Nits

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  • First fine, second best!

    10 Mar 2010, 20:39 de Bertels

    Tue 9 Mar – Yoshimi, St. Polaroid, Sub071, Leiden.
    After months Coach Bertels decided to visit the Black Tower, lured by the event alert on Last.fm. It said St.Polaroid and Yoshimi!, two Dutch bands with a beautiful future in music? It was for Coach and a few other visitors to decide. As Bertels arrived at the scene, the little room was already filled, with the bands, that is. Three Polaroids and six Yoshimi’s. Plus Three Sub071 crewmembers and finally two and a half paying visitors (according to Leon who had a peak at the financials). Dickies told Coach what had happened, and what Coach missed out on during the last period. Johnny explained his job as reviewer for magazines and that he has to cope with tons of CD’s that pile up and collapse all the time. Besides that, he makes art in the form of drawings and all. For all Coach knows, this fellow knows a lot about music and particularly British style stuff. Dickies showed Bertels the leaking gas burner and went up the stairs with a pile of dirty plates and macaroni leftovers. After a while he returned and saw no extra visitors. So the green light was on and the first band kicked off. Two brothers and a sister form St. Polaroid, one brother singing and playing a guitar, the other brother doing electronic guitar, very noisy little toy organ and xylophone, the drummer boy was introduced as the sister, which he seemed to enjoy. The minute they started their set list, it was clear that this band operated on an amateur level, some folks in the audience dared to speak of a kid’s party gig. It just lacked a huge amount of passion! The band members were kind of shy and there were lots of miscommunications. “Dreaming of shopping malls” and the song that ended up in some CD compilation were the best in the set. During the break, lots of stuff and instruments were dragged from one place to another as bands changed places on the stage. Next was Yoshimi, four tall young guys with guitars, synths, drums, bottles, trumpet, and a whole lot of strange percussion stuff. They had one girl as assistant, constantly handing over instruments and singing one song. Another girl was filming the whole show, which was.....Great! Very energetic music with lots of passion and very well organized. Funny lyrics in English and some in Dutch, which made it sound a bit like Spinvis. Bertels immediately linked their energetic music to the very first years of The Nits, that sound, that youth like energy and tunes made Coach travel back in time to the year 1974, a year before poor Bertels was even born! But now he stood there and witnessed their first gig! Wow, what a feeling! These Yoshimi dudes looked like the cartoon characters of the Gorillaz, and they rock like hell! During one particular song the keys dude picked a strange looking percussion instrument every ten seconds and used it to fit in the rhythm, very funny to watch and see what came out of the box. Johnny mentioned The Bonzo Dog Band or Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and indeed it sounded like that during some songs, especially the last one, ending with a crazy trumpet. Just loved it! After the show Coach asked for the CD and the front dude claimed that he had made the CD all by himself, playing every instrument apart, all the singing and background vocals apart, layer by layer. Bertels was astonished, if it sounds just like the live thing, this dude must be brilliant! And sure enough, the very next day Coach listened to the CD and found the same vibe as Yoshimi! Showed on stage.... A prosperous future is meant to be, Yoshimi! All night Leon was walking around with a fluffy monkey in his coat pocket, and at the end of the evening there was suddenly also a fluffy rabbit in there! It had something to do with the dog, Leon watches over. Then he told a typical Leon story; he was at the OCCI the other night attending some kind of lottery, and he won a couch, to sleep on in the streets! But this was a prize he could never move in public transportation, so he changed it for another number and won a horse-riding cap along with a plastic toy police car. As he stepped in the tram wearing the cap and holding the police car toy, the driver said that he could travel free of charge for the occasion! Then there was another story about a certain mister K.Bouter, who was made up for online buying purposes and never to pay practices. It was a swell evening with good music! Just another great night at the Black Tower.

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  • Strawberry Wood

    8 Dic 2009, 20:48 de Bertels

    Thu 3 Dec – The Nits. Leidse Schouwburg, Leiden.


