On Stage: Tool @ Ziggo Dome

I had to look it up to find out when the last time was that I saw Tool play live. It turns out it was 2006 at the Rock Werchter festival, a few years before I started this blog. I was lucky enough to have seen them a few days before in the Heineken Music Hall (now called AFAS Live) as well. They would play the Lowlands festival the year after for their last visit to this country. I was supposed to go there like I did every year in those days, but a personal tragedy decided otherwise. Finally tonight after all those years, the band returns to the low lands and my home town.

Tool at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, June 18 2019

Photo by Ben Houdijk

A lot of water has passed through the Amsterdam canals since that last time and the world has changed a lot, but a new Tool album still hasn't dropped (August 30th!). It only helped building the mythical character of this band. They are playing the Ziggo Dome which is three times the size of the HMH where I saw them in 2006. Still it sold out in 10 minutes, but I was lucky enough to get me and some friends arena tickets. We make sure to get there early to find us a good spot, which allows us to see Fiend warm up the crowd. They do a good job and I like their heavy psychedelic stoner sound.

Photo by Ben Houdijk

You can feel the anticipation in the air when everyone is waiting for Tool to start their show. When the lights go out, the band enters the stage in the dark and starts playing 'Ænema', title track of what may arguably be their best album. There's a strict no camera policy, so there isn't a sea of cell phones rising from the crowd. However it forced me to borrow some pictures again though. Right from the start it seems the band wants us to know that things haven't changed in the world of Tool. 'The Pot' follows, 'Parabol' and 'Parabola' are perfectly glued together, and they couldn't have made a better start. Like always the visuals are wonderful, totally supporting the music. There are even parts of their old videos showing from "back in the days". Once and a while a fully transparent sceen will come down where more abstract visuals are projected on, almost creating a 3D effect.

Photo by Ben Houdijk

The first new song is 'Descending' which feels a bit ill at ease after the monumental start. No need to worry when an epic version of 'Schism' follows. Maynard James Keenan's voice is clear and strong, while he's sporting a new mohawk this time, although I have the feeling he used to sings certain parts more aggressively. It could just be my memory failing me though. Guitarist Adam Jones is playing his complex parts with incredible precision and bassist Justin Chancellor is the only one who is actually trying to connect with the crowd. At the same time he's playing his groovy bass lines as if they are actually very easy. Together with out of this world drummer Danny Carey the two are creating all those complex rhythms and changing odd time signatures that they are known for.

Photo by Ben Houdijk

What makes Tool so unique is that you know and can hear it is very complicated what they are doing, but it still feels natural, as if it makes total sense that the songs sound that way. It doesn't feel like small parts glued together or playing difficult music only to show off. It always feels like a whole and proper songs. It's all played to perfection where every note is thought out, but still it never sounds too mechanical and never lacks spontaneity. This is incredibly impressive and it shows how great a musicians they are, in total control of their instruments and music. Only the really great ones are able to play complex music and make it sound so natural and organic.

So was this a perfect show? No, I don' think so. After a vicious and mental performance of 'Forty Six & 2' there's a twelve minute intermezzo even with a projected count down, that seems quite unnecessary. A shorter break would allow them to play an extra song. The new song 'CCTrip' after that, is a Danny Carey drum solo where he's also fiddling around with a synthesizer. I love Danny Carey and he is one of my drum heroes. His relaxed style is wonderful to watch, where he doesn't seem to break a sweat playing insane grooves with complex double bass patterns. However this drum solo feels out of place and I would have liked them playing another song here. So there are a few weaker moments, but it doesn't take away the fact that this was an incredible show. The quartet proves it once more, when they end the night with a stunning 'Stinkfist', which is a showcase of the quality and skills of this one of a kind band. The best part is: I get to see them again next week on Rock Werchter, exactly like in 2006. Wooohooo!

