here are the last three introductions of the last three issues of thee
CITY TRASH magazine all in one......so elaborate for sure!!!!
(36)A month after the last show I finished the last ramblings with I decided it was time to leave the house again the band playing that night definitely not being the main reason. Party night at the Pacific Parc always sounds good after years of hating Amsterdam I must now accept they have the best place to catch live entertainment it's always crowded, good atmosphere and great dj's who would have thought. This night the Hollywood Sinners played a theme party hosted by label boss Pete Slovenly “Disco Sucked Techno Blows”. Disco might suck most of the time but techno come on! Sinners played while the crowd destroyed pieces of crappy vinyl as said it was a theme party luckily there is always enough alcohol to forget you don't like those kinda of parties or you just happy you got in without a mandatory costume. Wild sixties punk far from being original something I like to find in those kind of bands as you guessed not the biggest fan but they layed a nice background sound to a nice little party. Almost being on tour as I used to call this editorial before I kinda retired four days later I was in beautiful Cologne for the Peaches show! Always been a big fan as all her records from start to finish are filled with over the top crazed well written songs. Brilliant outstanding electro punk she's in a league of her own. Had seen her one time before that was at an electro party as that's were these acts always seem to turn up but I really just wanted to see Peaches not wanting to deal with crappy dj's (no offense Remco) or other shitty bands. At Stollwerck this dream came through. Spectacular show costume changes and a grab out of her long list of classics and all of her new and latest record 'I Feel Cream'. No craziness on my part cause although I love Peaches I'm not gonna bother or entertain other people with me dancing to her pulsating beats could have done it but done with getting thrown out of clubs. It was time for a new year to start! Didn't take the new year to long to become a total disaster, exactly two weeks in my long time hero, all time favourite musician Jay Reatard died. A nice guy who I had the fortune to meet on many occasions as I chased him around Europe on many trips seeing lots of shows from all of his bands. He will be missed. The next show was a damn long day and night. It started at the airport where Jasper picked me up at nine spend the whole day getting to Groningen for the Cococoma show. Late afternoon arrived and started the drinking. Early evening stopped by Robert K'n'R to meet up with the newest edition to the Roe family and hang out. The show was brilliant as expected not as spectacular as the year before at the same pub O' Callaighs but with a different line up. The only problem with the new line up is Lisa not being the front lady anymore. She really ranks up high with people who know how to front a band. Nobody seemed to have been there the year before since now everybody is raving about the show which by far wasn't as good as the previous year. Directly after the show it was my time to nap. Saw a little bench draped with coats and I was out. Waking up the party was still going I fled the scene as if I just had robbed a bank. In my daze I headed for the trainstation don't know how but made it there. Obviously not thinking to clear I realised it was only 2 and I sure as hell wouldn't sit and wait for the first train out for 4 more hours in the freeezing cold. Walked back into the city the pizza parlour is always open sat down ordered a beer it seemed to make sense at that sobering moment in time. Place was empty except for another lost soul or bum sitting with his back to me drinking his beer. Probably not realizing we were sharing a moment the arkwardness blocked out by the alcohol flowing like a gentle warm stream through our bodies. It was actually difficult getting my second beer as the pizza boy and waitress seemed to enjoy each others compagny a bit to much not paying any attention to the fact we still were in a way customers. Didn't care too much as I was there to kill time. After the long awaited second beer I headed back to the trainstation. Being broke I just hopped on the train not realizing it was a Monday morning live was back to normal meaning crowded trains and people who would want to see my ticket for sure. Got busted, got busted before always being friendly co-operating and honest but this time I decided to see if I could get away with giving a false address. Bad mistake instead of just getting a fine and be done with it I had this guy come back to me three times hassling me giving me shit and naturally eventually the fine. On a positive note I did manage to get out at the right stop back in Meppel monday morning what an ordeal just as I was thinking something like that at that moment my hands ran over every pocket I had jeans jacket my god to complete this great story I again had lost a phone. Another show another phone damn that would have been a great title. Months and months later I found myself back at a stage where I as a teenager saw the Firebirds and as a result back in that day finally got that black wall I always wanted cause I puked on the nice light grey wall that my parents had insisted on finally I guess had convinced them that black would work best. Bringing up that legendary night with the Firebirds is that the first band of this night is fronted by the same guy I admired for years now played with his other legendary band the revived Beavers. The soundguy had a terrible night and didn't wish to provide this great band with all it needed and desired which from time to time made this show hard to watch. The songs were all great do wish they would leave out some of the old legendary stuff cause believe me they still going strong but it just doesn't sound right to hear “Nancy You're A Square” or “Rock'n'Roll” it kinda makes you wonder if you really that old and they have enough new classics as they proved on the last year released 10” “Let's Beav”. Second band this night at the old school in Zwolle was the Royal Turds leading man of this shitty named band runs one of the best European labels Martin “cowbell” Christoph. Never had seen this band or this specific dude before but believe me it was one thrilling experience. As lame as it sounded on space as great it was to see live punk with a lot of included extras like an organ and more people playing an instrument than normally with these kind of bands but most of all a frontguy that shook his ass and tapped his little cooking pan like we have seen Will Ferell do on the most famous sketch ever it was just brilliant. My band one of the many I made famous ended this night the amazing Stilettos. Kinda grew up with this band seen them a million times but these last few years they unlike our hairs or my zine grew. The two brothers turning grey Henk Jan my partner in crime as we still believe we can wear our heavily thinned out hairs with pride provided the party, I was the obnoxious individual in the front screaming along shaking my head as to my believe to their rhytmn. With their new album they more than prove they along side the few fucking great bands Holland has got to offer. Several day later surprise I was back at a stage, a stage that used to be famous and one that had me close almost every week things changed at the Vera but still once in a while you get to visit the old love. Sentimental yes good line up mmm yeah kinda thanks to the last minute added Vicars but things started as things often start in Groningen with a band from Arnold 'Monroe' Nieborg. This time the new band was called the Obamas garage rock or whatever it was just terrible especially ending the set with a James Brown cover was more than inappropriate. As always bands in front play too long this was definitely the case. Thee Vicars got us back on the right track they were damn good these youngsters don't seem to get old although they been touring relentlessly they still bring the most crazy wild sixties to the stage we enjoyed. Ending this night and as beer had flown a lot and I hardly have any recollection of the main event of this night I think the Spivvs a 77 punk sounding band did what they came to do and did it under the half hour limit pretty sure I enjoyed it. Spend the night in my new mobile home at least that is what you could call it it's basically my car with a self crafted matrass that fits the exact space of my trunk. As I stepped in dog shit just before I went night night you guessed it rolled in shit all night nonetheless slept like a baby and it was pretty dry shit. Well it wasn't a real surprise and just when you hadn't visit the old love lately less then a week later I was back at that same Vera club for the best band of the world the almighty Hex Dispensers. It was great seeing them back in Europe and even although I'm not the biggest fan of the big stage this was extremely powerful also cause soundguy Koos really fucking made them sound great from start 'Doomsday Romantic' ( I'm pretty sure that was the first song) till eventually the end as they probably knew they wouldn't be left of stage before they played everything and so they did can't tell you the last song they did but do hope they perform a little circumcision on that set list cause that was way to long. I started looking at the dudes and girl on stage and my mind drifted maybe I suck at visiting shows but I started wondering if Tom made sure his work knew he was in Europe for the next three weeks if Alex shaved of his beard cause he knew he would run into me if Dave on purpose looked like on of the german Baseball's the worst insult to music at this point and if Alyse really has to do that what she does doing the back up vocals it's close to being 18 and over anyway hope to see them do a shortlist on a less big of a stage but as you just read love em like no other band. Highlight of that night and by now my favourite song from this band not sung by Alex but by Dave which we used to kinda mock for singing was thee amazing ' Buy You A Ring' which was fucking hypnotising as his lead vocals combined fucking brilliantly with those of Alex and Alyse. Crashed in my car again and what do you know it even fits two people! Next trash probably more on this great band cause there is no staying home when Hex Dispensers are in fucking Europe!
