About a year ago Flying Horseman played a show that resulted from a six week residence at art centre De Singel in Antwerp. Now this has been made into an album called Rooms/Ruins and the band is visiting Amsterdam again.
If you ever listened to the music of this Belgian band, you know it evolves around guitar player and singer Bert Dockx. The songs build around his vocals and guitar playing. He has gathered a group of very talented musicians around him that each bring something to the table. The songs patiently are building up where the band are slowly increasing the tension and sometimes let it rip, let it out slowly or let never let it go.
This way their music is both dreamy at some points, also because of the high harmonies the sisters Loesje and Martha Maieu add. At the same time, the synthesizers and samples combined with the guitar create a dark atmosphere. It's as if you're part of a dream that can suddenly turn ugly, but you simply never know what is around the corner. This way the band will keep everyone on their toes during the entire concert.
Live this feeling is even magnified because of the atmosphere they create. Dockx's guitar playing is out of this world sometimes with shredding solos and fast fingerpicking. The amazing drummer Alfredo Bravo supports everything with creative drumming and percussion in a very loose style. Bassist Mattias Cré adds a bit of funk to the mix with swinging bass lines. This group is incredible at playing with dynamics in their music. Listen to the amazing 'Private Isle' for example that grabs you by the throat. Make sure to catch this unique band when you get the chance.
Of course the venues I visit like Melkweg and Paradiso are well known, but there are also a few more underground places that are worth a visit like Pacific Parc. It’s actually not a venue but a restaurant during the day that transforms into a place for rock n roll party people during the night with great DJ’s and live bands regularly. Annually they throw a big rock n roll circus party and this year it is a 13th anniversary celebration for three days. With bands like The Phantom Four and zZz on the bill I just had to go there.
Rock 'n' Roll Circus Day 2 at Pacific Parc Amsterdam, March 30 2018
The first night we weren’t able to go, but fortunately my favourite surf band was playing the second night. The Phantom Four turned into three for a while when their guitar player left and it took a some time before they found a worthy replacement. But now the group is complete again and is back stronger than ever. Tonight they prove that with that catchy surf rock sound. Of course Pacific Parc is their second home and so many of their fans have turned up to join the party. Most people are dancing to the great surf rock songs and the band turns the night into a true celebration. Where's the beach!?
Today Amsterdam band NEED are closing the live part of the night, whose members have been around the music scene for a while. Singer Sam has dressed up nicely for tonight and has put on his nicest dress for the festive occasion. Their loud songs are explosive and very well done. They are a punk band with a punk attitude but their sound is a lot broader. Sam knows how to entertain this crowd and is all over the place giving it all he’s got, screaming his lungs out. The songs are not always standard punk songs so the band can vary in style and energy level. NEED is a great band to close this night with.
We return for the last night of this three day celebration and find the Belgian duo Le Prince Harry pounding out loud industrial new wave electro punk songs. It’s extremely loud and I’m glad I’m wearing my earplugs. The music is actually not so bad quite interesting, but maybe needs a bit more variation. And maybe tune down the volume a bit, since now I see people fleeing outside to escape the noise.
The two Swiss musicians of Blind Butcher have a more subtle approach with plenty of rock n roll with a little disco mixed in. The band already was a big success when they played here last time and they simply had to come back. Tonight is no different and they have everyone dancing to the four on the floor songs of the duo that are dressed in shiny outfits. They do a great job of setting the right vibe for tonight.
And what better way to end this night with zZz, whose music is made for late night rock n roll parties. I find the combination of the shredding organs combined with danceable grooves irresistible. It is clear the two musicians are enjoying their gig as well and can’t stop playing tonight. The crowd can’t get enough either and are still full of energy, so much is clear. The band who invented the sleaze fests are the perfect closing act of this three day celebration of a wonderful place where underground bands and rock n roll are still going strong.
The two promising bands Yasmine and JAGD were both competing in the local band competition Amsterdamse Popprijs in 2017 where JAGD came out as the big winner. Now they are teaming up for a series of gigs where they are appear to be competing again.
There’s no real fight tonight of course, it’s just the theme of this series of shows. Screens are showing old boxing fights and both bands perform in a boxing ring. It looks pretty cool, although maybe not very practical sound wise, but the bands are really close to the crowd.
Yasmine
First up are Yasmine, who play garage pop songs. The group doesn’t like to make it easy for themselves or their audience. Their songs are clever and require a bit of work to get into. The three musicians are obviously very skilled and the songs have interesting structures and themes. Singer and guitar player Kevin van Moorsel is pretty good at small talk with the audience and is convincing as a front man. It will be interesting to see how far this band can go.
JAGD
It looks like JAGD has a fast growing fan base as the hall has filled up some more. The band doesn’t waste any time and sets fire to the place right away with their contagious punk rock songs. It’s impossible to stand still when these guys and girl fire up one catchy rock tune after another. The 80s new wave twist works very well and the rhythm section adds plenty of groove that give the songs the right amount of spice. Singer Nanne van der Linden’s rough vocals bring even more fire and it doesn’t take long for a mosh pit to appear in front of the stage. By the end the fans in the pit have completely lost it and are literally flying through the room, including the band's guitar player Jos Neering. JAGD knows how to throw a good party.
It’s good to see bands like this team up, since they can use all the help they need to play plenty of shows and hopefully in the end work their way up to an established spot in the music scene. Both groups have shown plenty of potential to get there, so tonight everyone wins.
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