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Setlist:
01. Ænema
02. The Pot
03. Parabol
04. Parabola
05. Descending
06. Schism
07. Invincible
08. Intolerance
09. Jambi
10. Forty Six & 2
Intermission
11. CCTrip (Danny Carey drum solo)
12. Vicarious
13. Stinkfist


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On Stage: U2 @ Ziggo Dome

I've been a U2 fan for many years and attended every tour since the Lovetown Tour back in 1990. But they lost me musically long time ago and after the 360 tour I thought I had seen enough. So three years back when U2 released Songs of Innocence and kind of pushed it down our throats I decided to skip the accompanying Innocence + Experience tour, but was sorry I did after reading the reviews. I kind of found back my love for the band after last year's The Joshua Tree tour. When they released Songs of Experience that same year, I really wanted to see the accompanying Experience + Innocence tour.

U2 at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, October 8 2018

That alone is quite an effort since it's not so easy getting tickets to a concert of one of the biggest rocks bands in the world playing a relatively small venue for such a big band. Fortunately I managed to land a few tickets and so we find ourselves at the Ziggo Dome on a Monday night, staring at something that looks like a narrow long cage. Of course this is U2 so when the concert takes off, the cage turns out to be a bridge with huge screens to either side. The band appears on the bridge to kick it off with a new song 'The Blackout'.

The bridge can go up and down, tilt so it becomes a slope and it connects the main stage with a smaller round stage at the other end. The huge screens flash on sometimes to show accompanying images or colours or to send some of the political messages the band always has been known for. It is a spectacular setup, but it does take away the focus from the band. I see many people watching the screens to their side while the band is playing on the main stage in front of them. But of course U2 has never been a band to keep things small.

I do like the story they are trying to tell about these four Irish boys that started a band, became bigger than anything else and even flew too close to the sun at one point. While Bono tells this story he's not shying away from self-criticism, even bringing back MacPhisto. So we have a big show, a story, but what about the music? It is clear their finest musical years have been long gone and the new songs mostly are mediocre attempts to stay in pace with the current music scene. 'Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way' sounds modern and has a beautiful theme, but simply doesn't even come close to the likes of 'Acrobat' or 'New Year's Day'. It sounds more like a filler song on an album by a band trying to be Coldplay.

Their most outstanding album Achtung Baby is heavily represented tonight, which makes sense since it holds their most daring and exciting music. During 'Pride (In The Name Of Love)' the members of the band couldn't be further apart with Bono all the way on the small round stage, Adam Clayton and The Edge on small risers to either side of the floor and Larry Mullen Jr. remaining on stage all by himself. I happen to be only a few meters away from The Edge which is very nice of course but at the same time it feels a bit awkward to see the member so wide apart, fully detached from each other.

It is clear this band still is at its best when playing their finest songs. Not necessarily their biggest hits but simply their best music. Unfortunately in all fairness there are only a few songs coming out of the past two decades that are part of that. However new song '13 (There Is A Light)', with Bono holding on to a big light bulb, proves the band hasn't completely lost their ability to write a good honest song. Maybe one day they can come up with an album again that is full of these little gems. In the end most fans here tonight don't care about all of this and got what they came for: a spectacular show by a band that still is one of the biggest ones around playing some of their favourite songs. And I am mostly one of them.



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Setlist
01. The Blackout
02. Lights of Home
03. I Will Follow
04. All Because of You
05. Beautiful Day
06. Zoo Station
07. Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
08. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
09. Elevation
10. Vertigo
11. Even Better Than the Real Thing
12. Acrobat
13. You're the Best Thing About Me
14. Summer of Love
15. Pride (In the Name of Love)
16. Get Out of Your Own Way
17. New Year's Day
18. City of Blinding Lights
Encore
19. One
20. Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way
21. 13 (There Is a Light)


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On Stage: Pearl Jam @ Ziggo Dome

It's been a few years since Pearl Jam visited our country. Now they are on a big tour even though a new album is on the way only somewhere next year. Of course these guys don't need a new LP to sell out arenas, nor do I need a new LP to go see them.

Pearl Jam at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, June 13 2018

Even though I have seen them several times I never can get enough from this legendary rock band. You know that every night the setlist is different and every setlist will have a a few gems on them. They open the night with the incredible 'Release' and then slowly build it up. The first half is quite heavy and raw, which is just the way I like em.