(37)Not long after the last show I wrote about and so as you read last time I would be seeing some more of those mighty Hex Dispensers. In Amsterdam I could hear my own words of praise about this city I wrote in the last trash believe me fifteen minutes into touristic fucking hell I regretted those kind words anyway as I had planned I would be tanning and reading some literature with the necessary wine at the Vondelpark a large park which if you find the right exit is right across the street from the place where our Texan buddies were gonna play. Didn't get much reading done as I was picked up by the brothers de Wilde for what we do best. Local and all over well known heroes the Anomalys opened too bad this time the craziness was a bit much they have some amazing songs but they went a little too crazy on stage I didn't hear shit so entertaining for sure but I heard them do better. the Hex Dispensers finally played that exact small stage I hoped for just perfect the sound wasn't as bad as expected so this was by far more enjoyable then their Vera show. Unfortunately the crowd including me were drunk some pushing and shoving with me somehow always ending up being pushed on stage and lead vocalist Alex Cuervo not being in the mood to lose his front teeth was slightly upset. Thanks Jony for the kind words 'gay as fuck' written all over my face could have resulted in a major beating in that nice capitol of ours but yeah thanks. It wouldn't be the last wild encounter with this band. This being the first night of a deadly weekend yes I used to call this editorial just that when it first started anyway luckily this second day was in my own hometown. The Zodiac Killers had insisted on playing Meppel as they did about 8 years ago and well we were very happy to have them back threw in two local bands starting with the long overdue long awaited reunion show by the legendary local heroes the Vicious Teens. Back in the day when we started this world shocking trash scene here in Meppel they were at the basis being the first local trash band we got to adore. For this special occasion they were more than willing to rehearse the songs they used to play and go for a one off reunion show. Things over the last years have changed a lot for the different band members some still playing together as the No-Goods others found their peace in playing Korfbal as main form of fun nonetheless this was the best show I have ever seen from the Vicious Teens especially with bass player Peter Kroes being to shy to do back up vocals in his early years which now he grew some balls wasn't hesitant to do, it became clear to me as I already expected it was what they had been missing. It all resulted in a legendary trash show with their cover 'Mix' from Lone Earth Spider being my personal favourite! Not sure if we seen the last of these guys! Not exactly a local band but close enough The Junohoos were next you read the introduction and the whole story on this band the last City Trash and so they were back to where they started the shitty local bar in Meppel. That might have been little over a year ago and I guess they played some shows and rehearsed some cause this was a solid show apart from the fact they weren't lined up right as they had matching outfits spelling the bands name. Anyway all of our favourite songs got played mine being 'Rob The Candy Store' and everybody seemed to be in control of their instrument and I was still present, we love them so much we call them local. Main attraction the Zodiac Killers did as expected and I guess the same damn set as many many years ago but who gives a shit when you have one of the greatest punk bands playing your shitty bar on an early Saturday evening. Luckily Greg Lowery knew what he was getting himself into this time as I remember so well his shocked face when I got to tell him the first time that 'yeah this is where you are going to play'. That show was legendary and we got ready for something similar and with them basically being the same band except for the new amazing drummer we had seen before with the Losin' Streaks as said almost the same set this was bound to be f legendary. Misbehaved a great deal loved it even more legendary and they left with the promise to come back they might have been serious..yes! Any sane person and nowadays really much older wouldn't have left his hometown bed after already two crazy f days and definitely wouldn't drive over three hours to the Pit's Kortrijk in some other country but yes it happened. One last time for this tour the Hex Dispensers in the place where you need to see them. The show resulted in one crazy beer throwing frenzy while the Hex Dispensers gave there everything for this being the last show on their tour. In all my enthusiasm and I didn't see any harm in it I didn't only throw beer but also the fucking plastic cup it came in and well with my history of playing baseball for years every year getting voted mvp at all clubs I played for and with my most feared and legendary straight ball I hit bass player Dave right in his face and that even with him looking as handsome as ever in his City Trash tee shirt. One of the best bands ever in my one of my favourite bars this couldn't have resulted in a shitty night it was fucking spectacular. Few days later five to be exact we needed to see the three artists on tour with the great Kiss'n Run agency Paul Keith/ Harlan T. Bobo and Jack Oblivian but to be honest I was there for the added extra the Dutchess and the Duke. First of the many shows was John Paul Keith and that might be the reason I can't really tell you about it cause as many shows normally equals many many more of alcholic beverages. I do recall being pleasantly surprised. The good news with four bands on a bill they all kept it tight and short and when Harlan T. Bobo brings his powerful semi loud set and keeps it short I actually can stomach him live. Finally after missing them a few times once due to working late and another by getting kicked out of a nice club in Seattle I was to witness the sensation called the Dutchess and the Duke. Together Kimberly and Jesse who we all met back in the day as thee Flying Dutchmen without any back up just two guitars and their excellent voices combined really sucked me in with their acoustic 60's folk this was something else. I was amazed it excited me a lot but I guess anything that excites me that isn't exactly trash is surprising. Jack Oblivian like Harlan T. Bobo brought a pretty solid powerful set lost a bit of my attention and wondered of a few times cause if there is one thing Jack don't do is play a short set and well why the hell should he it gave me plenty of time catching up with friends get drunk and see a lot of his show win win wine! My finance did not let me go to Primitive Festival's last edition or any other of those festivals you have round this time a year but I was happy to be in Groningen one saturday night and well the Apers played. Had a choice of shows to go to which don't happen to often but since it wasn't as crowded as expected at the Vera downstage I decided I 'd go for some entertaining punkrock. These legends from Rotterdam always been on my least favourite list but gradually over the years I see their importance and they not half as bad as I always thought them to be. Over the years seen them a couple of times and well it always gets better somehow and so was this show Kevin Aper doing the entertaining and leading his band with a charm you don't see too often and when they leave out all the poppy poppy songs they rock. Six days later back in Groningen to see Apache feel like telling you last time I had seen them on their previous tour I was hospitalized and almost died but that makes me feel old telling stories about the good old days not even that long ago. Anyway the indian and his band were back and I was curious if it still would be good cause the new record had them leaning even more toward the glam side of music. Still little had seemed changed to the set including all my personal favourites of their debut Boomtown Gems record and Apache was in the mood to perform greased up his hips like he does his hair and did everything in his power to get the party going still we were in Groningen at the Crowbar but it was most enjoyable and I for one was happy to see them cause although they would be set to play my hometown you will soon learn what happened. Two days later a double bill would hit Meppel which on the very last moment got changed to three bands playing and well that was not where my schedule was based on. So enjoyed a good drinking at the last minute added Modern Pets from Germany. The boys gave me a bit of a scare the way they looked guess that is how 77 punk looks nowadays or still does anyway you get the idea but fuck their appearance they had some amazing songs really damn amazing always nice to get a band you don't know coming out and somehow pleasing the shit out of you. Second band was finally the first show I got to see from this loud applauded band in the local back alleys of northern Drenthe Loud Squirt from Assen. By that time according to my schedule and plan for this night I went nuts with the band which led me to a ban upstairs actually the backstage area cause somehow I didn't get kicked out. I was an embarrassment but good fun though! So Apache played my shitty hometown and I missed out being grounded to the backstage area fucking weird but I was tired anyway. Still managed to meet up with the band at the breakfast table where weed was doing best chocomel being a close second as usual. The next day I almost died which is something always seems to be happening when my favourite stoner rock 'n' roll band is around had to cancel work having trouble breathing while driving out there anyway managed to get 4 days of work in before on a saturday night I was gonna visit Vera downstage for something I would call amateur night ofcourse me going it would be amateur TRASH night two local bands I was anxious to see. First Blonde Honing a two piece from Groningen with the artist known as Bert playing drums like a fucking maniac and doing the vocals while Jeroen tried to follow his lead on guitar sometimes resulting in some insane explosive trash and now and again they drifted a little guess that's what you get with experimental trash. As most people by now know it's my band but this was the first time I got to see them live the newest hit makers from Groningen Traumahelikopter. In a real tight and short set they proved they had more to offer than the two hitsongs they already dropped on the internet. With the basic pounding from Knalbert the ingenious guitar riffs from Daan and this all being fronted by the tall and handsome Mark what's in the name this is a band that is going somewhere loved it. Last show before a short summer break from all the live action Db's the club in Utrecht presented us a nice double strangely enough there was some confusion on who should go first. The misguided booker from this club had guessed wrong and luckily the band that should end this night told him that and he listened, it was quite obvious. Anyway so things got started with the soul the trash and the fury from the Green Hornet. Over the years by now almost decades seen them a million times but it had been over a year since I last had seen them so I was curious what they had been up to. Bit disappointed it hadn't been much with a lot of the same songs I wasn't very convinced as always it's enjoyable but it just felt like it was getting a bit old. Also kind of old are the A-Bones well maybe not that old but they sure deserve the term legendary! The show started a bit slow as to be expected when you know they have a long list of classics they all and always play except one plus the fact playing at Db's might not be the biggest thrill it still resulted in a great great party! The summer break mostly spend at work and on a nice little beach in Ijmuiden was nearing it's end and so were the summer activities in Meppel the mostly hated 'Donderdag Meppel Dag' which gives the locals six more excuses and opportunities to get drunk on every thursday in the summer while all over the city you get to see live music performed by great cover bands who know their music nothing can beat a night of singing along to the greats like Queen/ Guns'n'Roses/ Pearl Jam and all who I always try and hope to forget. On this last night the new booker at the local bar Clouso who happens to have a great taste in a lot of things but mostly music she finally managed to close the deal with the legends of surf the Krontjong Devils to come and play. I arrived late got in luck with this night being in the backgarden of the bar so as I was locking my bike I could hear the last song from opening act local party band Combo Koedijk being 'de Vogeltjes Dans' something you don't hear to often and actually enjoy it. So in between the bands I arrived and although my track record seeing bands at the local bar without getting naked, falling asleep or getting kicked out is running thin I got to enjoy the full set of frat and surf from the Krontjong Devils. It must have been one of the biggest nights for Crazy Gerry known for numerous bands and ofcourse he plays bass in the K-Devils but nowadays is also one of the Combo Koedijk so doing two shows on one night in thee capitol of Trash must have been a thrilling experience and long lived dream come true. Loved the show so much I did exactly the same eight days later as in same band, same drink slightly different club Crowbar Groningen. Four days later it was September 2nd it's a set date for a party a certain b-day party cause most years Robert Kiss'n'r Run seems to turn 30 something round that time this year was no different. One band touring on his amazing booking agency and two most promising local bands in exact that order it all happened. Opening band I unfortunately had to miss it was the loud trash punk from Loud Squirt. But as on schedule and as I planned I was there for my band, second band of the night Traumahelikopter. First main stage performance although the Vera was half sized for the occasion as they should do more often they played their set brilliantly but they should cut down on the hard rock liking each other too much on stage and giving the sound guy hell at the Vera club is a definite no no still the best new band on the block. The band touring was No-Bunny hadn't heard the new record yet but luckily most part of the set were the old hitsongs and with a stage act you don't see to often although I had seen a few times before this was a great way to start the new season of live action. Starting out slow though took me three more weeks till I got to another show with all to much of the familiar faces and sounds. A triple bill even so three bands I already seen a couple of times and god knows how many faces anyway for some reason it got started with the Junohoos already reaching legendary status with their last cover appearance as you saw on the previous City Trash. This was the first of of three by now known trash garage punk bands you already read tons about if anybody reads this shit. Second was the second show from the renewed and revived Vicious Teens as some pages ago you might have read about that legendary revival this wasn't as good not sure what it was but something lacked. And ever since I hit thirty many years ago a triple bill is a little to much for my taste or my stamina. So again quite clueless on how Loud Squirt was but I guess they rocked the place. It was a night to remember or forget and painful the next morning. Did a little fiesta and siesta in Zaragoza which was basically mega awesome to keep it short while it actually could be a long story but didn't see bands which I try and hope this editorial is about. Pretty quick after my return I was back at guess where yes the Crowbar in Groningen starting to love the place and while you guessing yes Traumahelikopter played now life is even running thin. There was another band that opened Black Bug from Sweden screamish electro punk nice but far from spectacular. Traumahelikopter did some damage control this being the third show I'd seen from them and it was their best and I guess I just love early evening shows specially on sundays not to forget my favourite band played. Season really seemed to have started and so three days later I was in Amsterdam mid week to see god forbid another triple bill. An amazing one though with two outta three I hadn't seen before it got started with the one I've seen quite a few times but that never gets old the Anomalys. But as you can expect with a show in Amsterdam something else besides the live action is more important it is always basically a race to see who is doing the most coke or speed but from the first second it was quite obvious who had won. One truly amazing irritating piece of shit was there to show off he was was gonna have more fun then the rest or was going to try and ruin it for everybody. Guess I just don't have the talent to do drugs or need it to ruin any party alcohol people stick to it. Anyway Anomalys played shit got crazy infront of the stage in a bad way but on stage things went insane as their shows always are truly amazing and so are the songs except for the last two which have that typical dutch sound to it still it ended in a great orgasm as they like to end their show in the midst of the audience. One down two to go. J.C Satan was up next had heard good things about them so was anxious to see how it would unfold. Couldn't even count all the band members a mix of Italians and French there were a lot. Songs ranged from slow psychedelic to the more straight forward garage songs which were enjoyable. The idiot was still present live and kicking. The reason I was there was up next Davila 666 again lots and lots of people seem to play in that band the sound was a bit too loud for my taste as it missed some of the delicate touches it has on vinyl but it was pretty impressive. Also in a way impressive was the behavior of the fucking idiot but luckily the smallest tiniest girl in the club who happened to be the bass player of J.C Satan was fed up and broke a glass on the nose of that fucker blood was flying around but still reality didnt sink in with that guy instead this fucking tall asshole made an attempt to hit the half his size girl one of the Davila guys jumped of stage and intervened. Finally the guy got escorted out the club with a lot of people looking embarrassed as so obvious it was the local guy to go to for drugs and half of the club was probably a regular. We enjoyed Dj Pete Slovenly the rest of the night.
