On Stage: Ryley Walker @ Tolhuistuin

Ever since I got pleasantly surprised by Ryley Walker at the Into The Great Wide Open Festival a few years back, I've been wanting to visit one of his shows. I did get to see him a few times at festivals again but now I'm finally able to catch him at a full headliner show.

Ryley Walker at Paradiso Tolhuistuin Amsterdam, December 2 2018

It's the combination of well written psych rock songs and the jazzy classic rock vibe that I like about Walker's music. He brought an excellent band with him on stage again, with not one but two drummers. You never can have enough drummers of course. Walker's been a busy bee this year and released two albums: Deafman Glance and The Lillywhite Sessions, a reimagining of the long lost Dave Matthews Band album. With those new albums he adds another bunch of beauties to his catalogue and has now a lot to choose from.

It's not like he needs a lot of songs, since the way he and his band stretch out the songs, they don't need more than a dozen. Not that you will hear me complain about that, because every song ends up in a blissful jam of epic proportions with two drummers that are totally complementary and guitars that are playfully swirling around each other. Walker will lead his band into a song on top of a theme before they let it fan out into free prog rock like pieces. It never gets fiddly though or too complicated as sometimes is the case, where musicians simply are showing off. No not at all, it always is tasteful and a band effort where eventually they will return to the theme again. At the end Jaimie Branch joins the group on stage to add lovely trumpet parts to a wonderful and intense song.

Walker does spend a lot of time in between songs tuning his guitar. Or maybe it is just an excuse for him to have a little chat, mostly about the local Dutch fast food cuisine (bitterballen) or his aspirations to star in a beer commercial. Yes, Walker is quite a funny guy, although it sometimes loses the momentum in the show. But you can forgive him those long breaks, since he does connect with the audience in a relaxed way, which brings a light touch to this night. For the rest you simply can only surrender yourself to the stunning performance by these incredible musicians and the amazing talent of Ryley Walker.



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On Stage: Interpol

A lot has changed since Interpol were one of the new exciting bands in the early 2000s. They have been around for over twenty years and their breakthrough album Antics is almost 15 years old. Oh how time flies, but fortunately Interpol is still around. After struggling for a few years, they came back with a good album El Pintor and this year its maybe even better follow up Marauder. Even better, they are playing a relatively small club for their stature.

Interpol at Tivoli Vredenburg Utrecht, November 27 2018

Of course this show sold out long ago and it's nice to see this band up close again. A lot of new songs from the new album make it on the setlist tonight. You notice that those songs have a lighter touch than the dark older ones. That doesn't mean they are now playing happy disco tunes, but it is a slight change of their sound.

Like always the band doesn't use a huge spectacular light show, but uses lighting in a functional way. A few disco balls are now and then used effectively together with strobe lights, creating a big contrast with the otherwise modest lighting. The band like always is quite static on stage, keeping a distance from the crowd. In their case this actually suits their music and only makes the gloomy atmosphere of the songs more threatening.

The group plays very tight and like their light show, never play too much, but exactly what is needed. The dark guitar sound mixes well with the synths and are backed up by a very groovy rhythm section. Both drums and bass add this little extra funk into the mix, preventing the music from becoming too depressive. This is what I really like about their sound, that groovy combination. And of course the thundering vocals of Paul Banks, who doesn't waste any time talking in between songs. Instead the band simply keeps going in their steady but powerful tempo until finally indestructible fan favourites 'Evil' and 'Obstacle 1' end the show in great style.



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Setlist:
01. Pioneer to the Falls
02. C'mere
03. If You Really Love Nothing
04. Public Pervert
05. Roland
06. Complications
07. Say Hello to the Angels
08. NYC
09. The Rover
10. Rest My Chemistry
11. NYSMAW
12. Stay in Touch
13. All the Rage Back Home
14. The New
15. Flight of Fancy
16. Slow Hands
Encore
17. Lights
18. Evil
19. Obstacle 1


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On Stage: Bob Billy @ Checkpoint Charlie

Sometimes you come across a band by chance. Like in the case of Amsterdam band Bob Billy that I got to know through a friend of ours who is close to the band. I never heard of them before although the three friends have been making music together forever. I finally got a chance to see them live in a bar I never visited before either, Checkpoint Charlie.

Bob Billy at Checkpoint Charlie Amsterdam, November 21 2018

Checkpoint Charlie is a cozy place just West of the city centre that hosts bands occasionally. On this Wednesday night it is clear most people in here didn't come to see a band but just to socialize with friends. It isn't more crowded than usual I guess and it is one of those occasions where a band simply has to enjoy playing live on a stage for the few people that are actually paying attention. Bob Billy don't seem to have a problem with that and look like they are enjoying themselves.

The band bio states that the songs are sounding a bit like Depeche Mode with now and then some Beastie Boys feeling thrown in, but I mostly hear a Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe. This is absolutely fine though. There are groovy rock songs that pack a punch and more light pop oriented tunes. Bob Billy knows how to add catchy elements to their music and most songs are very suitable for dancing. Too bad the people that are watching are sitting down, so there isn't exactly a lively dance floor in front of the stage.

The band consists of singer Sander Kuit, Hayo Dusseldorp on bass and Alexander van der Werf. There used to be more band members, but now drums and percussion loops are used as backing tracks to the music. That works fine, although I do miss a live drummer to give them that extra power and spice up the live performance. Kuit does a good job though fronting the band with a charismatic stage presence and inspired vocals, especially for such a tiny audience. I like this band and their music, who already won a couple of prizes and had songs featuring in movies. I would love to see them play a bigger audience next time.



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