Eddie Vedder has become a rock icon and for a good reason. He's always in a good mood, although tonight he mentions he really misses his daughter. He comes across as this really friendly guy and you just want to give him a hug. Fortunately he is surrounded by his buddies, because that's what they are. When you see them playing their music, throwing smiles and looks of admiration at one another, you can see they have a lot of respect for each other and are having a lot of fun together.

And who wouldn't love guys like Eddie Vedder, guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard, bassist Jeff Ament, and drummer Matt Cameron. They are a group of guys I would love to have a beer with. It is this kind of energy and vibe they radiate and why so many people like them. And because they are simply one hell of a rock band, that made so many good songs, that they can play more than twentyfive songs in over two and a half hours.

'Even Flow' is one of those near to perfect rock songs that still stands tall after so many years. The beautiful ballad 'Just Breathe' sounds so fragile and intimate, showing Vedder's amazing voice. 'Once' and 'Black' go back to back in the encore before the place is lit with the rock monument 'Alive'. The place is torn apart and the crowd keeps going during 'Rockin' In The Free World' and 'Yellow Ledbetter'. Ok, this post reads back like a fanboy's memory but come on, what's not to like about this epic band? See you again at the Pinkpop festival fellows!



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Setlist:
01. Release
02. Present Tense
03. Animal
04. Last Exit
05. Lightning Bolt
06. 1/2 Full
07. Untitled
08. MFC
09. Even Flow
10. Light Years
11. Glorified G
12. Can't Deny Me
13. Mind Your Manners
14. Unthought Known
15. Inside Job
16. State of Love and Trust
17. Do the Evolution
18. Porch
Encore
19. Bee Girl
20. Man of the Hour
21. Just Breathe
22. Once
23. Black
24. Rearviewmirror
25. Alive
26. Rockin' in the Free World
27. Yellow Ledbetter


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On Stage: Gorillaz at Ziggo Dome

Everything surrounding Gorillaz is a spectacle. The cartoon band created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett has become a big name, one that is associated with diverse and exciting music, dazzling use of multimedia and spectacular shows. Maybe the latest Humanz album was a bit of a disappointment, although I think it is still one that is very enjoyable. This summer I watched the band on a live stream of the Gorillaz festival Demon Dayz and know that tonight's show simply cannot disappoint.

Gorillaz at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, November 21 2017

Right before the sold out show there's a happy vibe among the people and everyone is eager to see this long awaited concert. The crowd is just as colourful as Gorillaz' music, with people of different age, colour, countries and background. It is clear that this music unifies people which is a nice thing to notice. The lights go out and we hear the intro of 'M1 A1' and its familiar "hello".

Of course the big screen will show stunning visuals and parts of the music videos. It's funny to see how older videos have a lower resolution and look more grainy. In a few songs it will show the guest singers like D.R.A.M. in 'Andromeda' and Jehnny Beth in 'We Got The Power'. Fortunately there are a many guests live on stage as well like Little Simz in 'Garage Palace' and De La Soul who are firing everyone up in 'Feel Good Inc.' Peven Everett is impressive in 'Strobelite', Jamie Principle and Zebra Katz give a wonderful performance in 'Sex Murder Party'. There's so much going on that you hardly know where to look. The band is amazing with a 6 person choir giving some of the songs a gospel feel, where all musicians are working so hard and show a lot of heart.

Damon Albarn himself is looking very pleased too with the people surrounding him. He must be in heaven with so many great musicians around him, even though he's the biggest star on this stage. With his melodica he joins in on the fun as well, playing beautiful versions of 'Melancholy Hill' and 'El Mañana' back to back. What an amazing musician he is, who never fails to impress. There's a special homage to his dear friend Bobby Womack who passed away a few years back, as his face is shown in the disc shaped screen all the way up. Gorillaz are leaving no one out and let everyone join in on the fun. After twenty songs it's not over by far and we get a six song encore.

'Demon Days' closes the night with everyone going at it one more time and the screen shows the stained glass window of a church. It was a high mass today, a big celebration and a feast for the senses. Gorillaz explores the entire world of popular music and still knows how to make it sound as a whole. When we leave the venue we can only see happy faces around us. It's the magical touch of Gorillaz.