Two days later as I was texting my lovely hostess for a lot of my weekends this last year got an interesting text back saying she would be going to a show at the Patronaat bar in Haarlem. Interested as I became rushed out of work picked up Maile from Ijmuiden and we made it on time to see the band everybody already knew about except me Wheels on Fire. It was such a delight to see a band that somehow got passed me as after the show I talked with the people and well if this is your third European tour and your new record is out on Alien Snatch I should know you and the record it was quite an embarrising talk. The show was fucking amazing great songs and an organ player I will never forget the name of the band will always suck though. Patronaat bar was also a first for me as I seen many bands in this venue but they have a large selection of stages this wasn't the best well maybe for this band but all the rest of the audience did was stand between me and getting to the bar. Getting back to the routine again less then a week passed before I found myself back at another show at by now most mentioned bar in this editorial the Crowbar. Toronto's finest or best Canadian hardcore band ever what ever joke would fit just fine nonetheless I love the Brutal Knights. Not sure if they had any new record or anything but I really needed to see them cause years ago there we go again I drove all the way to the Pits to see them but when they played the place was to packed to squeeze in and since I really like this band as fucking much nobody would stop me getting front row now which in this case wouldn't be to difficult. All the amazing songs were played in an as you can expect with this type of band highspeed while I indulged in some screaming along. The crazy live action got combined with some great jokes as one of those dudes also seems to be a famous stand up comedian. Couple of days later it was due time for a visit to the mother city Rotterdam. Let's elaborate the whole week I was texting the friend I was visiting yeah Youri as I was going by car and if anything is impossible it's that and well getting a serious normal answer back from that dude. So as I was closing in on Rotterdam I decided to park the car at a trainstation close not knowing if this would be expensive or free even again Youri couldn't come up with a conclusive answer. Hopped the train and arrived at his place where as we started drinking we discussed this fucking parking situation when suddenly and it don't happen often Youri had a bright moment as in I could park my car right infront of his house cause he had a permit for it. We drank some more and went and got the car damn. Drinking all the way up to the supposedly hour that the first show was to start we were there first and hardly any other people showed up. Things were grim and it didn't get much better with the mostly irritating sounds by self invented legend Harry Merry. It's fun for a song or two but like me sometimes he didn't seem to want to shut up. Got a little worried I had to see thee amazing Quintron with the twenty or something people that had showed up but somehow he and and his Miss Pussycat turned it all around and upside down. Great show including the puppetry and so it was extremely enjoyable and everybody all of a sudden seem to have the best of times amazing how he managed to do that. Little over a week later it was my first and their last show of their tour in Groningen the Vera Club this time again nicely half sized Cheap Time played. Was eager to see them again but that meaning mostly off stage cause they great nice guys on stage I just don't know it's great songs sound was good but somehow it's just not that thrilling. So pizza it was. Next show again Groningen but another venue de Viadukt what a lively city this once again is becoming to be. This night thee three sixties blues surf frat and whatever you can come up with but you get the idea Holland has to offer. Two of them even from Groningen it's about that time for another revival I guess but things started with the band from Drenthe who proudly are signed to Dirty Water Records and ever since been going strong promoting their blast of a debut album with a tour in Spain and even made some actual music video's. Anyway had been a while since I had last seen de Keefmen and as always it makes me curious on the progress and shit. Unfortunately not sure whose fault it was but the sound was just terrible it was like listening to them from your alarm clock or something bit unfortunate I guess still they looked mighty tall on stage. Next band you read about a few times before in this editorial the Krontjong Devils had quite the opposite a very loud and strong sound and I guess the bass player wasn't joking in the afternoon over some beers they would have an almost completely new set list let me add an amazing one another great show. The place was mostly packed for the return of the almighty Firebirds one of the best live acts the nineties had to offer as I was young round that period of time and a huge fan I could write a book full of drunken elaborate tales lived while this band was on stage and after. This night would prove no different the full line up was back even including Andre Dodde on organ. The show had the same power as many many years ago the crowd went crazy and I was 17 again. Didn't expect this to be this good that's for sure and well no complaints on the mess I got myself into afterwards driving back on my bike to Robbie's place. A head first full face into some bushes and concrete so my face is all torn and scratched up writing these last elaborate memoires just days for the official deadline to this long awaited overdue new issue..
(38)
In the same month as I left off had one more show night wrote more about this band in the last City Trash including them being on the cover and an interview so you heard and read more than enough about them. But there was more lots more to say the least it was an interesting night as they like it in Amsterdam shows start late so straight after work I drove to our shitty capitol for my even less paying job as manager of what would appear the best band of this night. It all went down at the old Trouw gebouw it was a first and as my first steps in the club I knew it would be my last fancy restaurant fancy people don't know that many hip people and definitely wasn't prepared to meet them all at once in this weird fucking place. Well trimmed beards trendy scarfs and stupid hats..I'll shut up. Four bands played Apneu was first and to be honest the one and only thing that struck me was the lead boy me mostly wondering if he knew he was gay not necessarily a bad thing ofcourse but yeah couldn't think of anything else while he was gently stroking his guitar and his subtle moves going back and forth to the microphone fondling it from time to time anyway music wise can't help you except the advice don't bother. They had some proud parents and friends encouraging them on though. Next band the same kinda crowd but this was slightly better as to be expected with two guys from 69 Charger in it band was called the Chase Club. Not much more to tell you about it was waiting with high anticipation for the next band. Finally my guys hit the stage and like the aforementioned proud parents stuff I couldn't help feeling overjoyed to see my band blow away the crowd got girls they promised me they didn't know before dancing on stage and what about this for a first every song got dedicated to yours truly well they fucked up once but anyway Daan thanks for the love and well there was nobody in that place after another great show from this band Traumahelikopter that didn't know my name awesome! Already fairly done with this night there was still one band to go the Smith Westerns the American sensation or at least I get the idea they think so I just got to know the record in the last few weeks. As much as I like their record it didn't come across to exciting it actually seemed a bit boring. Not long after I left the club and that's where the excitement started again. Well was thinking of turning in sleeping in the back of my car like real managers do anyway hour of sleeping in a freezing car does amazing things to ones bladder went out to pee and damn my car fell in its lock with the keys still inside not being very rational and most of all freezing I took a brick and smashed the window got the keys and got the fuck out of there. Absolutely did not drink and drive or overly intoxicated to Ijmuiden where my good friend Maile served me up some coffee and breakfast. Two weeks later it was time to present the previous issue of this most appreciated highly reckognized magazine at the local bar with two bands on stage not that there is one fucking shitty bar. It was just as the poster for this event looked one brilliant line up starting with the Groningen/ Gent based electro two some Earth Control. Loved their two song CDS 'Jullie Zijn Allemaal Stom' so booked them while slightly worrying if they would be able to be something more then amateuristic shit. They came through let me tell you a solid set of electro madness I was hoping for something but did not expect it to be as this fucking good. Joined in on one of the songs since leading man Earth B. had two synths I helped him out and we worked our magic as you guess it was magical like all of the rest of their show you either loved it or you suck. Main attraction and featured in the last City Trash Gruppe 80 our German friends we got to know as garage sixties band the Cool Jerks but nowadays famous for their organ driven krautrock were there to finish this early sunday evening. Overworked exhausted and absolutely not drunk I witnessed the few first songs which were exactly how I described them but probably while ordering some additional wines I layed my head to rest on the bar luckily my dad was there to supervise nothing bad would happen to me. Guess it all didn't went unnoticed cause I was supposed to sing an old Cool Jerks song with them called 'Over en Uit' cause of the Dutch lyrics but they got zero on response when they called out for me. I enjoyed all I saw was happy to learn the local jerk offs actually enjoyed this band so there might be some hope glimmering for Meppel. Things didn't get exciting anymore for the rest of the year unless you wanna hear about me slinging suitcases in cramped luggage storage space in airplanes and all the shit that goes along with it like drunk people on planes and the occasional bomb threat not sure but I think I signed a little note with me not to tell what goes on behind the scenes at an airport anyway it was the little payed thrills that got me to the end of this year. Over a month later since the last show so well into the new year no great new bands or shows coming up it might get boring. And guess what first band of this new year once again Traumahelikopter it was at least in a club I hadn't visited for years de Walrus in Groningen and they served up a nice triple bill in exact the opposite order of how things should be. Traumahelikopter played first and sounded like shit that's how I remember that club the sound is always terrible it didn't help Albert and his two piece drum shit missing a beat or two. Too bad this show from the most promising band around totally sucked. Second band was Loud Squirt and well I've tried to see them a couple of times and although I was present at their shows I wasn't always successful in actually seeing it as in me already being totally out of it most of the time. Somehow I was still fit for this one and these guys didn't seem to have any trouble with the sound it was almost too much of a wall of sound for me unfortunately any chance of hearing an actual song was there by blown it was too much of speedrock like for me still felt blown away as these guys might be the successors for the most well known speedrock band Peter Pan hope I'm not offending anyone if so change your set. Didn't stick around or at least didn't pay attention to the band that ended this night. Partied with 'D. Kopter and as we tried to get into the Vera he got in and took my sense of direction I was denied. Kinda remember walking in a total deserted flat country area no houses grass fields as far as I could see terribly lost did manage to fall into the few fences I encountered eventually woke up bruised and battered at Robbie's clueless as always. Few days later I got to do it again back in Groningen and basically for the same shit this time in the right order and in the best bar the north has got to offer