with Khan dressed modestly in a rock 'n' roll outfit. Of course it doesn't take long for him to change into one of his extravagant outfits and let the whole show escalate into a delightful, crazy and cheerful party.

His band are equally active with the keyboard player taking his keyboard for small trips off stage and a horns section that can make the biggest grump start to dance. Khan brought his daughter who mostly is happily dancing on stage. She is singing a few songs too, but it is better she sticks to dancing. Fortunately many people have stayed for this show and Khan makes sure they made the right choice with an energetic and wonderful show, that is definitely the highlight of the festival.

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On this high we head back home, tired but very satisfied after another top edition of Klikofest. I had the idea it was less crowded than the last couple of editions, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm sure we'll be back next year again and it is going to be interesting to see what kind of line-up they will be cooking up then.

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Kliko Fest 2018

It's becoming a tradition that we visit the annual Kliko Fest in Haarlem, a garage punk rock 'n roll night festival at the Patronaat venue. It simply is such a fun night every year with a solid line-up, a wonderful audience and cold beers. This year the line-up simply looks amazing so we definitely couldn't miss it.

Kliko Fest 2018 at Patronaat Haarlem, July 14 2018

Nick Oliveri Band

I was surprised to see Nick Oliveri opening the night at the main stage, since most people don't come this early. Indeed there isn't a huge crowd yet, but this doesn't bother Oliveri for a bit. He's playing with his friends of the Dwarves, except for Paul Cafaro, who play the same stage after this one. Cafaro does have a guest appearance halfway the set. Oliveri gives us a walkthrough of his career playing songs from Mondo Generator, Dwarves and other solo projects. The bass player knows his way around the stoner, punk rock and heavy rock and has quite a respectable catalog to choose from. When he plays Queens of the Stone Age's 'Millionaire' it is clear though, the period he was in that band and earlier on in Kyuss, was his finest hour.



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Equal Idiots

Belgian band Equal Idiots are a really fun garage rock duo with catchy songs that are irresistible. The two young musicians have a contagious uplifting stage presence which makes their music even more fun to watch. Their energetic performance turns the small Patronaat cafe into a sweaty rock 'n roll spot and I'm sure they have made new friends tonight. As they tell themselves it's amazing so many people showed up while The Dwarves are playing the main stage at the same time.

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Dwarves

We catch the last part of Dwarves, the punk rock band founded by Paul Cafaro that Oliveri's has been part of once and a while as did many other members. They are considered one of the last true punk bands and formed in the late eighties. Of course the band has aged a bit but are trying hard to relive their golden years with a mix of their punk and hardcore songs. It turns into a festive show with a more than willing crowd and a wild pit in front of the stage. A not so well aimed stage dive by one of the audience members causes a bit of a scare but later we see the guy limbing towards the ambulance with a grin on his face. It's just one of those crazy wild parties that can happen at Kliko Fest.



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Los Mirlos

And so on this festival you can find yourself with a Peruvian psychedelic Kumbia band. This turns out to be a very tasty mix and the 45 year old band draw a rock crowd that can appreciate a tropical party. There are only a few older members in the band left, but together with their younger fellow musicians they are treating us to a hot Kumbia show that here and there has some ska ingredients. The band is clearly enjoying the crowd and the warm welcome.

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Birth Of Joy

Dutch band Birth of Joy seem to fit in at any kind of music festival around. They are playing big rock festivals but are also able to impress people at blues festivals and tonight heat up the main stage over here. This band has grown so much since their first album Make Things Happen almost ten years ago and only get better. Their sound has matured and these guys are amazing musicians with a stunning performance that knocks everyone off their feet. Another win for this must see band.

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The Mystery Lights

On the second stage The Mystery Lights are killing it tonight with bouncing ball Mike Brandon leading the pack. They are firing off vintage style garage rock songs and make them sound alive and fresh. We're watching the band from the balcony who are playing on the scarcely lit stage. The active Brandon is hardly standing still and the lively performance is wonderful to watch and puts a smile on many faces.