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Setlist:
01. M1 A1
02. Last Living Souls
03. Rhinestone Eyes
04. Tomorrow Comes Today
05. Every Planet We Reach Is Dead
06. Saturnz Barz
07. 19-2000
08. Superfast Jellyfish (with De La Soul)
09. On Melancholy Hill
10. El Mañana
11. Dirty Harry (with Bootie Brown)
12. Strobelite (with Peven Everett)
13. Andromeda
14. Sex Murder Party (with Jamie Principle and Zebra Katz)
15. Out of Body (with Zebra Katz)
16. Garage Palace (with Little Simz)
17. Punk
18. Stylo (with Peven Everett and Bootie Brown)
19. Feel Good Inc. (with De La Soul)
20. We Got the Power (with Little Simz)
Encore
21. Cloud of Unknowing
22. Hong Kong
23. Kids With Guns
24. Clint Eastwood
25. Don't Get Lost in Heaven
26. Demon Days


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On Stage: Queens of the Stone Age @ Ziggo Dome

Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme seems a different person these days. He used to be quite a tough guy, even on stage, but ageing and a horrific experience during knee surgery a few years back changed him. When the world seems to be on fire, he and his band respond with a Mark Ronson produced record to dance to and forget about all the worries for a moment. So on a Sunday night we head to the Ziggo Dome to join Homme and his friends for a dance.

Queens of the Stone Age at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, November 12 2017

This is exactly what Homme tells us during his little speeches in between songs. "Tonight is Saturday night" and "I want you to dance, drink and shagg". He wants us to forget about yesterday and to not think about tomorrow. He looks very relaxed and in a good mood. With a cigarette and a drink he declares his love for this country and city once more, calling it “the true land of the free”.

Surrounded by flexible light poles, the band cuts through their catalogue, playing a tight rock show like we're used of them. Homme's voice is clear, Troy van Leeuwen's guitar playing sparkling and the rhythm section is killing it. A few years ago when we saw drummer Jon Theodore join in for the first time, it felt completely natural and now it seems as it never was any different. What an incredible drummer that guy is and together with bassist Michael Shuman it is a killer combination. Dean Fertitia is the one who's filling up the missing pieces, adding guitar and keys.

Indeed the new songs are perfect for dancing and it is simply impossible to resist the catchy grooves of 'The Way You Used To' and 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now'. They have a more poppy sound and a lighter touch than the older material but it's not so far from a song like for example 'If I Had A Tail'. With a career spanning over twenty years, the band has evolved a lot, but still the songs from the seven albums go well together. Old ones mix perfectly with new ones and golden oldies like 'Avon' sound just as good as ever.

Homme is in a chatty mood tonight, although not all of his stories make sense. He gives out some advise or tells about what drives him now he's older. The man who is the image of cool tells us being cool is actually caring about something instead of pretending not to care. It proves the way he changed and it suits him very well. This relaxed attitude flows back into their music on their latest LP Villains and in their performance tonight. It is good to see that this band has grown so big for a good reason and I'm sure have plenty up their sleeves for many years to come.



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Setlist:
01. If I Had a Tail
02. Monsters in the Parasol
03. My God Is the Sun
04. Feet Don't Fail Me
05. The Way You Used to Do
06. You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire
07. No One Knows
08. Avon
09. The Evil Has Landed
10. Turnin' on the Screw
11. Smooth Sailing
12. Domesticated Animals
13. Make It Wit Chu
14. I Appear Missing
15. Villains of Circumstance
16. Little Sister
17. Sick, Sick, Sick
18. Go With the Flow
Encore
19. Head Like a Haunted House
20. Un-Reborn Again
21. I Think I Lost My Headache
22. A Song for the Dead


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On Stage: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds @ Ziggo Dome

Like with good whisky, Nick Cave only gets better while aging. In a career that stretches over fourty years, he never has disappointed. Even better, whenever he releases new music it exceeds expectations and never fails to impress. In that long career he slowly built a growing fan base and where I saw him in the Heineken Music Hall (now called AFAS live) a few years ago, he is now playing a sold out Ziggo Dome that is triple the size.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds @ Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, October 6 2017

What can you expect in such a big venue when the last album Skeleton Tree is so personal and intense because of the tragic passing of his son during the recording sessions? We don't have to wait long for the answer as the show starts with 'Anthrocene' which immediately sets the mood for the rest of the night. Cave grabs us by the throat and won't let go any more, his face close to ours while his eyes are full of fire. No fancy production with stunning visuals, but a simple light plan and a huge cloth as a backdrop, that's all he needs.