the Crowbar. First band was a hardcore band from god knows where but the host of the party Mark vd P. booked it I couldn't be bothered it reminded me of that kinda hardcore where somebody is screaming you shouldn't drink and eat meat fuck those poor bastards. Loud Squirt played next liked it better then their downright speedrock show just days before it was damn good actually. Clinging on to my last senses of slight sobriety I witnessed another groundbreaking performance from Traumahelikopter sound was great everybody was up to speed on what to play nothing went wrong and well the songs are fucking brilliant as you all soon will find out amazing show once again. Even managed to walk home in a straight line probably cause I sobered up as I offended the shit out of somebody nice. I feel you let's hope next show ain't gonna be a Traumahelikopter show. Almost two weeks later a friday night at the aforementioned Walrus club in Groningen that I hadn't visited for years now twice in a month and this time it was extra festive. It was the night of the presentation of the debut 7” by the Junohoos by now you should know the you know who funny weirdest thing as this night was a double they started. Their set kinda amazed me they seemed to have left out most of the bubbly punk greats except their hitsong that's featured on the 7” 'Rob The Candystore' now this set seemed to be more filled with songs like the other song on the 7” 'Cool Points' so slow to semi slow songs punk songs enjoyed it but didn't see it coming quite an interesting set is was. Not many bands get bad write ups in this zine cause all music I buy and I don't go out to see shitty bands they only play sometimes on the same night as something awesome. Last City Trash I burned the new 7” from the Toyotas pretty hard they were the closing act of this night. Even expecting it couldn't be worse cause my problem with the 7” was that it's way too clean recorded to even pass as punk so kinda knew they wouldn't be as shitty or clean on stage it would have been impossible. And it wasn't they released some good stuff back in the day like their debut full length and it reminded me a lot of just that still things dragged on too long and eventually I lost interest happy though to learn the Toyotas live ain't a bad thing. Hardly two weeks later it was finally time for me to see Lover! On which I guess from the top of my head third European tour and this being one of their last shows on this one. Unfortunately it didn't take me to some exotic place I never had been before no it all went down at the local bar in Groningen a great one the Crowbar and they keep getting better as my very own Mark vd P. shook his beer bottles like some gay dude in Cocktail as in being the new bartender. Shit started with Earth Control who as you read already had the honour to play Meppel and seem to shaping up into something serious. Unfortunately the sound wasn't as great but the songs definitely were. A nice set of weird ass electro with Dutch lyrics. Some things had changed in the line up from what was originally Rich Crook's band but this third line up Rich brought to Europe seems to be thee band as for the first time in recording he used these people to record his newest hit maker 'Reverse the Curse' as in the past he recorded it all himself. Not the complete band was present as Wes slipped on a piece of ice before the tour even started but damn that didn't mean they didn't sound as powerful as they did kinda scared what they would have sounded like with him missed him though luckily I was the guy who got to drive him and the most nasty looking anckle I ever saw to the airport. Lover! played an explosive set and with Mary added on organ it was the best I ever seen them. Drinks drinks drinks bitching back and forth over pizza it was quite a night. Next day was one of pain and labour nonetheless after work I took that dreadful road to Munster two hours of non lite secondary roads my gps fucked up so it took me even longer but for once made a right decision and finally ended up across the street from Butts at the Gleis 22. On the exact last few chords from my Holgie and his new band the Uncontrollable Jerks I arrived it weren't the right chords to form an opinion anyway I was there for two and a half reasons first off it was the booker of the club the infamous Markus Smauck celebrating his 15 years of doing great show nights second Lover! played and I would run into some of my best long not seen gay friends fat, ugly and Tobi count is a half. There was a second band playing as it was a triple bill also from Germany and they were called Yellow Danger. Ok kinda punk not too special that it really stuck with me or let alone did something to me mind you I just arrived and there are things that need to be done for you can really enjoy a band. Luckily I was well filled up and reaquinted with all so again Lover!. They blew me away even more great garage pop songs great chemistry on stage and with a packed Gleis this was highly enjoyable. Same goes for the afterparty Smaucki behind the wheels of steel as usual me hopping back and forth from serious backstage talk to dancing to the tunes of Markus. Great night that ended in the by now usual disaster. Saying goodnight to all but most all a warm bed I crawled into the back area of my car where I often sleep and what happened ain't a first as you read even in this editorial again I got fucking locked out of my car. This time I didn't panic hung out freezing my ass off at the hauptbahnhof in Munster seeing kids go to school (on a saturday?) people go on vacation businessmen to their work all very interesting but after a couple of hours I thought of walking back to the club. Talked some fluent German to get me out of the mess I was in as always it's hell to pay partying in thee Gleis 22 in Munster I'll be back though. Over two weeks later which seemed unbearable long for a new show but it was definitely something to look forward to cause it was finally a band I hadn't seen before but listen to on a daily basis. On a saturday night it was King Automatic in cafe de Storing in Haarlem. We were first in guess we were the only fools that believed a show might start as early as said on the website anyway soon we were joined by some familiar faces and a lot of unfamiliar ones in the end the place was pretty packed and what a nice place it was in contrary to the hideous Patronaat bar in that same city. Opening this night was a band called Footstomp the drummer was one of the familiar faces Anomaly Menno it all sounded like your pretty standard blues stuff some covers were played in some other fashion as the original all in all it was pretty far from exciting. King Automatic for that matter was fucking impressive! As being a one man band he layed the groundwork for every song before starting it as in pre recording the drumbeat some guitar and organ stuff and then work that quite interesting to watch although I think you must be really into it else it might get annoying and well the downside is the show took to long for my taste still enjoyed all his fine tunes I'm used to hearing at home loved it! Another weekend another show same band as usual but this time in the afternoon on one awkward location. Traumahelikopter playing this skatepark called Colosseum next to a skateramp where an actual skate contest was going on. Now don't get me started on that alternate lifestyle of wearing oversized clothes and wasting your time on wheels well I guess to each its own. They did have a good enough taste in music also a thing those skating people lack most of the time anyway they asked Gronings finest to come and play. I got close to the action sitting on the ramp skateboards flying inches from my face for once I was happy I didn't already had to much to drink it was pretty exciting seeing them try and do tricks but why do they always fail. Anyway the combination of skaters falling flat on their faces and the powerful garage punk from Traumahelikopter with a flawless Albert on drums I might add it turned into a nice enough afternoon. This time had a false alert on the losing car keys it took me an extra day taking care of my stupidity everybody involved I thank! Visiting Groningen a bit much but again was back on Friday cause for some reason the Vera booked Tyvek. As usual the lack of atmosphere of a not even half filled Vera and the lack of energy from the crowd made this a bit hard to enjoy. The people taking care of the lights didn't lack any inspiration and gave one hell of a light show which was a bit too much for the trash sounds of Tyvek. Hope to see them again on a small stage cause this was all a bit uncomfortable. Things got happening downstairs at the Vera where an afterparty got started don't want to take all the credit but yeah anyway more drinks a nice pizza dinner and eventually I outlasted all of them it don't happen too often. The next day was a soothing one some countryside some thrift stores some movies until you almost felt ready for bed there was another show. Nothing spectacular but something worth visiting while already being in Groningen. At Vera downstage the Chase Club played as I mentioned them earlier somewhere on these pages a band I didn't expect to see again. But from Eindhoven they drove all the way up to the high north and well it went down better than the first time I saw them. The songs seemed better the setting was better for sure it didn't set me on fire but to say it was all bad would be too much ok band ok night. At the end of the week there was more action lots of action! On Friday two bands I've seen a few fucking times before but I was highly anticipating this night. By now you must think every show I visit starts or end with my boys Traumahelikopter which might be so in this case they started as they should in this case. Believe me and you should as I'm thee expert in judging this band live as I know I must be the most handsome person who saw them live the most and still they surprise me with their progress. The idiots started out with the Reatards cover 'Stacy' they genuinely fucked up just a few weeks ago and now they opened with it it was a sign they were gonna be fucking awesome cause not only the cover went down fucking perfectly the rest of their own songs were fucking amazing even leaving the two hits out of their truly powerful set. Tyvek was more than satisfying good stage still the crowd was a bit lame but that didnt matter this night cause I liked the settings and the sights and all the songs came across as they should. Partied all the way up to Tyvek's hotel somehow didn't sleep that well so caught up on dreams and sleep in my private hotel on all fours. Nijmegen turned out to be one great city and all the gas stations close!! To end this long story my last show for weeks to come was Eric Davidson singer of New Bomb Turks presenting his book We Will Never Learn about the mid nineties garage punk scene combined with a live show from the Low Point Drains. First it was Eric Davidson who did his best to rally up the people and get them to buy the book which was to expensive to bring which I think is just plain fucking stupid anyway he talked enthusiastically about the time and music of the mid nineties which I was luckily to experience back in the day he ended his little lecture with some videos was alright I guess mind you it was at the Patronaat bar in Haarlem a truly terrible place. And that's why they allowed some last minute change to the original bill and got this old bum looking dude with an acoustic guitar bore the shit out of us for the next hour what seemed to be an eternity. Everybody was eager to see the Low Point Drains and their newest addition to the band an actual Ms Low who we all enjoyed back in the day (not that she is old) as Janneke Riplet leading lady and bass player of the Riplets. She had the right spirit cause I'm sure if she would have had her way she personally would have dragged that piece of shit on guitar off stage. Anyway eventually they took the stage and well she passed her first show as bass player for these two old ugly garage punkers damn well too bad they didn't bring their best set but thanks to Janneke they still able to play my fave song 'Technical Rider' and so they did! They could have let out the totally shitty Gories cover but I guess it was because of the Crypt theme they played it but why the fuck twice. And although I love kids which might be a lie please not front row at a 18 and over rock show last bit of hate the announcer of this sunday funday crap is a dick.
