Stef Kamil Carlens live. Amsterdam 16 November 2019, Paradiso Noord

Photo: Wo.

Stef Kamil Carlens presented himself as an old-time jazz artist playing a dark, old jazz haunt somewhere on this or another globe. Soft-voiced he introduced his songs with little stories about how they came about or what inspired him, while standing on the stage of a modern looking, middle-sized venue just across the river IJ in Amsterdam North.

With his new album 'Making Sense Of ', recently enthusiastically reviewed on this blog, under his belt, Carlens played a confident show. Surrounded by a (standing) bass, keyboards, drum, a harp and four other voices, the band produced a jazz setting to an alternative rock show.

Stef Kamil Carlens first claim to fame was being the bass player in dEUS, Tom Barman's band that put the focus on a vibrant Antwerp and Flanders alternative rock scene. A scene where many people played with many others, forming an seemingly endless string of bands. Thus Carlens played guitar and sang in his own band Moondog Jr., soon demanding more time than, so I imagine, dEUS would allow. Moondag Jr. became Zita Swoon and the rest is history. Soon I found I liked Zita Swoon much better than the original mothership. Zita Swoon was the band I started to buy records of and going to shows. Counting from memory this show was my fifth in circa 20 years, although Zita Swoon appears to be no more. Never say never though in Belgium.

Photo: Wo.

In the superb show in Paradiso Noord, Carlens and band played almost all the songs of the last album and made them come totally alive. The rocking songs rocked just this little bit more on stage, while the ballads received that glow that make them shine. The interaction between the harp and the guitar worked really, really well, giving the music a totally different perspective. The percussion woven into the drumkit led to a host of different sounds, adding a special air to several songs. The drums were far from a traditional kit. Percussive instruments, electronics combined with a snare drum and some cymbals. Together they produced an amalgam of sounds setting the rhythm.

Carlens played several different guitars. The dobro providing the most distinctive sound of all. Nice slides, dirty howls and percussive snare stomping gave the songs a dry desert, haunted vibe, setting the show alight with emotions to which the audience responded immediately.

I already knew 'Making Sense Of' is a good album. It just went up one more notch having heard the songs live. Hearing how many of his new songs Carlens played, it is obvious he is quite content with them. Hearing his fans responding, it was also clear how happy they were to hear them, open up to them, while receiving some of the classic Zita Swoon and Moondog Jr. songs with veneration. Just like they should be received. Stef Kamil Carlens lives in the present and that is the best place to be for an artist. In other words, a great and inspired show.

Wo.


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