Venue: Waterfront, Rotterdam (Netherlands)
By: Sabine van Gameren
Waterfront is not exactly my most favorite venue of Rotterdam, but tonight I
had a good reason to be there. Popunie, an institute which supports local music,
released an album called “Heartbreakers & Ass Shakers part II”.
On two CD’s you can listen to the hottest local bands. Perhaps your future
heroes! 44 different artists, so there is quite some choice!
| Some of those 44 artists were performing on this album release party. Mono was honored to start in the café of Waterfront with an acoustic set. The music was quite calm. Too boring to my taste. When the vocalist sung the words “I am wasting my time writing songs about nothing” I was out. The evening is still young, and I rather stayed awake so I made my way over to the other side of Waterfront where Embrace Fire would play. I will check out this band again when they are not playing acoustically. Perhaps I will like them more when they rock like they should. |
| Embrace Fire is a band with many familiar faces for those who are visiting bands on a regular basis in Rotterdam. The band exists of members of bands like Face Tomorrow, Springrain and Raise Kain. They make typical indie rock. Typical music I would put on as a background when working. The performance surprised me in a positive way. I liked the emotional sound in the vocalist voice. Their performance was also quite active, which is mentionable because I would have expected something calmer when I checked their MySpace before. Though as final point I got a little disappointed because I was more or less waiting for a clue, a point where everything burst out at once, but that point did not really come. |
| In the café of Waterfront The Real Danger was playing. This band makes typical punk rock like NoFX and Black Flag. Of course, we could expect a gig full of action from them. Though, the band did not seem to have a lucky night. They had to work with another drummer, since their own drummer could not drum due to medical issues. One of the guitarists broke a string in the first song. It took quite some time before he was able to fix it and unfortunately they could only play for half an hour. Anyway, they kept on playing and do what they were supposed to do. I can say they did a great job here! |
| When The [New] Shining entered the stage, the audience changed. Some more rock people showed up, people who appreciate some more guitar power. The band works under this name since 2006, when lead singer Xander Stok joined. The lyrics stick in mind easily, aggression and melodic music in one package. All well arranged! Their music is steady and is just there. How you take it is up to you. Personally, I thought I recognized the sound of Mustasch , mixed with a little sugar to sweet up the vocals. I enjoyed this band. I also have to mention that they had a good interaction with the audience, which I had not seen before this evening. |
| Next was Nine Volt. Nine volt is quite known in the area of Rotterdam. Last year, on national holiday “Queensday” they were booked three times on one day. Also, they won the Emergenza band contest in Netherlands and released their debut album “Nine Volt”. Guitar rock like you haven’t heard before. That Nine Volt is known here in Rotterdam results in many people showing up at the front row and a filled Waterfront. Tonight they had their first show with their new drummer and he got a warm welcome from the audience. What I like about Nine Volt is the energy on stage. The audience gets sucked into the music and you can not just walk away. Nice show once again from Nine Volt. I feel recharged! |
listen to the cd at home. 44 artists, some of them seen live, some of them not
yet. Hopefully I will find some new local heroes!For more pictures: Sabinevangameren.com
Links:
Mono Myspace
Embrace Fire Myspace
The Real Danger Myspace
The [New] Shining Myspace
Nine Volt Myspace
More articles
31-03-2024 Inferno festival
30-03-2024 Inferno festival
29-03-2024 Inferno Festival