    There were two wax records in the bag as Coach Bertels biked towards downtown Leiden, one was brand-new and still sealed while the other has a scar from turntable-isme battles Coach once fought.
    The new one was purchased by B during the previous concert in Paradiso where The Black Heart Procession rocked in their warm smuggled way. The second was bought by Coach Bertels in 2005 from the trailer park dude from the same band at the same venue after also a great show.
    Recently Coach bought latter album newly, so the old LP is like a gift to B (the scratch only like 10% loss on the entire album, 90% to enjoy perfectly!).
    It had rained all day and just as Bertels stepped outside, the clouds broke and things became a little lighter for this part of the world. With temperatures around five degrees Celsius, Coach wore swell gloves and a thick leather wallet filled with cards (for the mall, for motor service, for the zoo etc. etc.).
    B opened the door and stepped aside, the perfect gesture to invite someone inside your home. Bertels spotted C on the sofa , so things worked out just fine after all. Coach hands the new LP to B and surprises him with the other album, then B stated that the pickup is broken since the sound is terrible. A quick examination learned both B’s that the needle was bent completely sideways, as a result of intoxicated attempts to listen to music. With the needle back in it’s original position the music sounds a lot better, but not perfect. There lies a target for B to track, trace and buy a new element for the pickup.
    Coach tells B, that he has to leave almost immediately again to visit a Nits concert in the city, then B suddenly walks to a crate in a corner filled with LP’s and picks out the Omsk album from 1983 with great tracks like: Nescio, The cold eye and Walter and Conny. “That’s right, that’s where I’m going to right now”, Bertels proclaims. B puts the dic on the pick up and simultaneously the clock showed seven forty-five, time for Bertels to leave B&C and go to the theatre-concert performed by some ancient Dutch rockers! When Bertels collects the Porto? Well, after the concert OK?
    Halfway B’s and the theatre, Bertels quickly stops at the Luxor restaurant to inform the folks there on the degreased number of participants of a lovely dinner Coach is throwing the week after. Finally Bertels hurries and arrives at the theatre, as the sky slowly starts dripping again.
    The crowd is already inside, chatting, drinking and laughing. Having a good time already, the three artists can’t screw this one up with this crowd. Bertels goes upstairs were it is quieter and nips a fresh beer, here awaits the typical fan of tonight’s act: guy and girl in there late thirties, he zipping coffee and reading the 2010 program of the theatre and she having tea and reading a book. Then he says “isn’t this nice, reading a book like this” to her. Beautiful scene from not just any concert crowd! Coach Bertels is touched by all this and suddenly needs to take a leak.
    A little doorbell rings as a sign for all to abandon lounge and get in the actual theatre, this place is old and unique, every time it’s like a museum for Coach (who is used to barns).
    Three guys appear on stage and the crowd clap their hands, The Nits start right away with Hawelka the first of their new album Strawberry Wood, great song and only known by Bertels for several months. Henk, Robert Jan and Rob are still the musicians they became during 35 years Nits.
    All song s from the new album were played and a lot old ones, including great stuff like Tutti Ragazi and Woman Cactus! It just so happened to be that Coach Bertels was thinking about this concert somewhat earlier that day, with stat graphics on the screen and screaming colleagues in the background, Coach thought of the concert and what tracks he would like to hear from the band. This wishful thinking became like a top six of great old Nits songs for Bertels : 1) An eating house, 2) Harrow Accident, 3) Tutti Ragazi, 4) The young reporter, 5) Red Tape and 6) Woman Cactus! That’s why Coach was very surprised that two out of six made it to the setlist ;-) Sometimes dreams come true, and with that thought the immediate wish to have a great concert in small Paradiso by the Nits doing only their first six albums. Because these Dutch rockers have “London Calling repertoire” from the 70’s and 80’s that would blow any teenager away, today! During the concert, one of the Telman brothers did sound controls in the back of the theatre, whilst twittering on his “Oh Cherry I-phone” and giving instructions to the other Telman behind the coulisse. He also held the set list that was needly followed till the end, only the last two songs were switched (in the fully planned encore).
    The set dressing was simple but effective; pillars all over the stage as if they were performing in a forrest. In the “trees” were lamps as pairs of eyes glowing red every now and then and the back was a full screen over the entire length of the stage, with all sorts of typical Nits-Art floating by per song, great visuals, great music, fantastic band!
    Bertels spotted a colleague from who a globe was once obtained, the same globe Bertels stares at wondering in what remote area on this planet he might be some day…
    After the concert Twittering sound engineer “Oh Cherry Telman” suddenly acts as merchandise vendor, Coach look sat the Avalanche Quartet CD and is suddenly reminded of the Porto still to be picked up from B’s place. As Coach rings the doorbell, B is already there to open the door with the bottle in his hand, standing firm in the door opening. Thanks, for getting this bottle out of Porto and carrying it all the way to this point for Coach to collect.
    Almost eleven, time to get home and sleep tight for the day after is always lurking!
  • Classic Head Banging

    24 Ago 2009, 14:38 de Bertels

    Sat 22 Aug – Prinsengracht Concert 2009 Prinsengracht, Amsterdam.