(39)
Soon after the last show I wrote elaborate about I set out again to Utrecht for some stupid festival with more bands you never hope to hear or see as is very common with these kinda of parties naturally they booked the one band I never get tired of seeing and I still happen to be the manager off so there I was on this fashionable festival called Tweetakt whatever the fuck that means doing another Traumahelikopter show. The audience was a little afraid to get to close to the silly facial haired tight ass drummer, the unhealthy looking guitar god and long tall handsome front dude for the very first time ever smiling on stage. They were brilliant as always and after cleaning out the backstage fridge and getting the answers why Mark was so cheerful on stage I got out of there knowing it probably wouldn't take me long before I would see them again. Maybe not as soon as expected but little over two weeks later it was Traumahelikopter again! On a thursday night they had the first of two shows celebrating their debut 7” on the infamous Kogar Records! For this night in Groningen at the Pakhuis they invited two Paris based bands to open for them. First there were Teenage Moonlight Borderliners if my memory serves me correct it was something the French know how to play so pretty good trash blues punk they shared some members with the other somewhat more famous band this night Crash Normal. Not only more well known but way better some parts of the set actually blew me away. It actually reminded me of the Intelligence and such bands was great show for sure. Unfortunately that left little time before the bar had to end the live music and transform back to the shitty bar it is so Traumahelikopter rampaged through their set and satisfied the shit out of most people including me. Two days later drove back to Groningen to celebrate that damn debut 7” again so again Traumahelikopter. Main reason for me to come out was the opportunity to drink beer at the best recordstore Holland has to offer called Elpee and since one of the owners is Jan Kooi who also runs Kogar Records it was something I had to be a part off. So saturday midday the usual bunch set out to drink at the recordstore which led to some surprising faces from unknowing visitors venturing into the store. Show was great what else can I say except they now also sound fucking awesome on vinyl. As extra we got treated on a closing show by Joost Dijkema the guy from Loud Squirt now also displaying his talents as a singer song writer. People with great knowledge of music rank this way up high I unfortunately as you needed to be quiet couldn't keep my mouth shut I don't do well at these kinda shows for that I apologize I bet it was great but not sure if I would let him play AFTER a Traumahelikopter show! Made a note I might have missed some shows pretty clueless right now on what the hell I supposedly would have missed. But I guess three weeks passed without action so I might have missed something anyway didn't miss the tripe bill Db's set up for me and probably other people. Should I tell you once more how I hate Utrecht or does everybody know by now what a shithole it is and no construction will help it's really annoying they keep trying. Three bands played two I was more than anxious to see the other I had hoped never to see again but was willing to give it another go. Two Tears opened and as the first thrill already was meeting Kerry again after quite a few years, she is the leading lady for this band which basically is an one woman band but gets backed from time to time by a band, the show was beyond amazing. Some old songs some new songs the always lively vibrant Kerry jumping up and down sharing her immaculate smile with everybody it was the best. She was on tour with Dan Sartain who was next starting out acoustic just the guitar and that great voice I thought I was enjoying the best show so far this year till halfway the set when he whipped out his new electric guitar, he was overly enthusiastic about as I was told, and the same back up band for Two Tears came on stage. Things turned into a very mediocre punkrock show I really didn't like. Another thing I didn't like was the amount of progress Mark Sultan made over the years. Hadn't seen him for years and the whole shitty set he has been doing for years got played again, him playing 45 minutes without breaks is annoying he made a decent record why just don't play a few of those songs instead of this 45 minute medley which is hard to follow and you just get irritated by the way he sings and acts, it was terrible. Next fourteen days I was looking forward to finally seeing Ty Segall however you pronounce it this is the way you spell it believe me there is still some discussion. Anyway it all went down at the Vera and the night was extra festive not only did Traumahelikopter have the honour to open for Ty Segall they were also there presenting their second 7” on the infamous Kuriosa Records. The show like the 7” and its sleeve was spectacular everything positive I ever wrote about my boys doesn't come close to what happened on that stage they were explosive! Ty Segall followed and all of the excitement seemed to leave the club it was a bit disappointing at the end of the set things got better but still the whole set up was weird it seemed like the band was watching Ty play, thought I knew his songs guess he played some others, and some of the bad critics I heard like he is a 'Jay Reatard light' made some sense now and the highlight of the set was the GG Allin cover 'Don't Talk To Me' enough said, they basically got blown off stage by Traumahelikopter and I didn't see that coming. The next day there was a big festival in the city where I ruined my life from age 10 till 15 so headed out early to do some sightseeing in Dordrecht. Wish I could say it was a sight for sore eyes. At the festival all the familiar faces gathered at this pretty obscure club in the middle of nowhere lots of bands since it was a festival not so strange I guess but it's always a struggle for me cause I don't write this shit down on the spot but days or sometimes weeks after and then getting the right order of bands that performed is always a bit problematic. Pretty sure first interesting thing I saw were the Organisms hadn't seen them for years and the press note described it as an indie rock rollercoaster not sure how to describe them they just a bunch of wild dogs running around, laying on the floor, walking around the place and everybody seems to be playing a different song but if you listen closely it all comes together perfectly. One change to the line up was an added organ which included one crazy organ player and with that an added gimmick to the already full blown craziness anyway he destroys an organ every show he plays, it was a bit too much cause the whole crowd was mostly occupied watching this guy go mental on his organ. It was the first good show of many more to come, second one followed quickly as a good garage trash festival you can't go without the boys from up north Traumahelikopter no use in telling how fucking great it was. de Keefmen also from the north had their little live show redemption for me cause last show I didn't appreciate as much but this was back to the old good stuff. Great songs great sound and matching shirts this time it didn't went wrong. Low Point Drains played can't remember too well let's say this was the point I hit that limit of memory, all those shows of bands I've seriously seen a million times. Finishing me off not sure if they were the last band of the night but definitely the last good one were the Anomalys they even took their regular ass shaking to the top of the bar, memory no, hence the photo which I found on my camera. No doubt it was great! Three days later things got beyond great it was beyond anything I've seen for years and pretty sure for years to come thee Oh-Sees. From the get go it was thrilling only seeing them on stage without playing you could feel something was going to happen and then it erupted. You could feel shivers going through the crowd everybody was perplexed with what they were witnessing but after three songs people finally got beyond that point and started moving and enjoying the shit out of this amazing show. The set was filled with a large selection of all their classics with an extreme powerful stage performance, John Dwyer is a god. The show was in Nijmegen and if you able to find a parking place it's a pretty far out place the night was spend in the back of my car and I slept like a baby. Three days later I happened to be fit enough to drive out to Groningen to see a new band that got formed from two great sixties acts from Holland, Mark and the Spies and the Madd that both had seized to exist and now some members of both started the Kik. The show was well attended and it being in the smallest club the Vera downstage it was hot and claustrofobic. Soon I realized it wasn't for me half of the set were dull played covers which ofcourse on a positive note means half were self written which is good nonetheless nothing for me to get into these days and as a certain Soulmann once pointed out the old singer for the Madd now leading man of the Kik has a peculiar way of singing and it always stuck with me it's basically not so good. First signs of summer is the growing amount of festivals you start to attend and so there I was at Beeckestijn Pop. By accident I stumbled upon this festival as most of my weekends I spend at Maile's in Ijmuiden this was close by. As I arrived at Maile's she informed me of this fact with great enthusiasm so we set out with a cool six pack as I was promised no security would be there. Obviously as peace loving our festivals are it was swarming with volunteers and actual police all for the sake of security. Chugged two beers left the rest at the bike and walked up to the idiots frisking visitors. 'do you have any drugs on you' was the first thing he asked as we dutch hate to be polite. I had been busy all day taping a tiny bag of weed to my balls but wasn't prepared for that question and I just couldn't lie, since when is drugs not legal anymore? Ofcourse I didn't bring in drugs and if I would need some I would just get them from the kids inside who would actually hide it somewhere semi ingenious cause it's not hard to fool a few unemployed bums who actually volunteer to do this. Anyway a festival, music for all ages can't watch movies that get rated like that and normally don't care for music like that. But we did our homework and tried to filter something that might be interesting out of this festivals line up. First of the two we had good hopes for were Pignose Willy's dutch two piece playing trash garage blues that is kinda what got us interested but the result wasn't all that they were seriously trying to sound like something on Voodoo Rhythm and although the sound wasn't too bad the vocals were terrible cause he seemed to force it to sound like the Reverend himself. Saw some other dreadful stuff so in the end this was slightly better. Really did enjoy myself when we headed out to the mainstage for CW Stoneking pretty authentic old blues from Australia. The setting, his band, his voice, the amount of beer in me at this time late afternoon-ish, the sun finally coming through. I really got caught up in the moment it has no point telling you how good it was cause he is critically acclaimed all over the world and now he has me that likes him aswell. We finished all of our beers could have mentioned one or two more things I've seen but let's not which means I saw some known people from some old bands with their new bands that suck. Singer of the widely appraised Skidmarks which I always hated has a new band called Malheur the something playing that upbeat crappy hillbilly crap and I saw some hardrock band featuring Kiki uugh. Few days later it was time to celebrate me passing a year who would have guessed. It