He keeps walking up and down the huge stage and of course gets in touch with the people in the front rows a lot. Sometimes he will wave them to come closer, but it is as if he's asking us all to come closer. He has something to share with us. He whispers it in our ears, his dark stories. Or he will spit it in our faces, his piercing eyes looking right into our soul. He is wrestling demons, chases them away, kicks them out, laughs at their faces, while his dark music is embracing us.

Sometimes he will look more fragile digging deep into his music. The beauty of 'Into My Arms' for instance, while his The Bad Seeds are playing in the background, but who are so important in creating this atmosphere. The focus is mostly on his last two albums playing gems like 'Higgs Boson Blues', 'Girl In Amber' and the absolute gorgeous 'Distant Sky' with Else Torp joining in, projected on the backdrop while her beautiful voice offers consolation. All we can do is watch and listen in awe as everyone in the big venue is absolutely quiet, sending shivers down my spine.

A few of his biggest hits are mixed in, a fierce 'From Here To Eternity', a haunting 'The Mercy Seat'. During 'Red Right Hand' Cave starts singing too early, one of the rare mistakes tonight. He faces his band, seems to snigger a bit with Warren Ellis and then continuous. Ellis, his right hand and partner in crime, has a more discrete role this time, but Cave always knows he's there, giving him a big hug to the end of the show. During 'The Weeping Song' he jumps into the crowd and finishes the song at one of the cameras set up in the hall. When he comes back he is bringing lots of people with him, who dance to 'Stagger Lee'. He is obviously enjoying himself and tells them to sit down to end the show with 'Push The Sky Away'. Cave managed to resize this venue to a living room, as if he's playing only for you and a few friends. He makes you forget about everything around you, sucks you right in with his charisma and intense songs. Like a good whisky I want a sip of him every time I get a chance.



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Setlist
01. Anthrocene
02. Jesus Alone
03. Magneto
04. Higgs Boson Blues
05. From Here to Eternity
06. Tupelo
07. Jubilee Street
08. The Ship Song
09. Into My Arms
10. Girl in Amber
11. I Need You
12. Red Right Hand
13. The Mercy Seat
14. Distant Sky
15. Skeleton Tree
Encore
16. The Weeping Song
17. Stagger Lee
18. Push the Sky Away


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On Stage: Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Ziggo Dome

It's been a while since I've seen the Red Hot Chili Peppers in a headline show. The last time I saw them, the band played a disappointing and uninspired concert in Nijmegen back in 2007, while touring with the also disappointing Stadium Arcadium album. The following albums were also not that great and I kind of lost interest in the band. I did see them a few times on festivals which did spark the old flame somewhat. Until I watched a few of their festival shows last summer online and saw traces of the Peppers that once stole my heart.

Red Hot Chili Peppers at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, November 9 2016

The new album The Getaway can't compete with their older albums. To be honest uptil Stadium Arcadium they always delivered except for One Hot Minute. Then their sound changed into more mellow and pop, and the raw edge and funk had disappeared. On The Getaway, although still not great, at least some of the funk has returned here and there but more importantly the band is looking good live on stage. Before they come up, support band Deerhoof take the stage. The experimental rock band has great ideas but it's hard to get into. This is not a band to see in a large venue like this. Also Satomi Matsuzaki's vocals aren't great, which becomes painfully clear in the Def Leppard cover 'Put Some Sugar'. Her singing style with the shrill voice will put many people off to begin with anyway.

Three of the Peppers show up and gather around Chad Smith's green drum kit for a jam. When singer Anthony Kiedis shows up, they kick off with 'Around The World'. That's not a bad start of the show at all. After a few of their hit songs they play the best song of The Getaway, the lead-off single 'Dark Necessities', that sound even better live with the pumping bass. The other three songs of the new record get a lukewarm response which is understandable when you hear them in a hit loaded setlist like tonight.