    Coach Bertels is known for his exquisite taste for cultural events, for several years now Coach is a true fan of the annual Prinsengracht Concert and since last year his intention is to see it live, so Coach Bertels got up early did some cleaning in his Cube, two loads of laundry and all of this whilst listening to delicious vinyl records.
    Against all odds nothing strange happened and Coach was really pleased to finish all that washing, scrubbing and ironing. Now the time came to close the door and head for the great city of Leiden for some strolling over the Saturday market. Suddenly Coach got a reminder on his phone for a livingroom concert in Leiden at three o clock that afternoon, Coach forgot this gig completely and was kind of pissed that he now had to go to the Prinsengracht Concert, why can’t people just split up and go separate ways? Luckily Bertels found a nice record to buy and forget the sorrow, Udo Jurgens, “Das Goldene Album”, the best songs from this guy on one vinyl disc. Then Coach went to the station, bought a round trip ticket and entered the train to Amsterdam Central Station. Arriving there just thirty minutes later, Coach immediately went searching for two record stores he looked up on the internet. One of them is located across the street from the bakery where Bertels him mum used to work for some time. Record Friend is a very nice record shop with a great assortment of old and new records in effectively filed compartments. Coach was in Vinyl heaven! Some great Nits albums were bought: “Hat”, “Adieu Sweet Bahnhof” and “New Flat”. Then Coach looked a little more and found the fantastic “Primitive Cool” album by Mick Jagger. Did you walk cool in the sixties daddy? Did you fight in the war? Man what a historic piece of work! And this specific album that Bertels was holding was in mint condition, brand new, never used since it was released in 1993. Coach was very content and went for a beer at the Dam Square, where he checked on the whereabouts of Kronos, who was driving around the city for an hour already to find a parking space. Kronos finally found a place to park his car and came from the suburbs to the city centre, not knowing exactly how to get back again. Forget all that, time for a beer! It is always great to watch other folks whilst enjoying refreshments at a terrace, good looking girls, unsure tourists and flocks of sailors from strange countries in grotesque looking uniforms combined with the most perfect weather imaginable. After a while Coach wanted to look up the other record store on his list, a very small place near the Prinsengracht specialized in soul, funk and Dance: vinyl for real DJ’s. There were some mainstream records, also second hand but at staggering prices! Ten Euros.s for a mint Mick Jagger album is quite some money but here far worse conditions were twice or more that price! Wax Well Records is a store for folks who want to have specialized stuff for performing. In the meanwhile Kronos was totally occupied calling all his homies and having the weirdest conversations. Coach Bertels and Kronos had already past a dozen lunchrooms as the latter wanted to eat, walking around the block a second time, he couldn’t find a place that fulfilled his criteria. After another thirty minutes Bertels and Kronos stood in front of a pizzeria, but Kronos wanted to sit at the terrace on the other side of the street where a grand café had things like omelet and mussels on the menu. Being seated and receiving the menu from a Polish waitress, Kronos exclaimed: “I’d rather have a pizza!” So both suckers crossed the street again and ordered beers and Calzone. During the heavy and late lunch (it was now five o clock), masses of people streamed onto the Prinsengracht with tables and chairs, cool-boxes filled with food and drinks and all sorts of stuff one needs for a picnic; they were all going to the Prinsengrachtconcert and take all the good places already! Bertels and Kronos finished the folded pizza with everything in it and went to battle, the battle for a good spot. There they were, sitting on the ground between hundreds of folks on chairs. Now the kids version of the concert was in progress and after that it would be a three hours wait until the real concert started. The kids fest was with a kids orchestra, and solo kids accompanied by some artists to give it all a boost that had noting to do with classical music (the kids did great, but every other piece of music had to be pop or hip hop for5 some obscure reason). After quite a while real Amsterdam conversations in the crowd, Kronos went to a nearby supermarket to get some drinks, he came back with an empty Chiquita bananas box to sit on. As the bottles emptied quickly, Bertels also went to the supermarket to buy some bottles of wine and returned with a banana box of his own. During the wait both Bertels and Kronos started to destroy each others boxes and somewhat later Bertels crashed through his. Every now and then people had to move through the dense crowd to get to their seats or boats again, on one occasion a pretty girls carefully stepped over Bertels place as some Amsterdam dude pushed poor Bertels his head against her ass, in a reaction she ass bumped back and everybody laughed as Bertels turned red as a tomato. After this Coach drank some wine in no time he was lame and still had to focus on the concert at hand. First there was an introduction program with a trio on piano, cello and violin. Thy did some great pieces and everybody was quiet, hearing only a far tram and police siren apart from the great music of Mozart, Handel and schubert. Then after a short break the real deal was on, the concert which was broadcasted live on national TV. A small setting of musicians accompanied Danielle De Niese, a famous twentynine year old soprano singer lady from Australia in a beautiful gown. The music was very dreamy and Bertels almost fell asleep, not fully aware of most of the concert. Afterwards the Amsterdam anthem had to be sung by everybody, artists and crowd together. Then the gracht emptied real quick and everybody went to pubs in the city. Kronos managed to contact two girls and the group went to the great lounge bar Weber. Here Bertels and Kronos had difficulties staying awake while the girls desperately tried to keep conversations up. The best thing to do for Bertels at that moment was to just go home, so Coach left and felt real sick in the train. Wine after beer is OK, but a beer after wine is a disaster! Next year things have to better organized (a chair for example) and no more gnome beer for Bertels!
  • Artists I've Ever Seen Live

    14 Ago 2009, 13:32 de thomas10

    Adele
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/12/2009

    African Head Charge
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1994

    Mose Allison
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/09/2005


    Antony and the Johnsons
    Carré, Amsterdam 06/22/2009

    Apparat
    Parque do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo 11/25/2007

    Arab Strap
    Vredenburg, Utrecht 10/08/1999


    Gnarls Barkley
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/13/2008

    Beastie Boys
    Statenhal, Den Haag 02/10/1995


    Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
    Vredenburg, Utrecht 03/13/2007


    Andrew Bird
    Helling, Utrecht 05/23/2007
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 05/07/2009

    Björk
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/25/1994

    The Black Angels
    Helling, Utrecht 08/19/2009


    Blind Melon
    Ahoy, Rotterdam 11/11/1993
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1994

    Blur
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/26/1994
    Dour Festival, Dour 07/09/1994

