Sniffing The Grass: A Rock Werchter 2012 Warmup

It's June, rain, strong winds and thunderstorms are beating down on the low lands. That means the festival season is at full swing and it's almost time for our yearly trip down South to our favourite Belgian festival Rock Werchter. This time they added a third stage, which means there'll be more bands and more choices to make. So let's line them up and see what we can expect. See the full line-up over here.

Thursday
We can take it easy driving to the festival since the first band I want to see is Bombay Bicycle Club. The little hype around them seems to have quiet down by now, but they are still worth a visit to the new stage called the Barn. Later on it's The Maccabees on the same stage that still need to convince me. We're gonna get insane in the membrane with some old school hip-hop by Cypress Hill. Let's take the Garbage out with Shirley Manson and co. and see if they still got it. Elbow is always a great festival act although we've seen them so many times now. I can't remember anything about the last time The Cure were visiting this festival so I'll pay better attention this time with this legendary band. The last album by The Kooks wasn't that great and their music is actually a bit too teen-girl-happy for me, but somehow I always enjoy watching them. Justice may just be the right band to finish us up for the night.

Friday
After the first day, which on paper is the busiest day for me, we have an early start today with School Is Cool. Hopefully they can get rid of that ferocious hang-over on the second day that always seems to trouble me every year. Miles Kane is having a great year and made a good album, so I'm definitely gonna watch him again. Then there's not a lot to my liking. Time to stroll around a bit, have some food and drinks and then maybe see a bit of the Gossip. I can only grasp a bit of The Temper Trap before rushing back to the main stage for Jack White. Will he bring his guys or girls band? I never can get enough of the always great dEUS. And of course I certainly can't get enough of one of my other favourites Pearl Jam. After Eddie and friends I want to catch Beirut and their interesting indie music. That will probably wrap up today, after of course finishing off with a few more cold beers.

Saturday
My body has gone into survival mode by now, so let's start slow and soulful with Michael Kiwanuka followed by the great Alabama Shakes. Then we're gonna pick it up a few notches and rock hard with Wolfmother and Kasabian. Then I'm finally gonna see My Morning Jacket, one of the best live bands around according to some. Then it's time for some "Frietje Stoofvlees" or some grilled chicken and apple sauce. Or maybe check out M83 after all? Of course we'll be back on time for Editors. It's going to be interesting to hear how their sound has changed. Guitar player Chris Urbanowicz didn't leave for nothing I guess. Third day down, one more to go.

Sunday
Belgian band The Hickey Underworld make interesting music so we'll start off early with them. Then we can stay at the main stage for The Vaccines who will most certainly play some new songs. I love Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and am really looking forward to seeing him play. Then things slow down too much for me or just aren't my cup of tea. Maybe see Ed Sheeran, since I recently won a signed 7" of The A Team that sounds pretty nice. We may as well just stick around for Florence + The Machine and Snow Patrol before the closing act Red Hot Chili Peppers will hopefully finish up with some musical fireworks. I was a big fan but kind of lost interest after the last few albums and a bad performance a few years ago. Hopefully they can win me back over. The Jupiler most certainly will have by now.

You can find a downloadable time schedule on fellow blogger Tbeest's blog or over here. Read more!

Drive Like Maria Don't Need To Wear Helmets No More

A few years ago Dutch/Belgian rockers Drive Like Maria all of a sudden surprised with their first album Elmwood. The record was full of sturdy stoner and blues rock tracks. Live this was even more of an experience, where they were wearing stunt helmets at the beginning of their show. Then it got quiet, they built a small studio in Italy and started recording new songs.

Drive Like Maria - Drive Like Maria (Ronald Says 8 out of 10)

Some critics found they didn't have their own sound and were copying too much from other bands. Singer Bjorn Awouters was playing the drums at the same time, which isn't ideal when playing live on stage. So for this album, simply called Drive Like Maria, they got in drummer Bram van den Berg. This worked out very well.

