07-02-2009 Mindless Self Indulgence

Supports: Krause; Venue: Paradiso, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
By: Sabine van Gameren

It’s 5 o’clock and it happens to be that I am in Amsterdam already. When I found myself something to eat I passed the venue where Mindless Self Indulgence and Krause were sharing stage this evening I saw already some people queuing. The people seem to enjoy themselves listening music and chatting. It is not before 19.00 that the doors would open. In half an hour time would the support act of the evening Krause hit the stage.

Krause is an electronic act from The Netherlands. Susanne Clermonts, which goes by the stage name Krause won a contest in which she got a record contract by Sony BMG. Tonight in Paradiso she was the support of Mindless Self Indulgence. She enters very enthusiastic and introduced herself to the audience. At this point I was still a bit in debate whether Krause was the right support to place with a band like Mindless Self Indulgence. She seems so sweet.

In the first songs I felt a bit of this coming out as well. The songs are more electronic pop and I doubt if this would work out with the audience. The audience accepted her though, calmly watching it and take it as it comes. Personally I felt that something was missing. It is just Suzanne herself on the stage. After a view songs there was a little more fire coming through the songs where it all got spiced up a bit. When Krause takes her guitar in hands her highest moments of glory are there, when it comes to this audience.
Krause is surely an interesting act to see but I have no doubts that there will be more sparkles to catch when she plays a show of her own.

Mindless Self Indulgence is best to describe as Electronic Punk Rock. They immediately stole the show when they entered the stage. Most of the audience was pretty active and vocalist Jimmy Urine announced that he thought that the kids are crazy for being out there. They are surely very right, when to think that the rockers are out there to shock. Guitarist Steve Righ’? tries to find as many ways to act as disgusting as possible by picking his nose and spit into the audience. Drums were supplied by Kitty, which makes her the only female on the stage tonight, since their bassist Lyn-Z is not there with them this time due to her pregnancy.

Although they are playing a lot with their fans; bringing them on stage to sing a long during a song, calling them ugly, and insult them many times Jimmy shows that he actually loves his fans as well by sharing “stroopwafels” (a Dutch specialty) with them and kiss the hands of all the females in front of them. Jimmy jumps from drums to monitor to ,monitor and back, often rise high above his fans. After a couple of songs, the crowdsurfing also starts and from that point the party was totally loose. Shoes, clothes, beer and more was flying through the air.

It may sound clear that Mindless Self Indulgence causes quite a show, but what about the musicside of the story? Well, Mindless Self Indulgence is not a band you will just like. You either like it, or you hate it. Music wise, it maybe not the most technical music, since I often found the riffs and drums quite basic It’s all the effects that make it work for them. Whether you need more depth in that is in debate, when a show like that is keeping you entertained anyway.