    Body Count/Ice-T
    Belfort Festival, Belfort 07/08/1995

    Dennis Brown
    Tivoli, Utrecht 12/09/1994

    Solomon Burke
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/09/2005


    Burning Spear
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 06/15/2007


    David Byrne
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/08/1997
    Pepsi Stage, Amsterdam 05/03/2004

    Terry Callier
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/29/1998
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/08/2005


    Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/29/1998
    Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam 11/23/2004
    World Forum Theater, Den Haag 09/19/2006

    Chatham County Line
    Ekko, Utrecht 08/29/2009


    George Clinton/Parliament/Funkadelic
    Tivoli, Utrecht 07/12/2002
    Tivoli, Utrecht 07/13/2004
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 09/03/2008

    Cold War Kids
    Melkweg, Amsterdam 05/05/2007

    Bootsy Collins
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/11/2008

    Consilidated
    Dour Festival, Dour 07/09/1994

    Robert Cray Band
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/08/2005


    Jamie Cullum
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/09/2005
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/12/2009

    The Cult
    Goffertpark, Nijmegen 06/05/1993


    The Cure
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/25/1995

    D.A.A.U.
    Tivoli, Utrecht 01/27/1996
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 10/17/1998

    De La Soul
    Parkpop, Den Haag 06/29/2003

    Dengue Fever
    De Beschaving, Utrecht 08/30/2008

    Delphic
    Kitsuné Maison Party, London 10/31/2009


    dEUS
    Dour Festival, Dour 07/09/1994
    Tivoli, Utrecht 10/07/1994
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 02/23/1995
    Torhout Werchter, Werchter 07/01/1995
    Belfort Festival, Belfort 07/08/1995
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 09/11/1996
    Tivoli, Utrecht 10/11/1996

    Alela Diane
    Helling, Utrecht 04/12/2008
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 04/08/2009
    Helling, Utrecht 07/14/2009


    Dr. John
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 07/25/2007

    Candy Dulfer
    Beachpop, Renesse 06/28/1993
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/10/2005 with Sheila E.

    De Dijk
    Beachpop, Renesse 06/28/1993

    Johnny Dowd
    Tivoli, Utrecht 02/01/2001

    Eek-A-Mouse
    Tivoli, Utrecht 12/01/1997

    Faith No More
    De Kuip, Rotterdam 06/23/1992

    Fanfare Ciocarlia
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/15/2007

    Fat Freddy's Drop
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 11/26/2009


    Ibrahim Ferrer
    North Sea jazz, Den Haag 07/08/2005

    Fever Ray
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 12/03/2009

    Fink
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/11/2008

    Forguette Mi Note
    Dour Festival, Dour 07/09/1994

    Fun-Da-Mental
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/27/1997

    G. Love and Special Sauce
    Metropolis at Zuiderpark, Rotterdam 07/10/1994

    Peter Gabriel
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/26/1994

    Girls Against Boys
    Hotel Arena, Amsterdam 10/29/1994

    Gomez
    Tivoli, Utrecht 07/04/2002

    Gotcha!
    Beachpop, Renesse 06/28/1993
    Bevrijdingspop, Haarlem 05/05/1996


    Al Green
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/08/2005

    Guns N' Roses
    De Kuip, Rotterdam 06/23/1992
    Goffertpark, Nijmegen 06/05/1993

    Buddy Guy
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/13/2008

    Hallo Venray
    Tivoli, Utrecht 12/17/1993

    Herbie Hancock and The Headhunters
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/29/1998


    Roy Hargrove
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/12/2008

    PJ Harvey
    Torhout Werchter, Werchter 07/01/1995
    Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam 06/10/2004

    Kristin Hersh
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/27/1998

    Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/26/1994

    Gregory Isaacs
    Tivoli, Utrecht 12/09/1994

    Joe Jackson
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/13/2008

    Jose James
    Tivoli, Utrecht 05/08/2008


    Jamiroquai
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1995

    Molly Johnson
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 10/18/2009

    Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/12/2008

    Junkhouse
    Knoninginnenach Spui, Den Haag 04/28/1995
    Paard, Den Haag 04/28/1995
    Gigant, Apeldoorn 04/29/1995

    Jurassic 5
    Metropolis, Rotterdam 07/04/1999


    Kaizers Orchestra
    De Beschaving, Utrecht 08/30/2008

    Kelis
    Gelredome, Arnhem 08/01/2001

    Alicia Keys
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/13/2008

    Killing Joke
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 05/18/1996

    King Sunny Ade
    Parkpop, Den Haag 08/21/1994

    Kiss My Jazz
    Patronaat, Haarlem 04/27/1996

    Kosheen
    Crossing Border, Amsterdam 11/21/2000

    Lenny Kravitz
    Ahoy, Rotterdam 11/15/1991
    Ahoy, Rotterdam 11/11/1993
    Westerpark, Amsterdam 07/04/2009

    Kyuss
    Tivoli, Utrecht 02/09/1995

    The Levellers
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1994

    Lightning Dust
    Helling, Utrecht 11/27/2009

    Live
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1995

    Local Natives
    Helling, Utrecht 01/23/2010


    Los Lobos
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 09/21/1999

    Luciano
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/29/1997


    Massive Attack
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/27/1997
    Vredenburg, Utrecht 06/03/1998
    Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam 04/28/2003
    Westerpark, Amsterdam 07/03/2008

