Before reviewing these gigs we should mention some things in brief. The fact that we decided to catch as many shows as possible might have proven our dedication to the Rock but it also cost us a lot of time, energy and money. Thus we didn�t actually have the chance to explore the Dutch beauties and the cultural secrets. That was a shame really. All we had besides getting stoned and the gigs were long walks around Amsterdam. We must have walked around the city [it�s not too big] at least a dozen of times. Oh well, next time�[and there will definitely be one�]
Our little allies for these 8 days were: The Rock, \m/, la cocaina, Afghani, Maroc, Turkish Cream, White Window, Northern Lights, Super skunk, a few not so strong Space cakes, Hawaiian mushrooms, Mexican mushrooms and last but not least those Philosopher�s Stones�and now on with the shows.
2-12-01 � Willem 2 � Den Bosch � Opeth, Katatonia, Novembre
The concert started at 15:00 (!!!) so after taking a few photos under an interesting statue that baptized our imaginary band [God By Ons] and stopping by the local coffee shop [you know the place where you buy coffees] we got in the club. Inside, the day had turned to night with the dark atmosphere of such a gig.
Novembre from Italy opened the gig. These guys, despite their 7 years of existence and their 4 records, seemed to be unsure of the style they wanted to play. Death metal at times and doom at others but without managing to combine these two genres like some other successful bands have. We won�t say anything more and sadden their fans. We just didn�t like them at all. Maybe it was a bad day for them.
Talking about a bad day, unfortunately the same stands for our beloved Katatonia. We can�t explain in any other way the cold feeling of indifference they imparted to the majority of the audience. OK, Katatonia, with their constant changes from one album to another, lean more towards depressive rock than metal. Their fans don�t expect a super-energetic performance leading to headbanging or anything like that. But this nerveless reproduction of their great songs without the appropriate passion was very disappointing. They failed to create the melancholic vibe that flows in their work. Too bad�
Katatonia
(Click photos for larger versions)
Luckily, one of the greatest groups of the music world today, was there and with one of the best releases of 2001 backing them up, they were more than satisfying. Opeth, with the air of a big band and with four musicians in great form, lifted the whole place. Mikael, the charismatic leader and the other 3 Swedes proved that there are more than just a progressive group with complicated compositions and amazing music capabilities. They have the talent of communication with the fan. Their labyrinthic songs were unfolded to us, unveiling their secrets. In their melodic moments, the emotions were too intense. In their explosions, even the building foundations were participating. An apocalyptic concert. Awesome stuff�
Opeth
(Click photos for larger versions)
We just hope that Katatonia and Novembre were way better on the rest of this tour because on this day, they were literally destroyed by Opeth. It may not be very obvious but the inevitable comparisons between them and Opeth [with whom they share a lot of characteristics] will do a lot of damage in the long run.
3-12-01 � The Jam Studios � Amsterdam � Beaver Rehearsal
Now this is one of the privileges of the StonerRock.com Forums and the scene generally. 4 guys announce their trip to Holland, Beaver�s bass-player who is a member of the same forum [dedibbes], invites them to the band practice and a few days later, we get the chance to stand among one of the best bands of the heavy world and live the experience of a somehow private concert. As Roel put it: �Four persons attending, no family members, so it was a concert all right!�. We watched half of their practice [during the 1st half we were wandering around A �dam looking for the studio, but we had to deal with a horrible conspiracy against us by Dutch tram drivers. Oh and that mushrooms influence, too]. Immaterialized, Private Stash from Mobile their latest work, Chart [unreleased but available for grabs on their site] and Absence Without Leave were the tunes we were lucky to see them perform. After that we spent some more time talking with them and sharing a few joints and beers. That was by far our best day of the trip. So we have to thank them again for this. Eva, Tos, Roel, and of course Milo, you rule!!! We wish you all the best for the future�
Beaver
(Click photos for larger versions)
4-12-01 � 013 Club � Tilburg � Roadburn Festival � Masters of Reality, The Atomic Bitchwax, Terra Firma
We thought it�d be difficult to find something as exciting as that night with Beaver. Well, we were wrong. The Roadburn Festival, our actual reason for our trip was another superb experience.
Terra Firma opened the fest. The small audience during their set was a little disappointing. Well those who came late missed the chance to see a great band. Maybe most of the world isn�t ready for thy doom yet. Lord Chritus is a unique performer and the rest of the band was in top form. They played 8 tunes from their 2 albums [see stage list]. We enjoyed them very much but we need to see them again to satisfy our hunger for their classic doom hymns.
