02-09-2016 Cityrock

[schema type=”event” evtype=”Event” name=”02-09-2016 Cityrock” description=”By: Sabine van Gameren” sdate=”2016-09-02″ street=”De Bult” city=”Leeuwarden” country=”NL” ]
Cityrock has been moved to a new location and doubled in days. A new chance to start new traditions we would say, Tempelores was present to see what this would look like.

The Friday had six bands in the planning and when the festival opens it does remain quite calm. It is September after all, schools started people returned to their daily jobs and it seems that it has taken a toll on the attendance. Abdomen therefore opens this festival for a hand full of people and it does not even seem that those are their friends of fans. `To be fair, their performance was not really something that was too bad you missed it. Musically it is not that bad, but they do not show much of an effort to evolve the ones who did came out early. Too static, a bit unmotivated attitude does not lift spirits at all.

Paceshifters was dealing with the same, few visitors but they seems to be a lot more positive. They were up for playing a show and so they did what they came for. They asked the audience if they liked to come closer, so did while others enjoyed sitting on the hill and watch it while the sun was shining still. The guys have a name out there which helped them at least to get some enthusiasts along. The Alternative rock they make reaches a bit more intensity and during the set it seems that they managed to get the attention of people. Towards the end of the set it is clear that this may not be their most successful gig, but it is not really their fault that much. They have gave the energy, but they simply played too early to make an impact.

The Sore Losers played next. We wondered a bit whether they are the most misunderstood band of the day. Sure, their start was somewhat calm and they have a bit of a mystic appearance with these sunglasses and leather jackets, but what we liked on them is that they have this mix of the British rock and a really Dutch feel. Right when we started thinking that they have a bit alike with The Golden Earring and then they started to play some of their work to underline that feeling. Draws a smile on our faces and yes this is not a band that rocks the crowd wildly, but some more people started to arrive and them nodding their heads along shows that there is some appreciation for the guys.

The fact that they didn’t score as wildly as deserved may have a bit too do with the order of their setlist though. It takes a bit before the power comes across which killed it a bit today.

The last note of The Sore Losers was barely played or suddenly teenagers came swarming towards the frontrow. A slight run, you could say, and that could only mean one thing. The next band would be John Coffey. Internationally they got known when a youtube of their Pinkpop performance in which the singer caught a beer while standing up high in the audience got viral. In Netherlands people were loving the band already longer and therefore it is a bit sad to know that the guys have decided to call its quit already.

Their reputation is them being quite wild and that surely was what we got to see. A moshpit came around and people were enjoying themselves. It seems like John Coffey flipped a switch for Cityrock, a welcome one. Later during the set their vocalist invites people to go crowdsurfing and this is something that many of them embrace warmly. Many people carried high over the audience towards the stage and to the back. Yes, John Coffey surely saved the atmosphere here today. One down, only a few more to go for this band, so better hurry if you want to see them live still.

De Staat was up next. They do attract a bit older audience in general and when the guys recently pulled off a publicity stunt, they managed to get many newspapers to draw attention to their band. It has been long time since we saw these guys roaming the bars and small clubs around time, they have grown into a danceable rock sensation with a critical swung around them. Loads of synths and catchy tunes are doing well and invite for some easy listening but De Staat has more for those who care to look further than that.

Some knee bends are done during their set, a somewhat simplified dance following the music so it seems like they entertained people with ease. Their show is not much to watch, a rather static appearance mainly due to the setup of them, but it works nevertheless.

The Hives, a Swedish Rock formation, has been the headliner of this night. They have been around for about 20 years and with their monochrome appearance they are painting an interesting picture here tonight. Enthusiastic and with flair the band engages the audience from the beginning to the end, making it seem effortless. Their setlist is filled with a good mix from their oldest material as well some new ones but when they play their hits it makes the grounds in Leeuwarden shake a little as the audience moves around with that.

“Die, all right!“ comes by and with some minor hand movements frontman Pelle gets what he wants. What a difference with the first half of this festival day. A slow start we had but when these Swedish guys are playing the set, there is a reasonably well filled field in front of them with people enjoying themselves. A good headliner that closes the night in style.

More photo’s made by Tempelores are found also on the Cityrock Facebookpage