    Marcus Miller
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/11/2008

    Moondog Jr.
    Tivoli, Utrecht 01/27/1996

    Van Morrison
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/29/1997

    Morphine
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/25/1995
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 09/11/1996


    Róisin Murphy
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/10/2005
    Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam 11/21/2008

    Me'shell N'degéocello
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/25/1994


    Youssou N'Dour
    Glatonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/29/1997
    Parkpop, Den Haag 06/29/2003
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/13/2008

    Nits
    Helling, Utrecht 11/22/2009

    Nneka
    De Beschaving, Utrecht 08/30/2008

    Oasis
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 11/25/1994

    The Offspring
    Metropolis at Zuiderpark, Rotterdam 07/10/1994

    Orbital
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/25/1994

    Ozric Tentacles
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/28/1998


    Page & Plant
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/25/1995
    Belfort Festival, Belfort 07/08/1995

    Maceo Parker
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/10/2005
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/15/2007

    Pere Ubu
    Tivoli, Utrecht 11/28/1998
    Helling, Utrecht 10/01/2009


    Lee "Scratch" Perry
    Tivoli, Utrecht 05/22/2008

    Pete Philly & Perquisite
    De Beschaving, Utrecht 08/30/2008

    Phosphorescent
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 05/07/2009

    Pink Floyd
    De Kuip, Rotterdam 09/05/1994

    A Place to Bury Strangers
    Helling, Utrecht 08/19/2009

    Iggy Pop
    Finsbury Park, London 06/23/1996


    Portishead
    Vredenburg, Utrecht 02/13/1998
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/27/1998

    Primal Scream
    Metropolis at Zuiderpark, Rotterdam 07/10/1994


    Prince
    De Kuip, Rotterdam 08/18/1988
    De Kuip, Rotterdam 06/02/1990
    Thialf, Heerenveen 08/05/1990
    Ahoy, Rotterdam 07/05/1992
    Brabanthallen, Den Bosch 08/09/1993

    The Prodigy
    Metropolis at Zuiderpark, Rotterdam 07/10/1994
    Glatonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/23/1995

    Public Enemy
    Belfort Festival, Belfort 07/08/1995

    Pulp
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/26/1994

    Q-Tip
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/12/2009


    Radiohead
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/26/1994
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 12/04/1995
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/28/1997

    Rage Against the Machine
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1994

    Rahzel
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 11/22/1997


    Red Snapper
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/25/1995
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/27/1997
    North Sea Jazz, den Haag 07/11/1997

    R.E.M.
    Torhout Werchter, Werchter 07/01/1995


    Rollins Band
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1994
    Dour Festival, Dour 07/09/1994

    Mark Ronson
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/13/2008

    Nitin Sawhney
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 06/04/2005

    The Scene
    Torhout Werchter, Werchter 06/30/1995
    Patronaat, Haarlem 04/20/1996


    Jill Scott
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/11/2008

    Seal
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/12/2009

    Senser
    Glatonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/23/1995


    Sex Pistols
    Finsbury Park, London 06/23/1996

    Ian Siegal
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/08/2005

    Paul Simon
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/12/2008

    Mariee Sioux
    Helling, Utrecht 04/12/2008

    Six Organs of Admittance
    Helling, Utrecht 11/27/2009


    16 Horsepower
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 09/11/1996
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 10/17/1998

    Skunk Anansie
    Finsbury Park, London 06/23/1996

    Sly & The Family Stone
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/15/2007


    Patti Smith
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 08/18/2005

    Snoop Dogg
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/15/2007


    Sonic Youth
    Vredenburg, Utrecht 04/17/1996

    Soul Asylum
    Goffertpark, Nijmegen 06/05/1993

    Soul Coughing
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1995
    North Sea Jazz, den Haag 07/11/1997

    Soundgarden
    De Kuip, Rotterdam 06/23/1992
    Vredenburg, Utrecht 04/09/1994


    Spearhead/Michael Franti
    Glatonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/23/1995
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/27/1997
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/09/2004

    Spin Doctors
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1994

    Angie Stone
    North Sea Jazz, Den Haag 07/09/2004
    Paradiso, Amsterdam 08/15/2006

    Swell
    Tivoli, Utrecht 06/07/1994

    Third World
    Bevrijdingspop, Haarlem 05/05/1996

    13 (feat. Lester Butler)
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 11/22/1997

    3-11
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1995


    Tindersticks
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 10/07/1999
    Vredenburg, Utrecht 10/08/1999
    Crossing Border, Amsterdam 11/21/2000
    Oosterpoort, Groningen 03/24/2002
    Vredenburg, Utrecht 05/01/2008


    Tool
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1994
    Dour Festival, Dour 07/09/1994

    Toots And The Maytels
    De Helling, Utrecht 06/24/2004

    The Tragically Hip
    Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum 05/07/1997

    Transglobal Underground
    Dunya Festival, Rotterdam 05/31/2009

    Tricky
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/25/1995

    Urban Dance Squad
    Statenhal, Den Haag 02/10/1995
    Tivoli, Utrecht 12/22/1996