Bassist Flea as always is all over the place jumping and making funny faces while at the same time playing his signature bass lines. Chad Smith is playing his killer grooves tightly and powerful in his relaxed style, tossing drum sticks into the crowd by the dozen. Josh Klinghoffer seems to be in his own universe at the right side of the stage, shredding his guitar, but sometimes he will join the rest around the drum kit. No matter how good a guitar player he is, he just can't make me forget about the one of a kind John Frusciante.

Anthony Kiedis who is known to sing out of tune regularly is singing surprisingly well tonight and is moving from the center of the stage to either side as a connection for the band. Two additional musicians on keyboard and percussion join the band at the back now and then, but especially when the four Peppers all get close to each other you can hear what still makes this band so good. At times like this they make you forget about the big stage, hall and incredible light show and turn into this exciting band that impressed everyone over 30 years ago. And by the looks of it, these guys are still enjoying playing together.

The light show tonight is incredible, with a ceiling full of tube lights that all can be adjusted individually, both in lighting and vertical position. This way it can form dazzling patterns and sometimes even an arch of light. Together with the huge screens on stage there's plenty to see. In between the songs there are small jams of course, where the band is goofing around. 'Magic Johnson', from the classic Mother's Milk, springs from a little chat about Flea's newest tattoo. The band doesn't seem to have the song about the legendary LA Lakers team from the eighties prepared and in the end Kiedis is surprised they actually are able to play it although he is not joining on vocals to sing the lightning fast lyrics.

For the encore Klinghoffer leads off all by himself to sing the Leonard Cohen song 'Anthem', which is even more appropriate now Cohen has passed away, something Klinghoffer couldn't have been aware of. A snippet of Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' follows where the band is looking a bit lost in one of their jams and Kiedis is walking off and on stage a couple of times. We go way back with 'Mommy, Where's Daddy?' from their first album in 1984 where they were a couple of goof balls that played exciting new rock music that impressed George Clinton a lot and close the night with a rocking and convincing 'Give It Away'. Nowadays the Red Hot Chili Peppers have grown older and more subdued. You could say the Red Hot Chili Peppers are less spicy now than they used to but still can cook up a delicious live show.



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Setlist:
01. Intro Jam
02. Around the World
03. Dani California
04. Scar Tissue
05. Dark Necessities
06. Hey
07. Me & My Friends
08. Go Robot
09. Californication
10. Sick Love
11. Sir Psycho Sexy
12. They're Red Hot
13. Ethiopia
14. Magic Johnson
15. Suck My Kiss
16. Under the Bridge
17. By the Way
Encore:
18. Anthem
19. War Pigs
20. Goodbye Angels
21. Mommy, Where's Daddy?
22. Give It Away

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On Stage: Foo Fighters at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam

It's been a few years since I saw Foo Fighters play live, especially in a venue. The last time they played a venue concert over here was in 2006 and only played a few times on festivals since then. Earlier this year their headline appearance got cancelled due to Dave Grohl’s unfortunate fall, breaking his leg. Needless to say I was really looking forward to their show at the Ziggo Dome.

Foo Fighters at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, November 5 2015



We make sure that we arrive early at the venue to see Trombone Shorty aka Troy Andrews, who is the support act tonight. For some reason support acts always get bad sound and the mix is terrible for them tonight. The saxophones can hardly be heard and also the microphone of Andrews, sounds terrible. It's not his voice since he sounds great and his voice is powerful which reminds of Living Colour singer Corey Glover. The songs are swinging and rock hard, played with a lot of heart by the band, who do a good job warming up the crowd.



The Foo Fighters are off to a rough start tonight when the curtain with their logo that was hanging in front off the stage doesn't completely fall down at the beginning of ‘Everlong’ and is keeping Grohl and his throne obscured from most of us. While the rest of the band laugh their heads off, Grohl stops the song and jokes “Sometimes it's the fucked up things that make you remember a show for the rest of your life!". It's typical for Foo Fighters to fix setbacks when they happen and don't let it get them down. When Grohl breaks his leg? He asks his crew to build a throne and it turns into one of the eye catchers of the tour.



