On Stage: Birth of Joy

I already consider myself a lucky bastard, but sometimes I even get more than I bargained for. This time I won tickets to go see a concert that I was planning to go to any way, that amazing rock band Birth of Joy. To make things even better The Mysterons were the opening act.

Birth of Joy at Paradiso Tolhuistuin, March 13 2016

The Mysterons
The venue Paradiso Tolhuistuin has one nice aspect which can be a downside as well: you have to cross the IJ water which in my case means I take the ferry. We just miss it by seconds and therefore have to wait ten minutes for the next one. By the time we make it into the venue, The Mysterons already have started their set. Fortunately there's plenty of songs left to play for them and their layered psychedelic songs full of tempo changes and odd measures once again is intriguing and convincing. The band has grown and sounds more tight and better than ever. Can't wait for their first album to drop.

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Birth Of Joy
The energetic rock music of Birth of Joy already is great to listen to at home, but this band is best consumed live. When you hear their songs, you think "wow, that is some great rock music" but watching them live on stage is simply overwhelming. Even after having seen them a few times before, this band still knows how to impress me.

It's the combination of well-written rock songs, very skilled and talented musicians, and the right combination of energy and enthusiasm. It's obvious these guys don't want to be anywhere else than on this stage with this crowd tonight. It's the last release show for their new album Get Well that shows the band keeps evolving and by now is one of the best rock acts in our country. Once again the tight band dazzles me with screaming guitar riffs, rolling drum fills and an out of control organ. Thanks Paradiso Vinyl Club for the tickets to an amazing night of music!



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On Stage: The Mysterons

The Paradiso venue decided to set up a vinyl club where they will release 45's for promising new bands to give them a moment in the spot lights. Those bands will also get a chance to present that single with a show in the small hall of the venue. First up are The Mysterons, a young band with some familiar faces, that presented their single 'Echoes'.

The Mysterons at Paradiso Amsterdam, February 7 2015



I saw this band play at the Into The Great Wide Open Festival last summer and was quite impressed with their music and skills. Three members are also playing in the successful afrobeat collective Jungle By Night. Their music is a trip down memory lane to the psychedelic rock of the sixties and seventies. But there's more to it than just that. The very clever songs have complex structures and are full of twists and turns.



It is no surprise the band members met at the conservatory since it is obvious these musicians are well educated and talented. The way they effortlessly knock out their exciting solos or switch to half time is quite impressive. Singer Josephine van Schaik's voice is clear and her vocals fit the music quite right. She does look a bit shy on stage, especially when she's addressing the crowd in front of the stage. The band is playing more focused and self-conscious than the time I saw them last September though and the songs sound more consistent.



The music sucks you right in and it doesn't take a lot to let it take you away on an exciting trip. You'd expect joints to be lit around you any moment and some lava lights to be switched on. At the end the band quickly returns to the stage for a final encore, which is a cover. I can't hear the title of the song, but it sounds like a Turkish or Hebrew song and doesn't feel out of place at all. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on and personally I'm looking forward a lot to their EP that should come out early Spring.

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Into The Great Wide Open 2014 Day 3: Lovely Ending

Time seems to stand still on this island, except it really doesn't. It's the last day of the festival and the sun is treating us to some of its last sun rays this summer. Time to suck up some more festival vibes.

Into The Great Wide Open Day 3, September 8 2014



Mulatu Astatke
By the time we arrive at the main stage, Ethiopian jazz master Mulatu Astatke has already started his set. Jazz may not be everyone's cup of tea but the percussive music of the wonderful Astatke is hard not to like. His band is a delight to watch, as they convincingly play his swinging compositions with lots of enthusiasm. The master himself is looking content and is watching the band, the crowd and the surroundings with a smile on his face.

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The Mysterons
Several Jungle By Night members have formed a side project, The Mysterons, no doubt at the conservatory. It's totally different from their swinging afrobeat band. It starts off with some songs that remind of Portishead, which isn't that surprising since 'Mysterons' is a song by them. I'm not a fan of that Bristol sound, but singer Josephine van Schaik's voice sounds impressive and the band is playing creative music. Then the songs turn more into seventies style rock songs and van Schaik proves she can handle that as well. The band are changing tempo and time measures with great ease. It may prove to be too much for some, but I'm loving this. I'm going to watch this band closely and am looking forward to their EP later this year.

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Ezra Furman
We decide to hang around at the sports field and take it more slow. Ezra Furman is performing there and is playing catchy rock 'n roll songs. Furman's glasses have broken but he decides to keep wearing them, which makes him look like a character from Revenge Of The Nerds. However I don't really like his voice which isn't great and sounds like he's putting too much cheese on it. Also the rest of the band isn't looking exactly inspired. Especially sax player Tim Sandusky seems to be thinking about his shopping list instead of playing music. Probably it's all an act but it is putting me down, which can never be the idea. The best song in their set is The Clash cover 'Train In Vain' which says it all.

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra
It's a surprising spot in the schedule for Unknown Mortal Orchestra on the main stage on the middle of the day. To me this is one of the highlights in the program and Ruban Nielson and co don't disappoint. Nielson is focused and his psychedelic and grooving solos are superb. The trippy and freaky songs may not go down well with everyone, considering the half empty field, but it doesn't really matter. Once again I'm impressed with this virtuoso band. Although I think a spot in the dark in the dunes would have made it even more impressive. I can't wait for their next album and a proper club show.

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Typhoon
Dutch rapper Typhoon had quite a year. He released a highly acclaimed album earlier and totally killed it on the main stage at the Lowlands festival a few weeks ago. The organization are well aware that he's the perfect closing act of the festival. The field in front of the main stage is full of people who want to dance in the sun shine one more time. Typhoon has no problem making that happen. Hip hop and rap simply aren't my cup of tea, so we watch it all from a distance while working our way through a delicious pot of mussels. A magical moment happens when a woman is carried slowly towards the stage, as if she's floating above the crowd. At the end the charismatic Typhoon is totally killing it with his great band.



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This edition ends on a high and before we know it we're on the boat that is taking us back to reality. This festival seems to get better every year. And although it will be hard again to get tickets for next year, we are definitely going to make sure we're there again.

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Into The Great Wide Open 2014 Day 0 + 1
Into The Great Wide Open 2014 Day 2

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