was most confusing to a lot of people but a band played june 21st and so I decided to call it my bday party cause at midnight it would be june 22nd as you all know thee King's birthday, really not so difficult. A coincidence or not but that tuesday Vera Groningen booked Davila 666 and so I was overjoyed. Had seen them before but that didn't come close to this show the sound was as full and great as can be, the crowd who 9 out of 10 times kinda suck were actually lively here is word I never hoped to use or have it printed but there was a good vibe. It lasted all the way to the end even after Davila had finished their set filled with all their old and new hitsongs. Midnight was counted down as if it was new years eve with a dozen of my closest then I got clawed and dragged down the steep steps leading down to the Vera downstage. Thank god I didn't have the struggle to outlast everybody as this was a weekday and people had to work it was a great party nonetheless. Three days later a proper and genuine birthday party took place at downtown Meppel with five bands! Had myself worrying the whole week how the fuck I was going to do that, so nerve wrecked I landed on that legendary saturday night at the cafe Clouso. Unavoidely the drinking started early but then again with five bands the live action wasn't a long wait. First up were the Skeptics a last minute added band to Nelliene's 30th bday party. I personally had invited them cause I've been a huge fan from the very first time I heard them you could have read about them a couple of City Trashes ago. It started out as home recordings by Bart de Vraantijk but now he turned it into a live band and they drove all the way from Belgium to Meppel for their third show ever!With a nice short set they gave one hell of a performance gloomy sixties garage as expected. So survived one band next were de Spaties who actually drove to Meppel for their first show ever. Not that they are new to the game as de Spaties are basically the Stiletto's who have been rocking for quite some years now maybe even decades, are we getting this old? So similar faces similar sounds but dutch lyrics it all went down perfectly. The third band also have been around for a long time and now finally got their invite to play Meppel believe it or not some bands really want to and some even insist. It was the great sixties surf act Beyond Lickin' enjoyed all their instrumental songs the most as the vocals are a bit to rough for me still great show. Not sure if I was still going strong but I was still present and semi kicking it fourth band that night again no strangers to the Meppel trashscene they must have played at least half a dozen times even at different bars in this small city of ours. Unfortunately the new appointed bass player Janneke called in sick so it was the old school Low Point Drains back to how it started as a twosome and in Meppel! It was the usual set of raw rocking blues punk. Hanging in there for the final act and believe me I wasn't the only one trying anyway headlining band holds the record for playing our hometown the most they seem to love it and we for sure do, the Green Hornet. Had written a bad review about a show they did a few months ago when they really played a lame show in Utrecht but that don't happen in Meppel shit got crazy things got wild naturally don't recall specifics but it was damn good! Writing this made me feel old saw most of these bands well at least two and a half of them as a teenager anyway there was one special one getting a year less young Nelliene congratulations! Week later two dutch bands were playing the Vera downstage and since one of them I actually hadn't seen live I drove out. First were the people from around my neighbourhood I hadn't seen live cause they haven't played that much yet the Holy Beggars. Didn't have any high expectations not sure why I didn't cause we are known for a million awesome bands and almost all of them include Peter Kroes like this one and the other two have been known to play in great local bands aswell. So Peter on bass, Dennis on drums and this time Jan T. vocals in a hot as hell Vera downstage they amazed me to some extent not sure how to describe it the sound kinda leaned toward grunge but still managed to stay within the borders of what you could call garage punk it shifted back and forth between really great songs to lesser ones but overall I was pretty amazed. Loud Squirt blasted through their set showing first good signs of broadening their sound with some less straight forward speedrock songs and as the capitol of the north was celebrating pink saturday Joost D. lead vocalist of Squirt stripped down to his socks it put some sweat on that big ass forehead of mine. A steamy night at the downstage it was! Puke at the pizza parlour later not on my part I'll leave you guessing. Little over a week later I actually had to take a day off to see some action cause Mark Lada decided to throw a garage punk infested BBQ party on a fucking Monday. The line up was most promising and started with Reverse Cowgirls which consists of two talented artists Joost Dijkema known for his solo stuff and Loud Squirt, Michiel Hoving I only know from being in the Sixty Niners. Mentioning that band you know where this is going rambling hillbilly kinda sounds. They switched places from leading the song on guitar and drums from time to time which helped making it more divers something that kinda music always seems to need. It ended outside with dual singing, a guitar and banjo just so you know guess they came looking for me as I had stepped out of the bar halfway their set. Later back inside the improvised club second band of this evening was setting up. It was none other then Earth Control they took way too long getting everything right cause in their case that will never happen. Finally they got started and it was great except the fact they keep bringing new songs to the set which with any other band might be a good thing but they really should stick to to their ten hitsongs they just recently released on the elsewhere reviewed first full length CD. Midway set the two Mark's were called on stage for a little popularity contest. And although I won I declined to play the solo on a toy saxophone and so Lada stepped up to the plate and delivered one hell of a solo. It was one of the many highlights I always seem to experience at an Earth Control show. On his own party he invited his own band to play so next it was Traumahelikopter. They played their set and I was present we done it a million times by now really seem to be cutting the Traumahelikopter shows short somehow I feel you don't mind. Round about that time I was running infront of schedule with drinks and the festival was running behind with the shows. Enjoyed my last drinks with Regal had never heard of them before but they left one good impression one my memory can't really put to paper right now. Young kids blasting away a tight set of garage punk must have been it. Unfortunatly had to miss the Strange Hands thanks to the lack of organising skills from Mark Lada be sure to check out their 7” that came out some years ago on Fistful of Records they might even have some new stuff. Four days later as said festival season two in one week this time it was the annual or even a couple times a year don't know usually try and visit them and this succeeded once again. This year it was back at the rural trailer park infested industrial area in a part of Amsterdam you don't accidently wind up. It was a good reason to go for that location only and the good memories of that place seeing Fatals, Black Lips and Magnetix on one night all playing way past midnight it was legendary judging from the line up for this one it couldn't get close to that but still some promising names. Couldn't believe the size of the festival it had turned into my first Sleaze Fest. was years ago think it was the second edition in somebody's backyard at the near end of a landing strip 20 people showed now there were a 1000, lots of booze and food stands Djees all over the place it looked great. Luckily two of the thousand people present were my brothers, de Wilde brothers thee ticket to getting drunk fast. Enjoyed some sleazy slammers and other liquids while hearing a truly powerful surfband playing the Phantom Four didn't feel the need to go up front and stare at them but they were really good and I do love my surf. With all the drinks eventually had to pee numeral times let me tell you about the one that was most exciting and most close to having it done for the last time ever. It's Sleaze Fest. and although they actually have toilets basically you can just go about anywhere. Not me saw a special spot a few steps down a steep hill that led me to a beautiful view overlooking a lake. Getting back up wasn't as easy as downhill did a backflip salto thing or something like that fell on my back face under water which wasn't that cold and my skull found a rock that nearly cracked it. Guess I survived another blow to the head and got on with the festival lots of bands were playing that night but I was only anxious for two of them and they played way after midnight. So with my outfit wet and my head bleeding I kept partying and eventually made it to the mcGothiefs they played the festival before cause they like to invite bands back and in this case I applaud it. Short explosive trash songs from this twosome from Germany with the legendary Nils Westphal who played in and produced more trash than one can comprehend. It was fucking great and as it turned out the only real highlight music wise beside my moment of surf. Atomic Suplex the band I had high hopes for as they were featured in the last Trash was a bit of a disappointment. The only excuse I can bring up is that it was insane late but then again if you get flown in for an exclusive show you should try and stay sober and be fucking great. None of which I would use to describe their show the guy with the helmet was drunk as fuck and well I don't think they even managed to play one song it looked as somebody was showing off his cool outfit but being totally out of it. It can happen to the best of us but they should have done a better job. Did the Dirty Beaches play in front or after Atomic Suplex no idea really just wanted to say that really sucked aswell. Last band of this night for sure was Vicky Leytones but really not sure what this was supposed to be, dressed up Spanish people on drugs would be my guess so they were probably the best closing act for 999 of the 1000 people guess I had sobered up and saw something terrible. So considering the music it wasn't that good otherwise it was thee best! Remember writing summer was kinda action packed might have to take those words back it rained most of the time and it was boring! So over three weeks later the last show I am going to be elaborate about was on a DMD short for Donderdag Meppeldag dutch for Thursday Meppel day. This being the third in a string of six thursdays that get claimed by this gruesome town but it was the first that offered two bands featuring friends. First were the Reverse Cowgirls already had seen them just weeks ago and now somehow they were at the local bar. Not the biggest fan but judging from the people going apeshit about this I guess they gave one hell of a show for me it at least was better than the first time I saw them. This being better was mostly because of the whole show was without a full drum kit and was just Joost on his guitar/banjo and Michiel on his guitar and floor tom disguised as a suitcase so very hillbilly like. Mostly occupied with that thing you normally do at a bar I didn't pay too much attention to the Holy Beggars show which actually had a reason a few even but sticking to the show they seemed to play every slow song they ever had written. It wasn't the magnetic attraction I needed to stay glued to this show.
(40) new title IN THE EVENT...
