Gunmoll live. Patronaat, Haarlem, Friday 10 April 2026

Photo: WdN-vdB

Gunmoll is on tour on the back of its really, really nice debut album. I was really looking forward to hearing the songs live. A few things really stood out. This band is able to rock. With a strong drummer and a bass player who really is taking care of the deep end, the foundation of Gunmoll is so strong. At times my throat vibrated with the sound of the bass. They can groove as well, making it very easy to move in a dance like way to the more up tempo songs. The band had enough fans in the room to get a party started.

Over that groove the rhythm guitar plays some great riffs or strictly rhythm that supports the voice and the lead lines played by the singer, often drenched in reverb like a true surf rocker. The more eastern European sounds came across as well, but less strong than on the album. Gunmoll live likes to rock foremost it seems.

Anyone who has listened to 'Kill Your Darlings' knows that singer Jolien Grünberg's voice is not your average rock singer's. Live, at least in the mix the Patronaat Café offered that does become a bit of an issue. As the band rocks with a deep sound, Grünberg sort of got lost in the mix and had to sing through the band instead of over it. This does take away some of the charm of her unique voice. Despite this fact, I never had the idea she had out-shout herself, so could comfortably sing her lyrics and melodies.

Fun fact, I ran into bass player Lana Kooper of Loupe (ex-Dakota) and she told me she was married to Jorien Grünberg. A pretty unique household, as I truly like both bands.

Photo: WdN-vdB

What also stood out, is that the three men accompanying the singer, remain very anonymous on stage. They remained mostly in the shadows with the spotlight on Grünberg the whole of the time. The backing vocals of guitarist Bram Bol were inaudible for me. Which is too bad, as this adds flavour to the songs.

Finally, Jolien Grünberg is getting into her stride as a front woman. Some of the poses she struck are alright for a bigger stage. Gunmoll deserves a bigger stage and far more people attending than were present in the Patronaat Café. The fact that the café wasn't even sold out, makes me wonder why. This band rocks, has several outstanding songs that any post-punk-pop loving listener should get his way into.

Gunmoll has to mind the mix in the venue, so that Jolien Grünberg's voice comes across in a better way. As soon as that happens, I see a better future for the band ahead.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Gunmoll's music here:

https://gunmoll.bandcamp.com/music 

2026, week 15. 10 singles

So, from listening to the single, I changed to the album immediately and I'm being fed endless surges of energy from Amsterdam band Dishes, and this is supposed to be about singles. I can't keep this to myself I'm afraid. More will follow in the coming days (of writing this post). Here are ten recent singles for you to explore and enjoy!  

Unentertained. RubinCarter

Anyone who ever listened to Bob Dylan's 'Hurricane' knows who Ruben Carter is. Chances are alternative rockers RubinCarter took the second part of its name from the U.S. boxer who was or was not guilty of murder. The band formed around Queen's Pleasure drummer Sal Rubinstein. Just like in former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, a songwriter and guitarist was hiding inside of Sal Rubinstein. Judging by single Unentertained, his talent as a songwriter must have been bursting at the seems. Unentertained is a stark rocker with a strong melody, vocally and musically, with a pop element that invites singing along to. RubinCarter makes his debut (on this blog) with a strong musical statement. There's an EP underway, release date 24 April backed by a live presentation in Cinetol on 25 April. 

One Stop. Aldous Harding

With One Stop Aldous Harding returns to this blog with a mysterious new single, that holds a complete change of everything to boot. John Cale has a mention in the lyrics, "eating rice". The music evolves around a few small changes in the chords, played by a piano, acoustic guitar and a sparse bass. It is almost stern the way it is played. Over it Aldous Harding sings with a voice that hovers over the music, at times almost dreamy to change back to being very present, including harmonising with herself. And then it happens, everything changes. The rug is pulled from under the song and its listeners. Rhythm is allowed in, as the guitar gets strummed and a drummer joins. The vocal becomes more improvised it seems and for the final seconds, a second, electric guitar joins, before all is faded out. Album 'Train On The Island' will be out on 8 May. 