    U2
    Stadion Strahov, Prague 08/14/1997
    Gelredome, Arnhem 08/01/2001

    Herman van Veen
    Luxor, Rotterdam 03/14/2009

    Steve Winwood
    North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam 07/12/2009

    Zion Train
    Glastonbury Festival, Glastonbury 06/24/1995

    Zita Swoon
    Crossing Border, Den Haag 10/17/1998
    Paard, Den Haag 12/19/1998

    Zuco 103
    Wilhelminapark, Utrecht 05/25/2008
    Dunya Festival, Rotterdam 05/31/2009
  • Artists I have seen live

    18 May 2009, 16:41 de dAJaro

    This is more a reminder for me than a productive journal entry.
    Anyways, I have seen the following artists live:

    2009:
    The Watch - 5.23.2009 Hannover
    Bob Dylan - 3.31.2009 Hannover

    2008:
    Neil Young - 8.13.2008 Hamburg
    Jethro Tull - 6.1.2008 Hamburg
    Birth Control + Guru Guru - 7.19.2008 Trier
    Wacken Open Air 2008:
    At the Gates
    Cynic
    Iron Maiden
    Kamelot
    Kreator
    Nightwish
    Opeth
    van Canto

    2007:
    Manfred Mann's Earth Band + Sonic Season 12.5.2007 Konz
    Porcupine Tree + Anathema - 11.21.2007 Saarbrücken
    The Musical Box - 10.19.2007 Saarbrücken
    Nektar - 10.7.2007 Trier
    Nightwish - 9.28.2007 Hamburg
    Nektar - 9.26.2007 Lübeck
    Cursed Anguish + Nastrandir + Eisregen - 9.21.2007 Lübeck
    Remember Shakti - 7.25.2007 Hamburg
    Chick Corea & Gary Burton - 6.28.2007 Lübeck
    Peter Gabriel + Saori Jo - 6.19.2007 Hamburg
    Genesis - 6.15.2007 Hamburg
    Jan Garbarek Group - 4.24.2007 Lübeck
    Roger Waters - 4.19.2007 Hamburg
    Manfred Mann's Earth Band - 4.13.2007 Hamburg
    Colosseum - 4.5.2007 Hamburg
    Van der Graaf Generator - 4.4.2007 Hamburg
    Swallow the Sun + Debauchery + Moonsorrow - 3.30.2007 Lübeck
    Blackfield + Pure Reason Revolution - 2.20.2007 Hamburg
    The Musical Box - 2.4.2007 Hamburg
    Wacken Open Air 2007:
    Schandmaul
    J.B.O.
    Enslaved
    Disillusion
    Blind Guardian
    Stratovarius
    Storm Warrior
    Haggard
    Rose Tattoo
    Sodom
    Saxon

    2006:
    Barclay James Harvest - 12.17.2006 Lübeck
    Uriah Heep + Nits - 12.11.2006 Hamburg
    Saga + Phébus - 11.28.2006 Lübeck
    Porcupine Tree + Paatos - 9.25.2006 Hamburg
    Fish - 9.21.2006 Hamburg
    Blind Guardian + Astral Doors - 9.18.2006 Hamburg
    Manticora + Andromeda - 9.10.2006 Lübeck
    Châlice - 4.21.2006 Lübeck
    Ten Years After - 2.23.2006 Lübeck
    Coincidence - Lübeck
    Pungent Stench + Eisregen - 23.1.2006 Hamburg
    Wacken Open Air 2006:
    Celtic Frost
    DéspairsRay
    Die Apokalyptischen Reiter
    Gamma Ray
    In Extremo
    Krypteria
    Michael Schenker Group
    Nevermore
    Opeth
    Orphaned Land
    Schandmaul
    Scorpions
    Subway to Sally
    Victory
    Whitesnake

    2005:
    Korpiklaani + Heartless - 11.25.2005 Lübeck
    Dream Theater - 10.2.2005 Hamburg
    Reckless Tide + Nikki Puppet - 7.2.2005 Lübeck
    Eläkeläiset - 5.7.2005 Lübeck
    Tanzwut - 4.14.2005 Lübeck
    Pungent Stench + Eisregen + Collapse 7 + Undercroft - 1.16.2005
    Wacken Open Air 2005:
    Accept
    Apocalyptica
    Axel Rudi Pell
    Candlemass
    Corvus Corax
    Edguy
    Eisregen
    Ensiferum
    HammerFall
    Kreator
    Marduk
    Naglfar
    Nightwish
    Oomph!
    Stratovarius
    Tristania

    2004:
    SuidAkrA + Barritus + Noise Forrest + Dein fetter Vater - 10.1.2004 Lübeck
    Impious + Amon Amarth - 10.8.2004 Hamburg
    Subcutane + Iron Savior - 8.28.2004 Lübeck
    Fleshcrawl + Criminal + Six Feet Under - 3.3.2004 Hamburg
    Royal Flash + Nayled + Diras Necessitas - 2.13.2004 Lübeck
    Wacken Open Air 2004:
    After Forever
    Anthrax
    Arch Enemy
    Bal-Sagoth
    Brainstorm
    Children of Bodom
    Grave Digger
    Helloween
    Hypocrisy
    J.B.O.
    Mayhem
    Orphanage
    Paragon
    Schandmaul
    Weinhold

