Cari Cari live with Komodo. Tolhuistuin Amsterdam, Wednesday 23 April 2025

Photo: Wout de Natris

Conquer by storm, that would be the right description of the Cari Cari show in Amsterdam's Tolhuistuin on 23 April. A show with a perfect build up. A great start, a little lull in the middle and a finish of the kind that is hard to forget. One that makes you go home with only Cari Cari songs in your head, while waking up them and going about your day with as well.

The Viennese duo of two world citizens, Stephanie Widmer and Alexander Köck, supported by a drummer, is touring behind its third album 'One More Trip Around The Sun'. The album was welcomed warmly on this blog, albeit with some slight hesitation, as the band moved away from its original source of music: surf rock in Tarantino movies for the 21st century. The new songs landed well, but the public's favourites obviously were the older songs. Something that happens to most bands of course.

In a very well filled, if not sold out venue, Cari Cari did not hold back for one second. It started with the psychedelia in its new album, but not before the famous opening of Richard Strauss' 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' introduced the band. The show was a sort of home match for an away crowd from the very first second. The band was very warmly welcomed, more than average was my impression. Around me I heard Flemish and a lot of English with Spanish accents. So a part was an away crowd for me as well, showing how international an audience Cari Cari draws.

Photo: Wout de Natris

A mouth harp opened the show, followed by the characteristic guitar sound of Alexander Köck. As if Dick Dale has reincarnated into a Viennese guitarist in the 21st century. One great riff after another was fired at the audience and because of a loping device the riff continued by itself, providing the option for Köck to play a second part. Of course, Stephanie Widmer's didgeridoo joined in several songs, giving Cari Cari it's other signature sound, the drone of the didgeridoo.

The other influence of the band is The White Stripes, as Widmer shows when she sits behind the drumkit for a few songs. Each one gets that particular drive Meg White gave to Jack. It gives immediate excitement and power.

Photo: Wout de Natris

Alexander Köck gave a passionate speech on what it means to be an independent artist and how trying a management didn't work for the band. In Dutch btw, showing how much he has improved speaking the language since my previous show. Cari Cari is now totally DIY, with help from family. It is no doubt hard work besides having to be creative and play, but when it works, see the crowd here and hopefully many festivals over the summer, it will be stimulating and satisfying.

As a final comment. Again, the light show was very well done. With a relatively small equipment a maximum effect was reached. It allowed the duo to play with the contrasts of light and shade, making the show visually a little mysterious at times. There even was some choreography in the show that also underscored the accents in the music perfectly. But above all it is the energy and enthusiasm that comes across most.

The combination makes Cari Cari is a must see band. And, 'Mapache' is certainly Tarantino movie worthy. Spread the word, send a link to the guy if you happen to know him.

Photo: Wout de Natris

The surprise of the evening was not Cari Cari, as the band fully delivered on expectation from the past shows (see Bitterzoet and Paradiso on this blog). The surprise was Komodo, a Dutch band. Also, a band that is not afraid of switching instruments, as a song calls for it or play heavily distorted guitar solos on a bouzouki or a somewhat similar instrument, a flute, melodica, it all came by.

Komodo, at least I think they are called that based on the number of times singer Tommy Ebben mentioned the name during the 30 minutes show, comes across as a band that is very self-assured and for all the right reasons. It has songs that swing and invite your body to start moving. To me the band was totally new. Name and music were all new to me. That changed within half an hour. This is a party band with songs you want to listen to as well. The drive and rhythm are there and a somewhat exotic element as well. And not just because of the "soul" clothes the band members were wearing, as it used to be called around 1975. 

Komodo fitted very well with what was coming next. Tolhuistuin was totally warmed up and the applause the band received after the final song and their best one, was well-deserved and well-meant. The band will have gone home with new fans of which three in the company of

Wout de Natris - van der Borght