Terra Firma
(Click photos for larger versions)
The Atomic Bitchwax got on stage next while the club was already packed. OK, here�s a trio that makes you wonder what a fourth member is needed for in a rock band. An amazing rhythm section created the perfect groove. Especially that small dude Keith on drums. The surprise of the fest, for us. And of course a virtuoso next to them giving guitar lessons. A hot live band. Instrumental assault with a few vocal fills from Chris here and there just to add to the general madness.
The Atomic Bitchwax
(Click photos for larger versions)
But the time for the super band has come. Not only was this band Masters of Reality but they had a dude named Nick covering the bass duties and a certain Josh on guitar. John Leammy, the hero of the night, hit the skins like a motherfucker with a bucket next to him so he could vomit from time to time since he suffered from food poisoning. These 3 guys though, were overshadowed by the huge man up front. Huge not only in size, but huge in talent, huge in inspiration, huge in attitude and most of all huge for his contribution to the scene. Mr. Chris Goss. The stage list below shows that he did a flashback to the Masters history, playing songs from every record and satisfying this way all of us who never had the chance to see them in the past. With a smokin� guitar [see photo] and his warm voice, he drove everyone in the club crazy. That�s why we dropped some more coins in the slot and the Masters returned two more times on stage to fuck with our reality a little more�That was easily one of the best concerts ever�
Masters of Reality
(Click photos for larger versions)
Props to the Roadburn Zine and everybody else involved in this fest for organizing such a beautiful show. The sound was amazing and so was the club. There was a lightshow going on behind the bands but to be honest we didn�t pay any attention to it. When you have Lord Chritus, Ed Mundel, Nick Oliveri, Josh Homme and Chris Goss on stage, it�s a little difficult to look at something else�
We�d have liked to stay and meet a few people like Walter from Roadburn and the Dozer guys [it�d be nice if they played too] or chat some more with Eva and Roel but we had a train to catch for A �dam so we left. The memory of the fest though will stick with us forever�
7-12-01 � Marlejn Club � Nijmengen � Spoiler
Another beautiful Dutch city was hosting another stoner gig. So we got there in time but the gig started too late. Normally we wouldn�t care for something like that but as usual we had a train to catch�so we saw a small part of Spoiler�s set. The band was OK, nothing too extraordinary, just a balls out hard rock band�with a singer that can actually sing. Anyway we left, ran to the station but missed the fuckin� last train. So we went back to the club, where the gig has ended. We got the chance to meet Pekke, Spoiler�s drummer. We chatted a little, got some cds [their cd left us with a better impression than their performance] and shirts, and after a couple of beers we headed back to the train station where we spent the night�Well, shit happens.
Spoiler
(Click photos for larger versions)
8-12-01 � Atak Club � Enchente � Celestial Season, Suimasen
Celestial Season was one of the bands that we mostly wanted to see. Another underrated band from the Lowlands with a few mentions here and there. So despite the facts that it was our last night, that we were very tired, that we had already run out of money and the city of Enchente was 160 km away from A�dam we decided to stick with our 1st decision and attend the concert. And boy were we rewarded for that�
We had the opportunity to discover an amazing band, Suimasen. Now don�t get confused by the fact that 2 of them used to play for the fuzz-rockers 7Zuma7. Suimasen were heavy, they were psychedelic but they�re not your typical stoner band, at least not in the confining sense that most people have for stoner rock. Influenced apparently by the guitar work of Sonic Youth and with a few of those so called post rock elements here and there, they created a very atmospheric vibe. A very skilled trio with a personal unique sound. Those of you who seek for originality in your music, be sure to check these guys�
Suimasen
(Click photos for larger versions)
The Celestials took over the stage next. This band just won�t stand still! They�re on a never-ending quest for a different sound that will fit their mood better. One can go through their releases [good luck in finding their earlier stuff!] to realize the varied ways they approach music. From the doom-death style of their beginning, they took a u-turn towards the ideal groove of their 1999 release �Chrome� [one of the best stoner rock albums, ever]. And then to a more relaxed, melodic sound of their latest works. That variety was pretty evident on the live performance that night in Enchente. The band was having a lot of fun [especially Pim & Jaques] while changing from their heavy side to the more hypnotizing one and backwards. Cyril�s voice followed the same paths, hard in one moment and mellow the other. A truly great band. One of the few that still possesses the old secret art of writing beautiful rock songs.
Celestial Season
(Click photos for larger versions)
