Tramhaus Live. Patronaat Haarlem, Saturday 20 May 2023

Photo: Wout de Natris

Something that's good, comes fast. If not sold out, Patronaat was packed for the up and coming postpunkers Tramhaus from Rotterdam, deservedly so. Tramhaus has been able to play in the past year and it shows. The ease and confidence with which the songs were played and performed shows a band that is totally comfortable within its oeuvre and in playing it live.

Tramhaus started during the pandemic. Members who picked up a different instrument than played in other bands before. A drummer who became singer, if I remember correctly. Members studying for exams while being interviewed. In this environment the first songs were conceived, leading up to the first single 'I Don't Sweat' / 'Karen Is A Punk'. Both are a blueprint for the band's repertoire right up to today. Postpunk is the easiest description with forays into the real punk thing. If anything, Tramhaus is living proof of good things coming out of the pandemic.

Listening to the songs live I have the impression, again, that Tramhaus are masters in finding the most unlikely notes still fitting within the restraints a certain chord progression allows for. To get away with it gloriously. The groove is always there and within that groove the most unlikely accents are to be found as well. To make it fit anyway takes concentration and comfort within that groove. The most surprising thing, perhaps, is that the music remains danceable as well. That groove, right.

Tramhaus is all about the music and then there's singer Lukas Jansen. He has enough energy to lead the band and the voice that allows for all the screams. He is present alright. With a hairstyle that would put him more in line with Goldband, he looks like a very unlikely punkrocker. Yet, he is. His energy is reflected by the band as a whole in two ways. The first is how the other four return his energy. Secondly, in how much fun they have in playing the songs. Besides the concentration that is obvious to see to play the complexer parts of the songs, there are always smiles and singing along away from the microphone, by all four bandmembers.

Photo: Wout de Natris

The two guitarists, Micha Zaat and Nadya van Osnabrugge, are constantly playing off one another. From rhythm to lead lines/melodies switching the whole of the time. From brute noise to delicate notes and back. Behind them there is some tough bass playing by Julia Vroegh and the tight, often inventive drumming by Jim Luijten. The two are truly the motor of Tramhaus, allowing the others to shine, taking turns to do so.

There's one thing that worries me. Tramhaus could well be the future of rock and roll. Looking around me, I could only think what future? A lot of us present do not have that much future left and may not be around long enough to see that future in the mid-long term. Where is the youth? There must be some left not into rappers and whatever? I didn't see a lot of them. The up side is that I saw a lot of people walking off with the EP and t-shirts under their arms.

Back to the music. It was great to see songs like 'Make It Happen', 'Amour Amour', 'The Goat' and especially 'Night Shift' (did I get that title right?) live. Summing up, Tramhaus live totally delivered on the basis of the promise the records made. Great band.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to order all by Tramhaus here:

https://tramhaus.bandcamp.com/