From then on the show takes off with high speed and hardly ever slows down. The setlist is a nice overview of their twenty year career and their biggest hits. Some oldies like ‘Breakout’ and an intimate version of ‘Big Me’ played by Grohl solo are treats for the fans of the first hour. Drummer Taylor Hawkins sometimes takes vocals as well, especially in the cover songs they play when the band is introduced and in Pink Floyd's 'In The Flesh'. He is also doing a small sing along with the crowd Freddy Mercury style. These small interruptions are not taking the tempo out of the show, but instead give it more dynamic, making the highs even higher.



And there are plenty of highs for the crowd to go crazy on. Small circle pits are forming and the atmosphere is a festive one with plenty of beer showers. This band knows how to energize the people like no one else can, by playing with so much heart, energy and pleasure that you simply cannot resist it. Grohl explains they never play encores since they don't want to waste any time. And so for the last time band and crowd give it all once more in ‘Best Of You’ for an explosive ending to an epic rock show.



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Setlist:
01. Everlong
02. Monkey Wrench
03. Learn to Fly
04. Something From Nothing
05. The Pretender
06. Big Me
07. Congregation
08. Walk
09. Eruption (Van Halen)/Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love (Van Halen)/ Tom Sawyer (Rush)/ Another One Bites The Dust (Queen)/ You Really Got Me (The Kinks)
10. Cold Day in the Sun
11. My Hero
12. Times Like These
13. Breakout
14. All My Life
15. These Days
16. Arlandria
17. White Limo
18. Skin and Bones
19. This Is a Call
20. In the Flesh?
21. Best of You


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On Stage: KISS

There are bands that I just want to see once in my life, simply because they are legendary groups. Last month I saw AC/DC put down a great rock show and now KISS was visiting my town. I'm not a real hardcore fan but can certainly appreciate their music. And I really wanted to see them play one of their legendary shows.

KISS at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, June 18 2015



We arrive at the venue well in time to find us a good spot and see The Dead Daisies try to warm up the early arrivals. They play standard classic rock that seems to go down well with many people, which means they do a good job as support act. That is no surprise since the band features well known experienced rock musicians. Many loyal fans, some are complete families, are wearing KISS T-shirts and show some painted faces. Then a big cover goes up with the famous KISS logo, hiding the whole stage. When the lights go out, thousands of cell phones go up in the air to record what comes next. I don't think I have ever seen so many people holding up their phone. The cover drops, fireworks go off and KISS kicks off with 'Detroit Rock City' while drummer Eric Singer is sitting high in the air on his drum platform.



What follows is a tightly choreographed and well-rehearsed KISS production that has all the elements the fans want to see. Even though you know everything is orchestrated and scripted, it is so chuck full of entertainment and the band are so well at it that is a lot of fun to watch. Of course it is way over the top, but that isn't a surprise and at the same time it fits this band. You shouldn't take it all too serious, as the band themselves are not doing. Their painted faces and outfits are all part of a spectacular show, with great visuals on the many screens and video wall, lots of fireworks and the many hits they have. The sound starts out bad, but within no time that is fixed and stays decent the whole show.



Bass player Gene Simmons of course is a spectacle himself, with his impressive looks and his famous tongue that he seems to stick out more than ever. Although singer Paul Stanley's voice is starting to wear, together with guitarist Tommy Thayer and Simmons they are all over the stage, getting on their knees and pointing at fans at the front row. Simmons is spitting fire in 'War Machine', spits "blood" and flies up into the air during a bass solo to land on a small platform all the way at the top of the stage where he plays 'God Of Thunder'. Stanley flies over to a platform at the back of the venue to do 'Love Gun' and 'Black Diamond' at the end of the regular set. In the encore during 'Rock And Roll All Nite', the expected last song, they pull out all their tricks for a grand finale. Simmons and Thayer are lifted above the crowd on a moving platform, Singer is rising up again while fireworks explode, confetti is shooting around and Stanley is trashing his guitar.



This was a night I'll remember for a long time. There is so much going on it is hard to describe. Oh an the music? It's great to hear this band play many of their hit songs live on stage with such a spectacular show. They are actually still pretty good at it too.