Their sound has developed and got wider, the album sounds more balanced. The songs have more melody and variation. It's not just rock in the highest gear any more, although fortunately there is still plenty of heavy rock left. 'Black Horses' and 'Ghostrider' have great riffs where guitar player Nitzan Hoffmann is showing her skills. It's clear van de Berg is a hard hitter. His grooves sound solid and tight throughout the album, giving bass player Robin van Saaze enough to lean into.

But then it's time to take it more slow. 'On The Road' and 'Bury My Heart In The Desert' are convincing ballads brought with plenty of feeling. 'Howl' featuring Intergalactic Lovers singer Lara Chedraoui and 'Boomerang' show yet another face of the band. Both songs are more radio friendly and could appeal to a wider audience.

Drive Like Maria have made a wise choice. Instead of repeating the same trick, they have taken the time to develop and improve. The band moves onto the next level with their second album. It does feel as if this is just a stop in between and they have a lot more coming. Let's hope so and in the meanwhile enjoy their lively performances.

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The Stone Roses Give One Of The Best Worst Shows Ever

At the end of the eighties The Stone Roses delivered their epic self-titled debut album. It changed the music scene forever and left its marks in music history. They were one of the bands to ignite Madchester back in the days. The four piece tried to follow up on that, but their second album couldn't come close to its classic predecessor, things go ugly and they vanish. Until last year when a reunion was announced, one that was highly anticipated by me.


The Stone Roses at Heineken Music Hall, June 12 2012

The band have always been precarious and have played notoriously bad shows in the past. Amsterdam is only the second reunion show of the tour, that will have its climax in the UK later this summer. Over half of the venue is filled with UK fans, where the band are still huge. There's no support act and the fans are eagerly awaiting the band. They appear on stage and open up with 'I Wanna Be Adored'. Right from the start people are excited and sing along with every word.



Singer Ian Brown is holding two jingle sticks and will do so for the rest of the concert. Since they are not even near a mic, they can't be heard, but he probably feels comfortable with them. He still is the likeable rascal he's always been, pointing at people in the crowd, waving and now and then throwing smiles around. But as the show progresses it's clear that his voice isn't great and he's singing off-key most of the time. Drummer Reni seems unhappy throughout the show, looking for a roady several times. The harmonies he's singing with Brown are sometimes just painful to the ears.



Bass player Mani is enjoying the hell out of himself, playing with a big smile on his face for most of the gig. Guitar player John Squire is looking a bit indifferent, while playing his unmistakable guitar parts. The band doesn't sound too tight and actually sounds weak at times. However the combination Mani and Squire still is a good one. Their seventies style grooves still have their great moments and sometimes are showing some of the sparkle of the past. On top of that the band's epic songs are just too good. When they play 'Waterfall' or 'She Bangs The Drums' it all seems to come together again. 'Fool's Gold' even sounds better than ever with a great jam and Squire in the spotlight.



The later it gets and the more beers are downed the more cheerful the crowd gets. Mates are standing shoulder to shoulder, singing along with their childhood tunes. The atmosphere is just great. It makes up for the weak performance and turns the night into a success. At the end the lights are turned off, the band leaves...and doesn't come back. No 10 minute 'I Am The Resurrection'. Only Brown is appearing back on stage to tell us that "The drummer's gone home" and "The drummer's a cunt!". Did we witness a The Stone Roses meltdown this early in the tour? Who can tell, but they can never take this one away from us. No band can play so bad and still cry victory as The Stone Roses.

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Setlist:
1. I Wanna Be Adored
2. Sally Cinnamon
3. Mersey Paradise
4. (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister
5. Where Angels Play
6. Shoot You Down
7. Fools Gold
8. Tightrope
9. Ten Storey Love Song
10. Waterfall
11. Don't Stop
12. This Is the One
13. She Bangs The Drums
14. Made Of Stone
15. Love Spreads
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