Probably not long after where I left off I had one of those moments where all of a sudden you realize you live in a city nowadays. Ofcourse Meppel is a city as well but not one where you need to keep track if somebody is playing somewhere in your city, my current one being Groningen. So as I was planning a quiet night at home getting shit faced with my neighbors aka my Traumaboys the rumor went Organisms were playing the Viadukt that night. They happen to be the only people I know from the Hague who are in a band and so plans changed and we headed out to see some live action. Unfortunately there happened to be a triple bill so that was for sure more than I was barging for especially for the two bands playing in front not sure if what they played should pass a music. Hid out in the smokers lounge till it was time for the 30 minute rollercoaster ride as an Organisms show often gets referred to. Hey it’s as close I will get to a rollercoaster ride and it was rather thrilling, they basically played their pretty amazing debut full length ‘Rainbow Black and White’. The next weekend was all about the release of the previous City Trash well at least one night was but we had three in a row starting with what you could call a nice little pre party for the City Trash festival the next day, two bands at the Walrus in Groningen. It got started by the same band who would play the other day the Skeptics and is as close related to City Trash as can be but do trust what I’m saying, had them play one of their first shows ever as a band last year and this was something else guess they had some practice hours or whatever it was truly brilliant the power they somewhat lacked last year was here in full force combined with an awesome set, I already lost my mind early that evening. Still even the main event of this evening presenting their newest hit maker on Highschool Refuse was amazing and I mean that in the best way cause the venue doesn’t have the best sound and your mind and body go adrift easily at that club. The Beavers nailed it and its good to see they being known as one of the greatest things to come out of Groningen in the good old days, nineties, still performing as should and adding another great release to their name. The next day was the big celebration of this zine hitting 40! Naturally we celebrated it at that same godforsaken place in Meppel where we did all of our shit up on till today and I masterminded a bill of five. Unfortunately the one I was looking forward to the most had to cancel due to things, so without thee Marvin Gays we were left with four bands! Things got started with my art division thee dynamic duo Bert S. and Marcel you all know them as Earth Control, a typical band you either love or hate, always wanted to use that phrase, me asking them puts me on the short list of people that enjoy the brilliance of this band and had them playing in a bar of idiots who truly hate them. It seemed like a good idea but I guess I should have put them on the top of the bill and have them finish this night laying a good background sound for me killing a few of the ignorant very present assholes. But that’s a small community and its their bar. The show was good but I do hope one day they will listen to me and work on that fucking setlist. the Skeptics did the same thing as the night before just to think almost a year ago they were playing this same bar their third show ever and now this was their first show on the way to a small Scandinavian tour, one of the best sixties garage bands on the scene! Then there was the long awaited first time Traumahelikopter played Meppel, let’s hope it was the first of many cause they went at it as always and this is as far as I am concerned a perfect setting for this band but god, and maybe me, knows where this band is going. Gruppe 80 the main event for this night came with at least one band member short and at first that was painfully obvious but eventually they picked things up and gave a full blown show as they did before at this same bar. The next day was the last in a nowadays rare three show nights in a row and it took us back to our new hometown Groningen. At the Vera mainstage local heroes Traumahelikopter gave a similar show as the night before with slightly less ambience but a perfect opener for a band I thought I didn’t like the Jacuzzi Boys. But I guess I just hadn’t heard them before and got them confused with some other similar sounding bandname. Cause this was actually pretty damn good. Less than two weeks later I obliged Germany and especially Markus Smaucki and his club Gleis 22 with a visit. After being well treated with multiple bottles of wine I had to taste at the house of CT writer Dirk Dingles I was ready for somewhat of a copied double bill from the bands I had lined up for the CT party. Not sure where Markus got the nerve to book Earth Control but we were more than thrilled we actually drove the band out there! They started and as usual there was something of a struggle to win the crowd over but after handing out their plastic saxophone out to the local drunks things got lively and for me it was actually one of the best shows I’ve seen from them. Gruppe 80 were complete and insane guess we really missed Wolfie one of the front guys and since they from Germany and we were in Germany it was one great party! Another two weeks passed and finally it was time for a first show ever from some band we like. Bratt Farrar one of the two guys from Digger and the Pussycats performed at the Vera downstage. His self recorded debut is pretty amazing so I didn’t expect this would go wrong and it didn’t, tons of energy and actually better songs than Digger and the Pussycats ever have written. Infront there was this band called the Happy Kids and I’m still not quite sure if I liked it or not, the whole stripped down one guitar and selfmade key/drum computer with the added attitude might have been a bit too much. But on the other hand their trashin’ classic sixties songs had it’s appeal. A period of national holidays hit us hard and so the annual ‘Bevrijdings Festival’ celebrating the liberation of this very flat in every sense of the word country had stages filled with shitty bands all over the country. Two not so shitty were on my schedule starting in the late afternoon at the city park on a big stage local electro sensation, you read about them before, Earth Control. Didn’t expect it but they did draw some attention looked like potential art school drop out kinda people but they seemed to know and dig the band which got more people enjoying this band as I always do. Their new album should be out soon let’s hope their audience judging from this show have money to go and get it. The early drinking and basically being in the middle of a workweek, although it was a Saturday, didn’t help to get me excited for an evening show by the Green Hornet at the Crowbar. And maybe it was me or it was them but no excitement on my part that was for sure. Few days later exact in the middle of the week there was this band called J.D MacPherson my lack of music comes to show as I didn’t know them and although they seem pretty well known but even after the show I won’t bother again. No I was there cause the boys from the countryside, the good side were there to open, the Sensational Second Cousins. I must admit I expected it would be too soon for the guys to be on the main stage cause it’s all good and fun but .But nothing, love to get proven wrong Henri and Jerk, his name not his personality, really made a well thought through set and performed it with no holding back everything seemed just right and so a great opener for some to enjoy J.D MacPherson, for me taking a few steps back hitting the bar. Two days later we had to take the car out for a drive again, all the way to Utrecht, to see the only Dutch show from former Gravy Train entertainer nowadays known as Hunx and his Punx. Not the biggest fan of his first releases but his latest record ‘Lovers Lane’ is pretty brilliant. So there was no doubt to go and see him, the line up of the band showed some familiar faces, Bunny and Clams. The show was short, crazy and tons of fun! Next day at the Vera there was the Slovenly night out with no less than six bands!! Kinda puzzled why this event took place in the north of Holland at the Vera since the Slovenly label has Amsterdam as one of it’s home locations. Not that I mind it saved me driving out there. The set up was fairly unique with the main stage area cut in half that combined with downstage, almost a true festival. Things got started with to my opinion the wildest band on the bill and so a bit too early but the Anomalys kicked it off. After that we headed downstairs to one of the oldest garage blues bands Holland has to offer, they might not have known they were playing at the hometown of their biggest fan CT writer Wild Wout, who were among the first releases on this label, Lo-Lite. It must have been at least 15 years ago since I seen them last and it felt like nothing had changed unfortunately it’s quite the opposite of anything wild or special for that matter and so I sat this one out at the bar rather bored but drinking. Heading back up to the main stage it struck me how little people showed up I mean if you count in five bands as audience expect in paying customers there were no more than 50. Hellshovel was next didn’t realize it on forehand and so to my surprise it was the new band from one of the singers of Demon’s Claws. The songs not as outstanding as Demon’s Claws but still good probably due to those great vocals. Pete played some records as the next band also played the main stage, had seen them one time before and hadn’t made up my mind yet so I was curious how J.C Satan would go down this evening. And well still not too sure they seem to be a bit to divers for my taste, short catchy songs to long winding weird kinda songs, its hard to describe and I’m not even sure the lead girl knows what kinda band she is in. Already feel like I’m stretching this night there were two more to go at the downstage. Not sure about the order of things but two bands Bazooka and Gay Anniversary that sounded familiar, shared some bandmembers, lotsa problems with the backline and TWO drummers it was a bit much to take in and although I am the last to wear ear plugs or complain about the loudness of things, this was insane! Still interested in both band’s music but not downstage at the Vera with TWO drummers! Twelve days of nothing before driving out to the Pacific Parc in Amsterdam for one hell of a double. It seemed like a lot of people from everywhere came out to see the return of the Spits, at the one place in Holland that wanted to put up the cash that was needed to get them to play any party. Obviously things got started with the wildest threesome from Amsterdam; the Anomalys we know what to expect and it always seems even better. Jasper de Wilde pitched in as the local drunk it was the perfect set up for the Spits. They didn’t let anybody down dressed up, flames on the drums and all their greatest hits on the list, it was mayhem! One of the best parties this year! A week later I was headed for the airport this time not to do my baggage handling gig but to actually board a plane, destination Madrid. It was still semi business as I am and will remain the self-acclaimed manager of Traumahelikopter I needed to see for myself how their first Spanish show would go down. To my great surprise the night before the boys would play the Masonics had a show somewhere in Madrid so naturally we went. In a nice little place things got started with a new band from David of the Fumestones but it wasn’t quite memorable, hence the lack of a bandname. The Masonics can’t go wrong even when the sound was total shit like that night I just get a kick out of watching Mickey, Johnny and Bruce doing their thing, legendary men! Being in Madrid counts as a holiday meaning sun and early drinking anywhere. I indulged a little too much which came to haunt me on this second show night. Things started calmly with a great show from Traumahelikopter the place wasn’t packed yet but definitely more people showed as I expected. It became totally packed as the main event the Spits hit the stage and as I jumped in dancing I could feel life slipping away from me, water was coming out of my every pore and so after a dozen songs I hit the streets completely dehydrated waiting for my ride home, not as spectacular as one might have envisioned but I was fucking drained. Barely back in Holland there was the excitement of Mikal Cronin playing the Vera. Although things would have been better if he would have been there with his band the Moonhearts, this still was something to look forward to cause his record is amazing. It was like the Ty Segall show I witnessed at the Vera, a bit tame, great songs but it could have used some aggression, it’s something I really miss in the new batch of garage bands. Feels like you quicker ending up picking flowers with him than ending up in a bar fight. More than a week later and as in almost every long story I start the Trash with it seems to include another edition of Sleazefest. This time it was held again at the beach club Timboektoe my least favourite place for this festival but the line up was good as it always is, so we ventured out. Lots of familiar bands and as tradition goes I only saw half, here is what I did see. Sleazefest. Has it’s own tradition, a few actually but one is that every edition gets opened by Yeah!, a twosome existing of Pjotr the guy who used to run the Diepte in Amsterdam and Menno on drums mostly known for his work with the Anomalys. Their music can’t be defined. de Spa ties played next it’s the same guys as the Stiletto’s, similar approach but Dutch lyrics highly energetic and fun to watch. Low Point Drains played which is nowadays somewhat special cause lead man mr. Point has his job in India and it was special cause they appointed a new bass player none other than our very own Peter Cruise. It was the first time seeing them together and it was as tight as if they had been playing together for years. I should have known better I was already downing the largest amounts of beer so I was struggling but happy to be still on my feet as they already got Guitar Wolf on stage what for me was the