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Setlist:
01. Detroit Rock City
02. Deuce
03. Psycho Circus
04. Creatures of the Night
05. I Love It Loud
06. War Machine
07. Do You Love Me
08. Hell or Hallelujah
09. Calling Dr. Love
10. Lick It Up
11. God of Thunder
12. Cold Gin
13. Love Gun
14. Black Diamond
Encore
15. Shout It Out Loud
16. I Was Made for Lovin' You
17. Rock and Roll All Nite


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On Stage: Ennio Morricone

Not many composers or musicians have influenced the entire music scene like Italian composer Ennio Morricone. Many musicians say they got inspired by the music of the hundreds of movie scores the 86-year old wrote in his life. The revolutionary music for the famous Sergio Leone Westerns in the sixties, where he used instruments like guitars, harmonicas and church bells which were not common in orchestras, changed the business for ever. His My Life In Music tour to celebrate his musical heritage of over 50 years got interrupted because of a hernia. It left us in doubt if he would ever be able to do the concert in Amsterdam, that got postponed three times. But fortunately tonight it will finally happen.

Ennio Morricone at Ziggo Dome Amsterdam, February 1 2015



The maestro is performing with the 86-strong Czech National Symphony Orchestra and the polyphonic Debrecen Kodaly Choir from Hungary with 76 singers. Needless to say they need a big stage and plenty of seating so the as good as sold out Ziggo Dome is a fitting place. The orchestra, choir members and Morricone himself get a big reception when they take the stage and start to play the 'The Untouchables' theme.

What follows is an overview of his most famous compositions, themes from movies like 'Once Upon A Time In America' and 'Le Clan Des Siciliens (The Sicilian Clan)'. They are grouped together in suites, where the pieces, although from different scores, are played back to back. It gives the orchestra room to stay focused, but the pieces also have something in common in terms of orchestration and feel. The ones at the start of the second set for instance are all compositions with mainly string arrangements. It gives the performance a good cohesion and balance.

The highlight of the show is when his most revolutionary compositions from the Sergio Leone movies are performed. It is wonderful to hear the orchestra and choir perform 'The Good The Bad And The Ugly', which has never sounded more alive. Morricone leads soprano Susanna Rigacci on stage and we all know what's coming next. People respond with excitement when they hear 'Once Upon A Time In The West' swell out. When Rigacci starts to sing the famous wordless vocals, it leaves everyone breathless. It is followed by 'A Fistful of Dynamite' and the set closes with 'The Ecstasy Of Gold'. It has never been so quiet in this big venue where everyone is listening in awe. A standing ovation leads us into the short break.

Big screens at the side of the stage show close up images of the musicians and singers. But the camera shots are quite messy and unstructured, which is too bad. Better camera work and directing would have made the experience better for people that are sitting farther away from the stage or without the best view. Fortunately we have seats in the first ring and can oversee all of the stage and every musician fine. Morricone looks quite fit for someone his age who had to recover from a hernia. Once and a while in between suites when he's turning around to receive applause from the audience, he's leaning on the back of his chair, but other than that he's looking in good shape fortunately.

At the end of the show the maestro and musicians are receiving one standing ovation after another. Rigacci is greeted on stage one more time as well and the show closes with a second exuberant performance of 'The Ecstasy Of Gold' where the orchestra and choir can shine one more time. It ends this wonderful evening in style, which is probably the last chance for me to see this legend on stage, truly one of the most important and influential composers of the past century.



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SetList
First Set
01. The Untouchables
02. Deborah's Theme
03. Poverty
04. Once Upon a Time in America
05. Legend of 1900
06. H2S
07. The Sicilian Clan
08. Metti una sera a cena
09. Uno che grida amore
10. Come Maddalena
11. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
12. Once Upon a Time in the West
13. A Fistful of Dynamite
14. The Ecstasy of Gold
Second Set
15. Chi mai
16. Cinema Paradiso
17. Malena
18. A Dulce luminosa
19. The Battle of Algiers
20. Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion
21. Sostiene Pereira
22. La classe operaia va in paradiso
23. Casualties of War
24. Abolisson
25. Gabriel's Oboe
26. Falls
27. On Earth as It Is in Heaven
Encore
28. Here's to You
Encore 2
29. The Ecstasy of Gold


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