The Maureens live. Saturday 3 February 2024, Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht

Photo: Wout de Natris

With a superb album released this year, The Maureens presented 'Everyone Smiles' officially on Tivoli Vredenburg's ninth floor's Club Nine, high above the city. Friends, family, fans and I were all there to celebrate with the band.

In my review of 'Everyone Smiles' I started with the notion that, where alternative pop in this country is concerned, there's Johan and then The Maureens. Since that post Johan released 'The Great Vacation'  No matter how much I appreciate it, the gap is closing, dear readers. Pop perfection is extremely close in a lot of the songs that were presented live in Tivoli.

The further the show progressed the looser the four band members became and the better the show became. From the very start it was fully clear that the band has winning songs on its hand. The harmonies, the arrangements, the breaks, the melodies, all are spot on and what a blessing to be present at a show where ear plugs are not necessary. It all just got a little better when the show progressed.

Of course, some older songs were played as well. What stood out for me, is the quality of  the new ones. They've landed really well with me and some have become personal favourites already. 'Sunday Driver' and 'High And Dry On The Backseat', two mention two. But then there also is 'September', an older song. The ultimate example how from extreme, personal sadness and mourning a song of the utmost beauty can grow. A song showing also how just singing ooh and aah can underscore it all. A real highlight of the evening.

Photo: Wout de Natris

'Everyone Smiles' was recorded already in summer 2022 and had to wait 18 months before the release. Guitarist Martijn Vink was still a member of the band and is heard on the record. (I'm making amends here, as I wasn't aware of this fact when I wrote my review of the album.) He had to undergo the strange experience of hearing the music he contributed to for 100% played live by someone else. The fact he was present tells all about the break up. What was also noticeable, for someone following the band for some years now, is how the replacement of an individual leads to another sound. Players have their own signature, within a very familiar band sound.

A consequence of this long period is that there are new songs already. The two songs played not on any album had a distinction setting them apart: they had "real" guitar solos, where The Maureens' solos usually are notes played around the chord by adding or subtracting a finger from it. Respect for new guitarist Ruud Oude Avenhuis who had to learn and play all the songs is in place.

The Maureens are a band deserving a far bigger audience and fan base. In every way the band is ready for it and most importantly has the songs for it. With the shows in Spain finally scheduled, where in 2020 the pandemic stopped everything in its tracks and two shows in Liverpool scheduled, the dream is coming true for The Maureens. There's also a more private show scheduled, which you will undoubtedly read about on this blog.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and buy The Maureens' music here:

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