Holandaluz live. Saturday 26 September 2026, De Pletterij Haarlem

Photo WdN - vdB

In November 2025 Marnix DuCroock played a solo show in our living room, impressing everyone with his version of flamenco guitar. To celebrate the digital release of his band Holandaluz' new album 'Classico 2' he played a release show with the full band in a small venue called De Pletterij in Haarlem. This used to be a factory for iron tubes and is now venue for mostly jazz music, besides being a cultural and debating centre.

Accompanied by a second guitarist, percussionist, stand up bass and alternated by a saxophone or violin, we heard new songs and some older ones. All are instrumental, with the lead instrument doing the singing for the band. The lead is not necessarily played by DuCroock. Where he always does take the lead, is in breaks in the songs, where he plays solo or is accompanied by accents only.

The music is played by virtuosos on the guitars, bass and percussion. The parts are at times jawdroppingly good. The interplay between the two guitars truly stand out, while solos are played by both, although Marnix DuCroock is the front player when all is said and done. It is his band, playing his music. For the lady playing the violin "an excuse" can be found in the fact that she stood in at the last moment and learned all the parts in only a few days. When someone can do that, it says enough about playing skills and it is more than understandable that some parts are played somewhat on the safer side compared to the other band members. The saxophone player is simply very competent and adds a different tone to the band's sound.

Photo WdN-vdB

Hearing DuCroock play with his band, made the stories I heard in the living room fall into place. Yes, there were elements of blues in some of the songs. I heard a sequence played that could have been on Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'. There was a song that rocked in a special way from the time of his band The Last Wave. And there was flamenco of course but less so as in that solo show, where "covers" were played as well.

A venue like De Pletterij is not as intimate as a living room but it comes very close. Sitting in the front row does make it an intimate experience and makes it possible to see everything from very up close. Whether solo or with a band, Holandaluz is a sight to hear.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can find more information on Holandaluz here:

https://holandaluzmusic.com/music 

 

Madness live. Dinsdag 7 juli, AFAS Amsterdam

Veertig jaar na je laatste grote hit de Afas Live nog steeds uit verkopen. Dat doen niet veel bands Madness na. De ska-revelatie uit begin jaren tachtig, is op een paar jaar na (eind jaren tachtig, begin jaren negentig) nooit echt gestopt. Commerciëler dan genre-genoten The Specials, iets meer flauwekul in clips en op het podium dan hun tijdgenoten en vrienden van UB40, maar net als zij een ongelooflijke rij aan hits en album-megasuccessen geboekt. Daar moesten we toch een keertje bij zijn, zwelgen in een vrolijk verleden, voor mij tijdens de laatste klassen van de lagere school.

De heren stelden niet teleur. Tien man op het podium, met zanger Suggs (Graham McPherson) nog steeds als beeldbepalende frontman, die overigens goed bij stem was. De muzikale breinen zaten achter de toetsen en bliezen de saxofoon. Toetsenist en mede-oprichter Mike ‘Monsieur Barso’ Barson bleek ook een goed mondje Nederlands te praten, na een tienjarig verblijf in Amsterdam. En de andere overgebleven mede-oprichter, saxofonist Lee Thompson (‘El Thommo’) was ook zeer prominent aanwezig. Verder bestond de band ook uit prima muzikanten, met een drie man sterke blazerssectie.

We kregen grotendeels waar we voor kwamen: een greatest hits show. Dus het begon met One Step Beyond, waarna Embarrassment en The Prince volgden. Het laatste nummer was de debuutsingle uit 1979 en is een eerbetoon aan de Jamaicaanse ska-zanger Prince Buster, de inspiratiebron van de band. Vervolgens NW5 en My Girl. Daarna kwam een deel met minder bekende (Grey Day) of blijkens de respons van het publiek onbekende nummers (Wings Of A Dove), uit de latere jaren van Madness. Het slot van de set was weer bekend terrein met nummers als House Of Fun, Baggy Trousers en Our House. De toegift was kort maar krachtig: Madness (is all-in the mind) en Nightboat To Cairo.