main event. Try to avoid telling you every sentence I’m getting old but last time I saw Guitar Wolf was mid-nineties so do the math. That was a show that made a lasting impression and somewhere deep down I knew it would not get close as to what I experienced back then. And so it happened, didn’t really like it. A few bands were yet to play but good programming learned it were all the bands that you know would suck so I decided to crash in the car and maybe with a few hours of sleep would be back for the grand final and the only awesome band still to play Traumahelikopter. And although I was awakened to the fact they were about to play, I decided with more than 20 shows under my belt from this band I would sit or better yet sleep this one out. Another Sleazefest. I traditionally suck at. Maybe my thoughts were already with the three days later Monday night show. Almost preciously one year ago same band, same club, thee Oh-Sees had returned to Nijmegen! It being my favourite show of the previous year this was a must go. It was exactly the same as the year before maybe one or two different faces in the audience, missed two Germans, for the rest it was just as legendary and brilliant as the year before, it doesn’t happen too often I see such a driven band on stage and I see and have seen enough as it sometimes feel. Twelve days later almost getting close to the summer roster of hardly any shows, we had organized in favour of our old local bar the kings of surf and fratrock the Krontjong Devils to come and play. The place as close as it ever will to being packed with fans enjoyed the sounds of the sensation from the north. As said fun in Europe is often over round the end of June so it took forever, somewhere mid July for the next show to present itself. And it was way out in the countryside not even in a real club. On their territory the flat country of Klazienaveen the Sensational Second Cousins celebrated their 1st anniversary with two befriended bands and had them play in a tent in Jerk’s garden. First band who had the honor to play this party were the Junohoos it had been a while since I had seen them all together at once and playing. And although I’m pretty sure they practice every week it didn’t totally come across as such, keep in mind they played outside, in the middle of nowhere and not a professional or sober soundguy in sight. Still they had their own struggles but the songs they played great, were great. Low Point Drains were the second and final band, as things already were quite loud half way set we got treated on a nice little spectacle as one of the neighbours, an old looking farmer dude with his wife following his trail, stomped his way into the ‘party’ tent and layed his hand on the bass as Peter was playing. Of all people! Showdown! Anyway after the organizing party/local drunks/sensational second cousins talked to their neighbor and his wife things proceeded although not the same cause it was hard getting comfortable again. Still Low Point Drains nailed it like they always do. We cool people skipped karaoke but as I was told later the complainant left last after finishing all the free liquor. And again almost another month, must say I might have skipped a few shows cause I love my job, until we organized as I hope since I fucking moved our last show at the old local bar café Clouso, we partied there for decades now I’m done. And also because we have the best band to end it, finally after at least a few years of checking with the Anomalys if we had a matching opening in our schedules. We found August 16th a thursday so in every way it was a special day for Meppel, festivities started with the Sensational Second Cousins these guys are the perfect opener for any night, they can do about everything from big stage, as you read earlier, to the small bars. They tune their set to whatever they think the crowd needs and in this case got everybody wild for the Anomalys. Think I’ve seen them a million times doing the same shit still it never gets old especially not when you finally have them in your shitty hometown. It was one crazy special party! Eight days later after weighing my options I decided I really needed to see Jacuzzi Boys again. Think it was their second Euro tour this year this time with only one show in Holland. So Utrecht it was on a solo flight out there my arrival will stay as disclosed as legendary. It was a weird night cause for one Db’s club was packed which is very unusual and of all the faces there hardly any were familiar. The show was opposite of what I had seen just a few months before Jacuzzi Boys played fast, loud and the kids were going crazy, including me. Also got to make note of the fact they had Mozes and the Firstborn playing in front of them. Unfortunately I was a bit late and walked in halfway set on their best song ‘Save Yourself’. Kinda bummed cause they were damn good and it took away any doubts of mine to have them in this magazine, it is actually me that should thank his lucky stars they were willing to answer my questions! Elsewhere in the zine! As summer was drawing to an end a winter schedule of bands was starting to take shape especially when we arrived at the Gleis 22 and saw what they had planned for the next months. This night we were there for the return of Digger and the Pussycats and their first show on another Euro tour. Hadn’t seen them for two years so we were more than ready. But first there were those Sensation Second Cousins again. And here in Germany they showed another different side of them or I hadn’t noticed it before but they brought a truckload of humor to this show which was unleashed on the crowd between every song. And although the fun was mostly about them, the Germans seemed to enjoy. Sam and Andy of the Digger and Pussycats hadn’t seen each other for a while and I think they actually met up with each other right in front of us on the stage, was funny. They didn’t waste time and played an explosive set and well seeing Andy jump up and down banging on that shitty drumkit is the best part, impossible not to enjoy. Two days later at the Vera downstage we had a French double which started with the band I knew least about Le Secte Du Futur but who made a great impression, with a great sound, the girl doing the vocals and the songs appeared to be brilliant, I didn’t quite hear that back on the record I bought. More familiar and last band this night were Yussuf Jerusalem who exactly sounded like their great record ‘A Heart Full Of Sorrow’. Few days later I went to see King Tuff mostly cause the Vera is a 5 minute bike ride from my house. Cause I can’t really see why this is hip or even signed to a major, besides the fact it kinda sucks and they have a neck for such bands. Might have been wrong about the hipness of it all cause hardly anyone showed up. Nonetheless it was not as bad as expected and I came to hear that one great hit song ‘Bad Thing’ and ofcourse they played it. Next day I made another step into becoming a regular at the Gleis 22 in Munster, Germany. Although this show was a no brainer the nearest show Reigning Sound were gonna be doing at a ‘normal’ club. It was packed with people from all over luckily we arrived late and we didn’t have to endure the full triple bill Smauki had set up. In other words we managed to miss Miss Chain and the Broken Heels but we were in time for Mark Sultan and the longer you don’t see him the better that same set he is still playing becomes again. Reigning Sound were amazing, honestly haven’t been listening to that band for a while and I only know the first few records I guess so I am easily pleased. Next day in Groningen I was still fit enough for the redemption show of the Men at the Vera. Their previous show was terrible but what do you know as all seemed to fall apart last time, everything fell right into place this night. Five days later same club my second and third show on this Digger and the Pussycats tour. Second and third? Yes after playing their set on the big main stage they decided to play some more an hour later at the downstage. Really was a bit too much for me and well it threw me off my schedule of drinks. Two days later the story continues right there at the Vera Downstage, where it was a first time I got to see the mysterious Jacco Gardner. Things have been going well for Jacco I guess after playing in the great Skywalkers he now does his solo thing and already landed some songs on a 7” with Trouble In Mind Records, as I heard other recordlabels are banging on his door. I was mostly troubled by the looks he was giving me, not the aggressive kind but weird, so I removed myself out of his view and actually enjoyed his set of psychedelics with my ass glued to the bar. More than 14 days later really nothing special at the Vera ofcourse. Jaill was to play a show and somehow this band is more interested in me than I am in them. In the end a not so good show. On what for me is now almost a guaranteed show night we drove out for another Tuesday of live action at the Gleis 22 Munster Germany. It had been a while since I had seen them last and that was in the States when they weren’t even playing. We got reacquainted and they, the River City Tanlines played one great show. Some old songs including one Lost Sounds song, which is still in my book the best band ever and basically the whole new record. Which made the on first listen not so great new record way much more enjoyable. That Friday back in Groningen for a full night of sing and dance in Dutch, obviously at the Vera. Personally not a big fan of Dutch lyrics but with the first band it isn’t a problem. de Spa ties with their wild catchy punk and show was the only good thing about this night. So needless to say I didn’t enjoy myself at the Kik show. Their version of looking and sounding sixties just doesn’t go down with me. The day after we drove to Amsterdam were River City Tanlines gave another great show, the songs of the new record keep getting better and while Alicja was a bit sick during the previous show I saw this was way better. Drove back to Groningen only to wake up and return to Amsterdam again for another show. This time a first being at ,as it turned out, the great OT301 club. The bands were familiar it started with the sleazy tunes from the organ and drums duo ZZZ followed by the puppetry and swamp sounds of the brilliant mr. Quintron. But as said most enjoyable was just hanging out at that club. Slept like a baby in my car at the lovely surroundings of the Vondelpark. On a Thursday at the local bar in Groningen the Crowbar it was a first time seeing the Omens which turned out to be pretty original sixties punk and the nicest of guys. Another Tuesday meaning party at the Gleis 22 and this was not just any party it was one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. the Liminanas who also released one of the best records this year pretty much played that record but with that added live vibe and god knows how many instruments I saw fly by gave it that little extra and made it even better than on vinyl. Two days later it was time for something I had been looking forward to ever since they started booking the tour and thanks to Jeroen from Db’s I only had to drive to Utrecht to see the K-Holes. Unfortunately the turn out wasn’t that great so it was something of a clash between the theatrics of the band and the lack of anything from the crowd. I know for sure this would have worked way better with a good crowd cause the songs were explosive and the band didn’t lack anything they might even have been over compensating a bit much. And it seems like a new tradition has set in telling you about the band in front as last but the night started with J.C Thomas And The Missing Slippers and I had the conception that they sucked but seeing this show it gets me wondering if I ever had seen them before cause this was not all bad. Exactly fourteen days later there was Nick Waterhouse at the Vera and I guess I jumped on that train a little late probably cause I didn’t like the 7” ‘I Can Only Give You Everything’ very much. But now after the show and hearing the full length some more I’m very impressed. Although live I got the feeling the background singers, if you can call them that, were singing most parts but that wasn’t a bad thing either, not at all! On Sunday there was Death, the band and the movie. Skipped the movie just read the synopsis and joined the rest of the interested at the Vera downstage for this special occasion. Although opnions on the legendary status range from so true to bullshit I can only say what I saw and heard was pretty lame. Two days later it was Tuesday and by now you should know what that means, another Record Riot party at the Gleis 22. Two bands on the official bill but added last minute was Brat Farrar who needed a place to play. It was like an uninvited guest but not the worst you could imagine, great record unfortunately the show wasn’t that amazing. I was actually there for the band who was supposed to open this evening. White Fangs from Belgium/ France playing wild garage punk which I only knew from one split 7” and the extensively played split cassette with Teenage Moonlight Borderliners. The show was exactly just that and their debut record I got to take home is brilliant. Cheap Time ended this night and it’s safe to say not every song hits home but with an occasional hitsong on their set they have a nice enough show to sit out. Next memory I have was sitting in the car sleeping covered in blankets with the engine already running as I probably had been cold and then a sudden knock on my window from a construction worker telling me something in German and the word that stuck out with my poor knowledge of the language was polizei, so I put my car in gear and got the fuck out of there. Later that week a nice family outing, my dad and me, went to see one of our favourite sixties outfits, the Montesas. Thanks to the ridiculous curfew the Ekko club in Utrecht has and the German Montesas having their fair share of problems getting there they only had a short hour which isn’t near enough for a show they like to put up. So short but as we had seen them before it was brilliant even the cover of ‘the End’ by the Doors as last song is something they get away with.
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