Love Tick. The Woggles

The second new name this week is The Woggles. Musically, the band takes yo back a decade or six. Love Tick is a great psychedelic rock song like they used to make them in the 1960s. This song rocks in a great way, with a fiery guitar tandem and a great, to the point solo. The organ that meanders throughout the song continuously gives the song both an authentic and a warm feel. Believe it or not, the music of the Woggles took shape during the pandemic. When will we hear the last song from that short period of time, that we have all but forgotten about or so it seems? As long as a song is as good as Love Tick I can't complain too loudly. This is a really good rock song. There's an album coming up, 'Stop And Take A Minute', also released on 8 May.

Speeding Up Faster. The Mono Kids

The Mono Kids from Eindhoven are moving up in the world, as its latest single Speeding Up Faster is released through the U.K.'s Dammit Records as part of its 'Dam-Nations (mix tape)'. Of course The Mono Kids do what they are good at. The duo plays punk rock and roll and if necessary in overdrive. Speeding Up Faster does the title right. It's over before you know it. Michel is singing as if he had a bad meal earlier that evening. The words spew truly powerfully from his mouth. The drums are whacking like they should: rhythm and major filling up musical space all at once. The distorted guitar does the rest. What the listener is left with, is the sense of an electrical shock to the brain and with the sheer need to play Speeding Up Faster again and again and again.

She Comes Again. Ape Hangers

In the summer of 2025 Ape Hangers returned after a long hiatus with the EP 'This Is It'. Come spring 2026 and  the band is back with a new single called She Comes Again. Once again the band hits the nail on the head. Pete Sjostedt (guitars/vocals), Bob Kiah (bass/vocals) and Dennis McCarthy (drums) present a grunge ballad that both has a touch of tenderness in it and a bite. Comparison wise I would opt for Foo Fighters as Ape Hangers can explode out of nothing as well. She Comes Again is a song that is instantly recognisable and in all universes except this one dominated by the like Taylor Swift, etc., this would be a huge hit. This is one hell of a grunge ballad.

Mystic Chords Of Memory. Upupayãma

Some fuzz toned music from the Fuzz Club label. Upupayãma's latest single is a mix of dreamy psychedelia and an exploding nightmare in one. The Italian project of Alessio Ferarri, live a six piece band, called Upupayãma is on route to deliver a new album, 'Honesty Flowers' (29 May) and delivers quite the statement. The song goes off in many directions. With just a little imagination it is possible to hear a Santana like groove from 1969, at the beginning and end of the song. There is some singing with a dreamy voice as well, supported by a wah wah guitar making it all just a little more psychedelic, not unlike The Stone Roses were capable of. However, it seems more like an excuse to be able to go into the stratosphere with that fuzz solo. Ferarri does not hold back here. Mystic Chords Of Memory is quite the statement.

So Long. The Spongetones

The song title 'So Long' will always bring me to the Fischer Z single from the very early 80s. Nothing is going to change that. Not even the nice pop single of The Spongetones, a band that started not that much after Fischer Z did. Pop I wrote, as this So Long comes close to a Paul McCartney song from once upon a long time ago. Slightly melancholy but with a touch of lightness in the music that will make the average popmusic lover prick up his or her ears. From the soft beginning, the band turns into a rock song anyway. From the voices it is obvious that this is not a band with young musicians. They do manage to attain that pop feel in the harmonies, that makes a song special. The song tinkles in all the right places, even after it is toned down again, mimicking its start.

I Ate A Sandwich. The Eradicats

This might just be the first song about eating disorder that I'm reviewing. Bass player Kristi Who shares that she ate a sandwich without fear for the first time in a long time. I sincerely hope that it was her first of many. As this is a blog focusing on music, let's put our attention on the song. In my ears it sounds inspired by 1980s indie pop bands, that had a revival in later decades. That gives the song a punky underside while delivering a pop feel in the lightness with which I Ate A Sandwich is presented. The guitar sound is light but has definitely heard the guitarists of The Velvet Underground, to give an example. The tempo is what gives the song a punky feel. I Ate A Sandwich is my introduction to The Eradicats from Kansas City, Missouri. Send me more when the time is there, please.