Helemaal prima, erg leuk om Madness een keer live gezien te hebben, het was mooi.

HareD

Harbour Festival Heemstede. Wednesday 24 June 2026

Two rotary clubs organised a festival at the harbour of Heemstede paid for by sponsors while all proceeds will go to a good cause, poor children in Haarlem. For my own band Sweetwood, it was a new experience to see our band name on billboards and flyers all over Heemstede. For an amateur band to be on the same bill as (semi-)professional artists is quite something.

The day was extremely warm. In fact it was hot and I felt truly sorry for the people who have been working all day to put everything up and to take it down again late in the evening. It also showed that the location at the harbour of Heemstede lends itself really well for activities like this. People come in by bike or on foot and the more fortunate people sail in with their sloop and watch the festivities from the water.

The festival opened with Haarlem based singer-songwriter Yorick van Norden. Van Norden is fairly well known at national level, as he can be heard on the radio and seen on tv. Besides that, he is also seen as an expert on The Beatles' music. I've seen him perform in the open air theater Caprera in Bloemendaal where he also introduced the film 'The Last Waltz' that was played on a big screen on nice spring evening. He started his show with a very appropriate song, 'Here Comes The Sun'. And did that sun come! I was already soaking wet from just setting everything up and soundchecking. Alternating between his own songs and another cover, David Bowie's 'Space Oddity', Van Norden played a short but very pleasant set. Accompanying himself on a beautiful acoustic guitar, he made a great impression for far too little people paying attention.

The third act was Amsterdam "volkszanger" Danilo Kuiters. His kind of music, is totally not mine. Perhaps because of that, I had never heard his name before. To my surprise there were a lot of people who could sing along to his songs and having a great time. That was deserved, because the music in a setting like this can put a smile on faces, including mine. Most "volkszangers" performed with a tape in the old days and today perform with a usb stick containing the music and sing live over it. Unfortunately this went wrong somewhere, because at some point the electricity failed and kept failing every time things were reset, so Kuiters could not finish his intended set.

The headliner was the Hermes House Band. This band started 45 years ago and has had over 140 members through the years. The members are all from the Rotterdam student fraternity Hermes, its house band. So, the version we saw were students with an average age of what, 21, 22 years?, including three singers and two horns. If I heard correctly, the bassist played his second show and the keyboard player his last. These youngsters are all so good, at an age that I did not even think I would ever play in a band, in fact, did not play an instrument. They were joined by a veteran member for a few songs, who still knew all the moves, suggesting the choreography does not change either. The repertoire is most likely what that first versions of the band must have played, all disco songs from the 70s and 80s. Almost all played in a somewhat faster version than the original. The audience, average age at a minimum 50, danced like they used to, despite the heat. I think there was only one song I could not sing along with and there was a Bruno Mars and an Avici song from 10s. The band's claim to fame, was its version of the Gloria Gaynor's 1979 (and 1988) hitsingle 'I Will Survive'. The band scored a huge hit in 1994 with 'I Will Survive (La La La)' by taking one of the horn lines in the background of the original and turned it into a prominent vocal line. It accompanies each goal football club Feyenoord scores at a home match. Of course they kept it for last. Before it, one hit song after the other, in the form of full songs, shorter renditions and medleys, was fired at the audience, with an enthusiasm and energy that was incredible and certainly under these extreme circumstances. If you want to build a huge party, this is your band.

And Sweetwood? I can only write about ourselves that we were very happy with our set. We proved that we can handle a podium like this. Our repertoire is very diverse and except for our slow blues songs, we played some of all else. The audience responded, sang along, clapped to the rhythm when invited. What more can you ask for as a cover band. So, if you are looking for party but slightly more modest than the Hermes House Band provides, come to us.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

Mountaineer live with The Amelie Spinks Trio. De Nieuwe Anita, Amsterdam, Friday 8 May 2026

Photo: WdN-vdB

I seldom travel by bus between cities but when a band plays in De Nieuwe Anita in Amsterdam I can travel almost door to door on one bus. Once again Mountaineer held its album release party there and once again I was surprised by how weird the stage set up is and by how friendly the environment of the venue is.