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FIDLAR

We continue the party at the main stage where FIDLAR are turning the hall into one wild pit. Shoes are flying around, people are flying around and everyone on and off stage is having a good time. FIDLAR's songs may not be the most original or subtle but you can give these guys a call when you want to have a good time. Sometimes it's just fun dancing along to songs about beer.



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ET Explore Me

The further the night progresses and the more beer is flowing the better the bands get. Local heroes ET Explore Me are giving a wild rock 'n roll show with a crazy organ flying loose. By now at every stage you turn to, people are dancing and enjoying the hell out of this festival. This band gives them exactly what they want so everyone can continue to boogie.

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Oh Sees

For me Oh Sees, or OC's or Thee Oh Sees, or whatever name John Dwyers's group goes by these days, is the biggest name on the bill. I'm surprised to see it is less crowded than the FIDLAR show. Maybe it's the time of the show, since it is already getting late, although this is a night festival of course. Besides changing their name, the band fortunately hasn't changed a thing about their music which is still to the point. This band simply are one of the best on the scene, with all musicians including the two drummers lined up at the front of the stage. The group is playing extremely tight, with a show that has an incredible tempo and never dies down. Tonight they are playing with a lot of power and are tearing down the roof one more time. Definitely the highlight of the night, which is already full of incredible performances.

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Although there are still some bands playing, we call it a night and leave on a high. Kliko Fest is one of the best rock festivals around with the coolest, dirtiest and most fun bands around and without a doubt one of the best crowds. The vibes are so good here and people come here to simply have the best time and party like there's no tomorrow. We are definitely coming back next year again.

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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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Klikofest: A Drunk Night Of Rock 'n' Roll

After a good Record Store Day this day was far from over. We were heading down to Haarlem to spend most of the night with beer and garage rock 'n' roll music at the Patronaat. In short: time for the Klikofest festival!

Klikofest at Patronaat Haarlem, April 20 2013



Little Barrie
I never heard of this band until I reviewed their latest album King Of The Waves, which is full of great rock songs. Although the sound is bad, too much bass and vocals hardly audible, the band give a good show. Singer and guitarist Barrie Cadogan is a typical British front man, a bit cocky but with some tongue in cheek. Drummer Virgil Howe is smiling throughout the whole performance while playing his tight grooves. The songs sound just as convincing as on their record. A good way to start off the night I'd say.
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The Jim Jones Revue
We seem to have gone back in time a few decades, which isn't that awkward at this festival of rock and blues. The many members of The Jim Jones Revue are wearing old fashioned rock 'n' roll suits. That's a good choice since it fits their music. Although well played it kind of gives you the feeling you're at your mom's prom night. It gets a bit weary in the end. Nothing a few more beers can't fix.
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The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Time for one of the headliners of the night. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion are the biggest band of the night and don't disappoint. Do they ever? Their performance is tight, full of energy and they fire off their blues rock like there's no tomorrow. Set in somewhat darker lighting for most of the show (very bad for pictures) their music grabs you by the balls and won't let go. Like their last album already showed: they are back stronger than ever!
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The Phantom Four
It's getting later and people start to leave. So I find myself at the front of the stage to watch one of my favourite bands from this area. Phantom Frank and his Phantom Four have parted with singer Rudeboy and are back to playing instrumental surf songs. Not just regular surf, but with a twist, mixed with worldy influences. Frank is playing the crowd with ease, putting a spell on everyone with his magical guitar licks. Or is that the beer talking?
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Time to get down and dirty with this garage rock threesome who are taking our nation by storm. More and more people have left the festival by now, but the ones who remain still have plenty of energy left. A mosh pit is forming, which is a perfect setting for this band with their wild punk and rock songs. It's even enough to allow guitar player Daan van Dalen and singer Mark Lada to do some crowd surfing. Wild and dirty indeed!
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Then it's lights out for us. We decide to call it a day, or night actually and skip the rest of the program. This was one hell of a day that definitely went out with a big bang. I'm so there again next year

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