    2003:
    Dimmu Borgir + Hypocrisy + Norther - 9.30.2003 Hamburg
    Yamato - 7.18-27.2003 Hamburg (I do not remember the exact date)

    2000:
    Santana - 6.3.2000 Hamburg
    Expo 2000:
    Leningrad Cowboys - 8.1-2.2000 Hannover (I do not remember the exact date)

    1996:
    Michael Jackson - 9.6.1996 Prag

    Unordered:
    Cursed Anguish
    Mørkriket
    Devastator
    Bon Scott
    Die Fischer

    + some bands I can no longer remember (most of them small local bands).
  • The Inheritance Mix

    7 Feb 2009, 11:31 de Knirrie

    Here's my monthly mix. This month's theme was the inheritance mix: what music did your parents pass on to you and what music would you like to pass on to your children? Well that was easy :) even though the list could have been a lot longer.

    Stuff my parents passed on to me:
    1. The Byrds - EscucharTurn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)
    2. Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
    3. Paul Simon - All Around the World or The Myth of Fingerprints
    4. John Denver - EscucharWild Montana Skies
    5. The Beatles - Paperback Writer
    6. The Everly Brothers - EscucharAll I Have To Do Is Dream
    7. Nits - In the Dutch Mountains
    8. The Rolling Stones - EscucharAs Tears Go By
    9. Simon & Garfunkel - EscucharThe 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
    10. Albert Hammond - I'm A Train

    Stuff I want to pass on to my children:
    11. The Submarines - EscucharBrighter Discontent
    12. The Black Crowes - EscucharMy Morning Song
    13. Josh Ritter - Kathleen (live)
    14. Bright Eyes - Bowl of Oranges
    15. Bruce Springsteen - EscucharGlory Days
    16. Chris Robinson - EscucharSafe in the Arms of Love
    17. Bob Dylan - You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
    18. Acda en De Munnik - EscucharWacht op mij
    19. dEUS - Suds & Soda
    20. Ryan Adams - EscucharLove Is Hell
  • The party

    10 Dic 2008, 17:23 de Bertels

    Thu 4 Dec – POW Ensemble: Luc Houtkamp's 55th birthday concert, with Homage to Hazard. Steim, amsterdam.

    It was a cold dark evening, the trains rushed through the rainy void towards the capital. Coach Bertels is in one of them, on his way to a special party, a birthday party, Luc’s birthday party, Luc Houtkamp’s birthday party, in Amsterdam, at STEIM. This day Luc reached the respectable age of fifty five, and therefore on the brink of a whole new experience.. For the party all kinds of individuals were invited and everybody was treated with a concert by Luc’s own POW Ensemble, a group of very different people with the same taste in refractive experimental music. Serious melodies were carefully slaughtered into puzzling dramatic pieces of anxious chaos. The voice artist sang and talked his part in real special ways, from parrot like to standard Dadaistic. Luc played the saxophone in a rough manner as if several elephants were bulging over a lady, he also used several electronic devices to create good old rausch over speakers that were hung vertically over drums with ping pong balls on them. There was also a nice lady with an electronic cello, she added the bass parts that gave the performance it’s backbone. The guy with the trumpet used all kinds of tricks to be original in every song, and struggled to keep up with Luc’s sax playing skills. Last but not least there was a guy with keyboards and voice, the group did some of his songs also. These were very different but also very nice. More like The Nits in their early days. The band and most of the party attendees were from North Holland. The Zaanstreek to be exact. Bertels had quite an interesting chat with Luc’s sister about the Zaanstreek and the people who live there. Coach confronted here with his wisdom in an attempt to zero in on the particular situation these people are in every day: windmills!
    Luc’s sister however reacted laconically and explained that there are a few windmills in the Zaanstreek, but the greater part of the inhabitants in this region live in regular houses in villages. Damn, Coach! Do you really think you know everything? Anyhow, Bertels liked the party (thanx for the champagne!) and enjoyed the music. Enjoy the wine Luc!
  • Mexican standoff

    18 Oct 2008, 14:29 de Bertels

    Wed 15 Oct – Calexico, Get Well Soon. Paradiso , Amsterdam.