Mountaineer, the band around Amsterdam based singer-songwriter Marcel Hulst, released its third album early April. You can read my review here: https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2026/04/country-dragon-mountaineer.html. Again it is a listening experience that is rich, relaxing and soothing. Also, it is far more professional in sound than ever before.

The band on stage was a seven piece with familiar and new faces. The pedal steel guitar and Mellotron synthesizer were additions that enhanced the music and translated the studio sound into a live situation. Having studio owner Diederik van den Brandt (Aidan and the Wild) as lead guitarist, also made quite the difference. A deeper country feel has come into the sound of Mountaineer because of it.

I would not call the songs of Mountaineer country, but the music is steeped in Americana of all sorts. All these elements taken from singer-songwriter, folk, indie, country, etc. translate into Mountaineer songs. Soft-spoken, melodic, modest, honest songs that demand listening. At home and live. The fact that the stage manager and sound man of De Nieuwe Anita took it upon himself to demand quiet before the support act started, said enough (and that he did not trust the audience). "If you want to talk, go into the bar area, set nicely apart", he told the audience. The Dutch disease was mostly absent this night, but in general I've noticed of late that WHO has succeeded in quelling the epidemic over here. It took a long time though.

Mountaineer was totally on top of its game. The songs sounded great, the sound mix was perfect and the  audience close to if not totally devoted. This was all fans, friends and family and it showed. The new songs were very well received and hearing 'Ohio' once again perfect bliss. I will say it again, Mountaineer is a band deserving a far wider audience. The final song brought the release the band obviously had fun with getting to. A true climax to a perfect evening.

Photo: WdN-vdB

Yes, a perfect evening with The Amelie Spinks Trio opening for Mountaineer. A new name to me and I found a very international band. Amelie herself sported a Flying Nun t-shirt. I noticed traces of a Down Under accent in her voice, the two together hinting at New Zealand. With Swedish contrabass player Anja Gottberg and guitarist Adrian Bifano she plays a very, very quiet form of folk, slowcore, singer-songwriter, country, indie kind of music. Music that takes dedication to listen to. Mission accomplished as the audience was won over one song at a time. It was just beautiful what the three shared with us. Some originals and some covers from a recent covers album, called 'a girl of constant sorrow', the trio released. During the show, I was trying to think of comparisons. That brought me to Drugstore, a long since gone trio from the U.S. supporting Jeff Buckley in Nighttown but also Low came to mind as did other artists I simply forgot the names of.

Comparisons galore perhaps, but that took nothing away from the experience in De Nieuwe Anita. The Amelie Spinks Trio has got its act together and quite obviously impressed the audience that had mostly come for another band. That shows that things are moving in the right direction for them.

Finally, once again, we had to leave for the last bus but did not really want to leave. The DJ of De Nieuwe Anita had us moving. I may have been the only one dancing that was around when most of the oldies played were released and was dancing to the other ones from the 1980s at the time of release. DJ Barry Stiletto has all the original singles and obviously loves playing them for a far younger audience. And for my Karen and me. For next time, there are night buses now. We just have to cycle first, so that we don't have to walk the rest of the way home.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Mountaineer's albums here:

https://mountaineer-music.bandcamp.com/album/country-dragon 

And The Amelie Spinks trio here:

https://ameliespinks.bandcamp.com/album/a-girl-of-constant-sorrow 

Een dubbel afscheid bij "De Betjes"

Advies voor Lande

Afgelopen week overleden vier dagen uit elkaar mijn broer Marc en zwager Pascal. Samen met onze gezamenlijke vriend Jaco vormden wij "De Betjes". Vier mannen van een zekere leeftijd die twee keer per jaar naar Rotown trokken. Die zaal lag zo ongeveer tussen onze woonplaatsen in en dus een goede plek om dat te doen. Vooraf eten en een paar biertjes en daarna muziek. Meestal een alternatief gitaarbandje.

