19-01-2008 Heartbreakers and Ass shakers

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!

  Pornologic will be the last what is going on Waterfront. Time to leave and
  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