O’ Evangeline featuring Sade Sanchez. The Underground Youth

You have to go back close to three years to find Berlin's The Underground Youth on this blog, with the single I Thought I Understood. The post tells you about 80s doom and gloom. O' Evangeline is far less easy to capture. The song has the same kind of mix as 'I Ate A Sandwich' by The Eradicates has (see above here). The guitars sound light despite the melancholy vibe the whole song holds. Craig Dyer sings with L.A. Witch's Sade Sanchez who lends her voice to this duet, determining a large part of the mood of O' Evangeline. Both singers are able to sing in the same kind of tone. This fact sets the way the song sounds. The The Cure style guitar playing brings the song to the 1980s, but without the doom and gloom of the years. Making the song very attractive to listen to. Don't forget to notice the dreamy interlude!

Requiem. Dishes

We close this week's singles post with a punk song from The Netherlands. Dishes has recently released its debut album, 'Drama'. I have not gotten around listening to it yet, but Requiem is telling me that it might be a smart thing to do and soon. Dishes is a band from Amsterdam and Leiden and started in 2021. The result of its years of working towards the release of Requiem has given the band the ability to play fast without losing the quality of melody and variety. The two guitars play off of each other in a great way. Interchanging rhythm and melody, while the drummer just keeps pounding away in the best Mo Tucker tradition. Again, I notice the way Dishes is also able to have the light and the shade in its single. Both sides are divided equal. I had not heard of the band before today but it is certainly worthwhile checking out.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

The Former Site Of. The New Pornographers

The band with one of the most outrageous names out there returns with a new album, The Former Site Of. I'll be be honest. Despite me being enthusiastic about the single 'Votive' a few weeks ago, I was disappointed listening to the album for the first time. Quite often my ears betray me while listening to a new album and that proved to be true giving the album a second and third chance.

My encounter with The New Pornographers came through A.C. Newman's solo album 'The slow Wonder' from 2004. From there I followed the band's career, saw a great live show in the old Tivoli in Utrecht. Come 2026, it may be that I've missed an album here and there. Not so The Former Site Of.

The new album is not an overly exciting one. The New Pornographers are more thorough than exciting today. The vocals are exquisite, the arrangements certainly decent with surprises here and there. It's the combination that really works and what makes the band so attractive to listen to.

Besides Newman today the band exists of Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins and Todd Fancey, with session drummer Charley Drayton joining the band in the studio. Calder and Case sing with A.C. Newman and together they make a large part of The New Pornographers' sound. The ladies wrap their voices around Newman's and create vocal magic for most of the time. In a song like 'Spooky Action' the harmony vocals are the driving force of the melody of the song. Listening more closely and you'll find that a lot more is happening. That bass line is certainly worthwhile following, just like that meandering synth.

I'm sure that a lot of attention was given to the arrangements of the songs, but in a lot of songs the less is more principle was applied as well. Songs are relatively bare. That caused me to think at first The Former Site Of was a bit boring. The attraction is in the details and to hear them the listener needs to pay attention. It pays off abundantly to do so.

The New Pornographers are still called a supergroup. A band that is around for 29 years is a band in its own right. Most supergroups from the past were around for one album before they disbanded, often due to personal differences. The Canadians are still around and hopefully they will be for many more to come. And that single, 'Votive'? That is the price song of The Former Site Of as far as I'm concerned.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order The Former Site Of here:

https://thenewpornos.bandcamp.com/album/the-former-site-of 

Drama. Dishes

Wow! Put Drama on and within 10 seconds Dishes will have blown you off your feet. After the sole guitar intro of 'Machine Learning' the band pushes the pedal in right to the metal and in principal only takes it off when the final second of the record is fading out off my ears.

Only a few days ago, I encountered single 'Requiem' and wrote a small post for the singles section (see coming Sunday). Listening to 'Requiem' I knew instantly that I had to listen to Drama, fast. Here is the result of several listening sessions since.