Pascal, Jaco en ik draaiden in onze jeugd geregeld muziek samen. Wij gingen allemaal onze eigen weg. Jaco verloren we wat uit het oog. Tot die kerstavond in 2022. Mijn familie had al een aantal jaar de traditie om op kerstavond bij elkaar te komen in de kroeg van broer Michael. Die avond liep Jaco binnen en al snel zaten wij drieën te praten over alle optredens waar we samen naar toe zijn geweest. Dexys Midnight Runners (met Doe Maar), Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Joe Jackson, Simon & Garfunkel, Frank Zappa, Werchter, Lochem en vast nog wel meer. Waarom gaan we dat niet weer doen, vroeg Pascal en zo was een idee geboren.

The Beths. Foto: WdN-vdB

"Dan ga ik ook mee", zei broer Marc. "Hè"?, was het antwoord. Wij hadden Marc toentertijd nooit kunnen betrappen op enige muzikale interesse. Die was in onze vroegste jeugd beperkt gebleven tot de paar maanden dat hij logeerde bij een oom en tante en onze nicht Tineke hem blootstelde aan singletjes en Radio Veronica. 'Dandy' kon hij lekker meezingen, kan ik me herinneren. Het hoogtepunt van zijn muzikaliteit was in de de Lambertus kerk in Kralingen tijdens het Hosanna in den hoge, luidkeels mee te zingen "Hoog Sammy, kijk omhoog, Sammy". Veel afkeurende blikken ongetwijfeld en ssst geluiden.

Dus Marc ging mee en en passant werd het ook een verjaardagscadeau voor broer Michael. Het werd heel gezellig vooraf en tijdens het concert van The Beths. Marc gaf de zangeres in het voorprogramma nog enkele welgemeende adviezen. Maar "De Betjes" waren geboren. We zijn nog naar ettelijke concerten geweest, tot en met afgelopen oktober bij La Luz. Waar Jaco rustig achterin stond, met Marc. Pascal die steeds dichterbij komt en duidelijk stond te genieten, met mij dicht in zijn buurt. Wat Marc er echt van vond hoorde ik van zijn goede vriend Leon afgelopen weekend. Hij vond de muziek vreselijk, maar het was heel gezellig om samen op pad te gaan. Zelf denk ik dat het wel meevalt. Alleen Mood Bored en Pom, dat was teringherrie.

La Luz. Foto WdN-vdB

Bij een recentelijk bezoek in het ziekenhuis waar hij lag, vroeg Pascal me om nog een keer samen plaatjes te draaien. Dat werd noodgedwongen een Spotifylijst in het ziekenhuis. Samen met Jaco heb ik een lijst samengesteld op basis van de onze concerten samen van toen en The Beths van nu. Er werden heel veel herinneringen opgehaald en Pascal heeft daar enorm van genoten. Wij hebben zo goed afscheid kunnen nemen van elkaar met een van de dingen die ons bond, muziek. Marc was toen al te ziek. De snelheid van zijn ziekte is niet te bevatten, maar dat geldt voor Pascal ook. De eerste heeft de ander echter compleet ingehaald.

"De Betjes" is de helft van zijn leden kwijt, maar bovenal een broer, zwager en vrienden. Jaco en ik gaan door, te beginnen met DEADLETTER. Wat een wrange, maar toepasselijke naam.

Mannen, ik zie jullie aan de andere kant. Zet de Tripel Karmeliet maar klaar. 

Wout de Natris - van de Borght 

Two of Us. Bertolf & Nomden live. Phil, Haarlem Friday 6 March 2026

Photo: WdN-vdB

Bertolf Nomden and Diederik Nomden met  for the first time at a Paul McCartney concert in 2003. Unbeknownst to them their musical lives would interact for the decades ahead culminating in the duo album 'All Good Things' in 2026.