    After a nice fishing weekend in the Indian Summer sun, and tasting just about 20 bokbeers in Zutphen, Coach Bertels was in for a normal weeks work. A normal week is like 5 days sweat for the company and at least one evening out for a nice concert or movie. This weeks night out had anything to do with Tucson Arizona, because that’s the township were tonight’s band has its roots: Calexico, the band named after the border region of Mexico and California, and the mix of Americana pop music and Mexican Cajun music is in Amsterdam doing a gig in Paradiso. Reason enough for Coach Bertels and Coach Webber to see for themselves whether this band is okay live. Quitting work early and biking to Central Station in the rain, the Coaches entered a train northbound around five thirty. The relaxing ride to the capital and the nice walk across Chinatown brought them to The Garden Party, a very nice restaurant were the Coaches enjoyed some brilliant beers, starters, main courses and deserts while petting the local cat purring along and peeking to the cute waitress all the time. Than a slow walk to the old church, now known as Paradiso, the best concert hall in the country. Since Bertels had Ed’s ticket for sale, some attempts of loosing the ticket for a fair price were carried out. Just to find it very hard, since there were quite a few folks selling tickets for bottom prices. Finally Bertels made a deal with the blond Paradiso girl, she would try to sell it. Time to get inside and get some beers! The stage was high and the crowd tall as they poured in. After a short while the lights went out and this band Get Well Soon entered the stage to warm up the folks surrounding the Coaches. Two brothers, a drummer, two guitar players and a girl with lots of skin handling an electric violin and bronze plates with fragile grace. The sound of this band was to get better soon, starting like Keane, transforming to Calexico-ish and ending somewhat like The Nits. Bertels tried to like it, but just then the singer started screaming into the mic. Such a shame! Luckily they were done and the stage was rebuilt for the grand band we all came for. The singer came on with the guy playing strings-on-a-table and started the first song, at the end of the song the other members entered the stage and together they performed real Arizona fine. All the Calexico hits came by and quite a lot of other lesser known masterpieces. At the end of the concert the band left the stage and the crowd started cheering for an anchor, stamping their feet and making a whole lot of noise. This was heard by the musicians, returning on stage with some extra folks... De Kift!! Just several weeks earlier Coach Bertels enjoyed a brilliant concert by this Dutch band in De Smed Studio’s, that was damn good, just as the Calexico concert was damn good. And now both bands on one stage, preparing for some high quality entertainment. It seemed that De Kift and Calexico know each other for a long time now, time to work together and publish a vinyl single with a Kift song by Calexico and the other way around. Seven Calexico folks and seven Kift folks make a crowded stage, and they went feasting and cheering and having fun. It seemed contagious, since the attending crowd did the same. What a party, what a night! To end this adventure, the Coaches drank a Grimbergen Optimo Bruno at the Beiaard. The night train was delayed several times on the way back, but what the hell! It was worth it.
  • Nouvelle Vague gig report

    10 Oct 2008, 6:48 de mll

    So, it happened that last.fm told me that Nouvelle Vague would play just 10 km away from home. Yay !

    Nice venue, welcoming for photographers, excellent music (but this was no surprise) which included new stuff like New Order's Bizarre Love Triangle cover, singers (Mélanie Pain, and a new one: Nadeah) that leave you gasping, musicians apparently having fun and enchanting us.

    What else can I say ? My best gig since the Nits.

  • Three Singers On Tour

    27 Sep 2008, 15:52 de Bertels

    Fri 26 Sep – Frank Boeijen, Henny Vrienten, Henk Hofstede. Leidse Schouwburg, Leiden.

    A beautiful sunny autumn day. The perfect opportunity for Coach Bertels to skip work early and relax whole afternoon. Feeling not that happy due to obstacles of prejudice, Bertels pours himself several whiskey and coke containing beverages. A vinyl record is turning and the needle registers Midaircondo. Time ticks away as Coach finds himself in a hazy world of guilt, rainy Sunday afternoons and slow inspirational freedom. What a feeling! Coach likes moments like these, dozed away in that shimmering dark wonderland, were emotions run free and reality is explained in thought and lava vision. After three hours Bertels regains actual strength and starts preparing for tonight’s event: aardige jongens at the Leidse Schouwburg. Together with C14, Bertels is curious how three singers from famous Dutch bands perform live with just one and other. Frank Boeijen singer from the Frank Boeijen Groep, Henny Vrienten, singer from Doe Maar and Henk Hofstede singer from The Nits, were enthusiastic and played twelve brand new Aardige Jongens songs. From time to time flashbacks were inevitable, as the public reacts better on the old Doe Maar, Frank Boeijen Groep and Nits hits. Coach Bertels was very late buying tickets, resulting in the worst possible seats. With just 30 percent sight on stage, Bertels was happy to see the whole of Henks setup. C14 however needed to see more and stood leaning forward for almost the entire concert. Henk used a old fashion Harmonium as intro for a song, this organ on air must be pressurized by pumping air into it with the feet. There was also an Yamaha Organ with a story, it belonged to an old lady that passed away and since there were no relatives left, two men ringed at Henny’s door because they heard he was a musician and could possible find a use for it. He did, it was there on stage and several times an ugly beat was called into action were the three singers build their songs on. Henk played keys, acoustic and electronic guitar and harmonica. Henny played the bass guitar very well and Frank had a whole set of electronic guitars to his use. The Telman brothers were present for lights, mastering and décor. Nits songs played: Adieu Sweet Bahnhof, In The Dutch Mountains and JOS Days. Doe Maar songs played: Is Dit Alles and Een Nacht alleen. Frank Boeijen Groep songs played: Zwart Wit and Kronenburger Park. The crowd went crazy as the nice guys made a little tour through the public and after a whole lot of applause they reappeared for an anchor on acoustic guitars only, they stood there side by side like three Mexican Mariachi’s. Real Nice! After the gig C14 was anxious to get his CD autographed by his heroes, while Coach Bertels enjoyed his beer. Totally satisfied, C14 and Bertels had a few drinks at Lemmies before going home. Aardige Jongens is worth a visit ;-)