Yes, I may have heard albums like Drama before but seldom has a band convinced me with the ease that Dishes has. The energy shared with the listener is enough to burn down the house for full overload of all the systems. The band simply does not let go of its listeners.

The band formed in 2021 and comes from both Amsterdam and Leiden. It's members are Shireen (van Dorp), vocals, Swaan, bass and background vocals, Kim, guitar and background vocals, Jurre, guitar and Eric, drums. After a few singles, the band released its debut album a few weeks ago.

To me, it doesn't make sense to pick out a few songs. Why? Nnearly all songs go off and keep up a huge pace and loads of power from the first to the very last second. What stands out, is the clear voice of singer Shireen that always is in command of the band. Whether this works out live just as well, I can't tell (yet). In the mix Shireen is always on top of the music, so that her lyrics can be followed for the whole of the way, while the band is hacking away, grinding everything in its place. It's a good thing, as she has several messages she wants to share with us. Don't worry, the lead guitar has its moment too, making the album even better.

Should you like a comparison, then only one band comes to mind: traumahelikopter and only in its best, up tempo songs at that. Dishes manages to capture that same sort of energy and keep it up for the whole of the record.

In the past say seven, eight, years I have heard many good (post-)punk bands coming out of The Netherlands but never has a band convinced me of its quality so instantly as Dishes has. And yes, that includes Tramhaus, Marathon, Slow Worries, etc. Drama is an absolutely top album and one of the best releases of 2026 so far.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Drama here:

https://dishes.bandcamp.com/album/drama 

The Secret To Good Living. Hiding Places

Hiding Places is a band from Brooklyn, N.Y. The band is announced as indierockers, but you will encounter a few flavours of indierock on the album. From shoegaze and grunge to slowcore and everything in between. Just as easily I'm remembered of Hole, without the vocal antics, as of Veruca Salt and even Low. Hiding Places captures all these different musical outings and moods on The Secret Of Good Living.

It is the debut album of Hiding Places, following an EP from 2024 called 'Lesson'. The band is a four-piece consisting of Audrey Keelin, Henry Cutting, Nicholas Byrne, and Michael Matsakis, with Keelin and Byrne alternating as lead vocalist. The band members all moved from rural Georgia to Brooklyn to come together, rehearse and record the first album, which is followed by a tour.

The album opens with a riff bringing Blur's 'Beetlebum' to mind, to change tack becoming its own song fast. 'Dead Dove (Your Love Was Never A Waste Of Time)' is a grungy song, with distorted guitars that spring to the fore first. Listening deeper, it becomes clear that the song breathes despite the huge sound of the two guitars (off and on some more). The huge opening riffs do not completely deliver, as the song tones down somewhat halfway. It opens itself up as it were, making the song more interesting to listen to. Audrey Keelin opens as lead singer. She is able to share uncertainty as well as convince all at once with her voice.

'Dead Dove (Your Love Was Never A Waste Of Time)' is a bellwether for the rest of the album. The band loves to share different sides to itself. Second song 'Holy Roller' is a great example of how perfectly dynamics are used by Hiding Places. If I have to place 'Holy Roller' somewhere, it is in between Wednesday's rock songs and 'Death By Diamonds And Pearls' by Band of Skulls. It has the stutter rock/grunge of the latter and that well-studied sloppiness of the former. For me that makes 'Holy Roller' the price song of The Secret To Good Living.

When you go through the album, Hiding Places will surprise you a few more times. It is not afraid of putting you on the wrong foot musically, before coming back to what it is the nucleus of its music. That can include the use of an organ that wasn't there before. You'll find some experimental music here and there. It all makes for interesting listening. You will not see me claiming The Secret To Good Living is a life-changing experience. For that the music on the album sounds too familiar. What The Secret To Good Living is, is a great and interesting debut album from a band that is honing its chops and will most likely only get better soon by playing more. If you're into indierock, Hiding Places is the band to check out next.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order The Secret To Good Living Here:

https://hidingplacesnc.bandcamp.com/album/the-secret-to-good-living-2