Venue: Gooth, Ridderkerk (Netherlands)
By: Sabine van Gameren
Goothstock festival in Ridderkerk (Netherlands) was celebrating their 10th edition this year. Therefore, they invited the most successful acts from the past years.
Day 1
| The first day of this festival is traditionally not a day with music. Cabaret, photo exhibitions, art exhibitions all has been done. As we are a music magazine, I will tell you shortly a bit about the show of Olaf & Jasper, a cabaret duo. They had a try out performance tonight of their show called: “Meuk”. In between storyline you often got simple songs with an acoustic guitar. They insist that their audience participates in their show, by singing along their songs which are so easy that everyone knows them after hearing the couplet, so no excuse for not singing along. Also in their show they want the audience to bring up the line of the story, of course controlled by them. For me it was a bit too simple, but as most people seem to enjoy it I just assumed that I have a bad sense of humor. |
Day 2
| The Friday night was opened by The [New] Shining. The band, started in 2006, has been going great lately. They signed a record deal, they have a single and videoclip out and now they were opening the Goothstock festival Friday. They make powerful rockmusic with somehow melancholic dramatic vocals, made for being in the charts, made for being sung along in many cars during traffic jams. Just as they surprised me before, in January when they played in Waterfront they did it again. A pleasure to see live, where the music, stage action and interaction with the audience blend together perfectly. And because of the melodic feeling I don’t mind seeing them this early on the evening. |
| Antenna started already when I walked into the café stage. The won the band competition held earlier this year in this venue. I did not liked them at all back then. Though, I wanted to see if it was any better, but after a couple of songs I found out that it is still boring, ordinary rock music. Nothing unique, nothing special… and overall so boring that I felt like leaving, which I did. |
| So the waiting was for Face Tomorrow. The band just had a sold out release party of their album “In The Dark”. Face Tomorrow equals intense emotions. Coldplay, Radiohead, bit in the way like they do. From all I have heard of this band I was not particularly looking forward in seeing it live, but the band surprised me positively. Nice show, songs well done and they have their answer ready when someone who did not like it, tries to insult them. Surely, it will not be my favorite band, it just isn’t my genre, but I can see the quality and the reason why this band is getting so much hyped right now. They entertained me well enough and I stayed the full set watching them with pleasure. |
| In the café venue it is time for some hiphop. Hiphop never really do well in this venue, and so come that De Dikke Vandalen, a so called “Nederhop” group starts of with not too much audience. They got a few people coming in, but after some songs, more and more people left outside for a smoke, a drink or anything else. A nice and brave try, but hiphop just don’t seem to work in here. |
| Jaya The Cat is the closer of the main stage tonight. There where Reggae and rock unite you meet Jaya The Cat. After seeing some bands I did not like too much I was happy that Jaya The Cat was there to cheer me up. The audience danced and made a nice, polite mosh pit. A great atmosphere was in the air. They handed out drinks, made on stage at their so called “Tiki Bar”. I enjoyed seeing all the people having a great time. Their music is relaxed and so it seems Jaya The Cat was the perfect closer for the night. |
After Jaya The Cat, there was some cover band playing in the café, some dancemusic was played in another room and of course you could hang out in the lounge area as well.
Day 3
| The last day would be opened by Vixy, which brings that typical lovely party ska music. I have seen them participating in Emergenza bandcontest before, so I knew it would be a party and I made sure I was in the venue in time. They come from Rotterdam so it was not a far ride. Trumpets sheered up the sound and before I know I’m humming along. Most visitors of Goothstock were not really awake yet, the band did not have the complete venue filled, but I enjoyed of it. They took some own audience as well and although it was early, a lovely act. |
| Next was Death Letters. They won a price in the same contest as Antenna did. The band exists out of two young guys, a drummer and a guitarist/vocalist. The youngsters brought their family and so come there was quite an audience. They did not really manage to impress me at all. Their rock n roll music. Ah well, I guess the hype over them will pass. I left after a couple of songs. |
| At the mainstage, Clayborn was getting ready for their performance. The powerpop band built quite a reputation in town, after they won the local band contest a couple years back and played on the Kingsquare pop festival for basically everyone in town. Tonight, there is a bit of a sad atmosphere, the last performance in this line up. Their guitarist and drummer are about to leave the band. They played all the power up songs they have and even some of the upcoming album. It was mainly a show where people realized it would be the last time and enjoyed it one more time in the way they were used to. |
| Defuse was up next in the café stage. They often have been in the shadows of Clayborn and yet again they were. We are talking about the Rotterdam based band now, and not the equal named Finnish metal band (which I prefer more). They have a lot of friends around, but as I have never liked their music too much before, I only watched it for a few songs. Why should I, knowing they would play a one and a half hour cover set later on? |
| So the waiting was for Peter Pan Speedrock. The band has quite a reputation in the Netherlands. They are the ultimate festival act, a band you should have seen at least once, if you are a regular visitor of concerts and festivals. It took only a few seconds and half of the venue changed in a moshpit. Peter Pan Speedrock is all about rock and roll, beer and all what’s up in the scene. No need for trying to get the audience going, their audience is going already before they even did a thing. Committed fans who visited over 50 gigs of them already were all around and I personally thought this was a great band to see here in this venue. |
After their performance, you could enjoy the Defuse coverset for 1,5 hours or dance the night away in the dance room.
More pictures of this gig available at sabinevangameren.com
Links:
Olaf en Jasper Official
The [new] Shining MySpace
Antenna MySpace
Face Tomorrow MySpace
Dikke Vandalen MySpace
Jaya The Cat MySpace
Vixy MySpace
Death Letters MySpace
Clayborn MySpace
Defuse MySpace
Peter Pan Speedrock MySpace
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