The Maureens Live. Haarlem, Saturday 7 August 2024

Photo: Rob Postema

Having a band play in your living room is always special. When a band like The Maureens comes in to play, things get even more special. In my review of 'Everyone Smiles' earlier this year, I wrote that The Maureens may be the best pop band of The Netherlands. After last night I'm totally convinced they are and with me most of the friends and acquaintances who were present. Even kids hanging around in the street were waving their arms in front of the garden listening in from the street.

In our street lives a 95 year old lady and since a few years she attends each show. It has become one of the highlights in her life. Yesterday she could not come because she felt ill. When I told the band, they said let's go over there and so we did. We saw an old lady come alive, clapping her hands to the rhythm, and radiating from the attention she was given. A soundcheck can wait ten minutes when you can make somebody happy.

The same thing happened when the band started to play one hour later. From the very beginning it was quite clear that people were touched, touched by the music, the melodies and the harmonies of The Maureens. With its recent single 'Allison' the band set the tone for the evening. Pure pop, a hint of country, mixing melancholy and delicacy with strength. But above all what showed in abundance was the joy of playing together and playing their songs for a receptive audience. Here were four men who travelled to the other side of the country to have a good time together as well.

Photo: Rob Postema

Besides playing songs from the band's albums we were treated to a total of five new songs, that are in the process of being finalised. The introduction to one of them showed how long the process is towards a new album. Songs are written and rehearsed before a band can start recording. The goal is to have the arrangements ready by the end of the year, rehearse some more and record for two weeks in May 2025. The release then is planned for early 2026. That is still 1,5 year away. In the meantime everything from mixing, to pressings has to take place, and the promotion campaign prepared. The days that The Beatles recorded its new single and released it one week later lay far behind us. One thing is certain though, at some point after the release The Maureens will return to this living room.

What makes The Maureens so good? Of course liking a band or not is subjective. Where The Maureens are concerned a few criteria stand out. The band members are extremely good in finding melodies in the main melody line. Bassist Wouter will always find a spot to play a fantastic melodic, almost solo line within a song. At some point he leaves the bass track and for about two bars plays something beautiful. Guitarist Ruud supports the song but when he leaves for a solo, it is always played with delicacy, often melodic lines woven into soloing notes. He remains a part of the whole, so in a way is still supporting the song and not out on his own with a "look at me" stance that many solo guitarists have. Finally, the vocal harmonies. Two, three and occasionally even four part harmonies fly around your ears. When harmonies are perfect, something seems to happen with the very air in the room. It reverberates somehow. This is what happened a few time here. That is not all.

Foto: Rob Postema

At the heart of it all are the songs of course. The Maureens have several that would have deserved to become a hit or at least a radio hit. The band's anthem 'September' above all. On record with an organ, here with a beautiful guitar solo. In the oohs and aahhs in the, long, outro all the pain of loss is felt through the singing. This is just one example of a host of really, really great songs that came by. Judging by the people who left with a cd or LP under their arms, I was not the only one who was impressed. If you have not heard of The Maureens before, check this band out. It really does not get much better in 2024.

A living room show is a marginal affair but I imagine it to be quite satisfying, as the interaction between artist and audience is almost natural when the distance between the two is not much more that a chair's length, let alone knees near touching. Thank you, The Maureens for a magical evening!

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and order The Maureens' records here:

https://themaureens.bandcamp.com/album/everyone-smiles