They are touring behind the album as a duo with just a few acoustic guitars, a piano and a few props on stage. In the show they tell stories, anecdotes and explanations of songs. Besides their own songs they play many a Beatle song and then more specifically, Paul McCartney songs. Starting with the song that gave the name to their show, 'Two Of Us'. Somehow the song set the mood for the evening. Not a song that the less than average Beatles fan would know, as it is an album track from the 'Let It Be' album, which is not the band's most favourite with fans.

Slowly bit surely the band started weaving in its own songs into the show. When they started with Beatles songs, I truly wondered whether the duo songs would hold up against all those famous and well-loved songs. That answer is easy to give, yes they do. The two wrote several excellent songs. Where on record I thought some songs to be a little too well-behaved, played live in a duo setting, the songs all came more than just alive. They sparkled and blended in very nicely with the Beatles tracks and Stealer Wheel's 'Star'.

I am not going to give away any of the stories, as that spoils the show should you wish to go there (and you should). I will mention the props: Johan Cruyff and Paul McCartney', certified chairs from 'De Meer and football jerseys. The why and what you can hear from Bertolf and Nomden.

Photo: WdN-vdB

Both are excellent musicians and Bertolf played some very intricate if not virtuoso runs on his guitar. The solo in 'I've Just Seen A Face' was close to mind boggling. Thank you for the reminder by the way. I always think that 'Help!' is not really worthwhile playing and then 'I've Just Seen A Face' comes by. Exceptional musicianship came earlier on for The Beatles than I remember thanks to The Analogues. I sort of stopped listening to what came before.

What Two of Us shows, is that a good musical night out does not take much more that two guitars, a piano and two great voices singing together, while combining it all with great enthusiasm, talent and a love for music.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 P.S. Busstop, Diederik!!! 

The Bootleg Beatles live. Phil, Haarlem Saturday 28 February 2026

Photo: WdN-vdB

The previous time I was ill and had to give my ticket to a friend. This time I was there and listened to a selection the four imitation Beatles made from the five best selling albums of The Beatles. 'Rubber Soul', Revolver', 'Sgt. Pepper's', The Beatles' and 'Abbey Road'. The five albums that can be called the big bang in pop music. The albums where the band threw away most of the existing conventions and started to blend all influences from modern pop and beyond, to create something completely new that still inspires younger generations today, to make music based on this short period of five years from 1965 to 1969. And the period in which George Harrison played an ever bigger part with fabulous songs of his own.

The Bootleg Beatles are, despite being great musicians and singers, imitators. From a distance three of the four could easily be mistaken for Ringo, George and John. Paul has the least likeness. He is also the one who changes the less of the three. The wig is just a little longer and a glued on moustache in Sgt. Pepper is all. The other three change far more radically.

Photo: WdN-vdB

What The Bootleg Beatles do very well, is play a hommage to all the other things going on in these five selected years. Hitsingles come by, mostly little clips of the artists from each individual year, politics, fashion and such. It sets the stage for the next album and gives the four Bootleg Beatles the opportunity to change clothes and hair. They speak with the accents and tone of each Beatle and joke like they used to do. It gives the impression to be looking at the real thing, even though The Beatles did not perform behind three of the five albums. What we are presented, is what it could have been like had The Beatles kept playing live.

Behind the foursome were three brass players, two strings and one person who plays it all and even sings in big choir settings. That allowed for intimate songs like 'Eleanor Rigby' and 'She's Leaving Home' to be played, but also big songs like 'A Day In The Life' or 'Good Morning' in a very convincing way. Of all possible songs, 'Yellow Submarine' was the one that got the hall going, 'Revolution' was the song where people could not remain seated.

Photo "Mr. Kite": WdN-vdB

My personal highlight? "While My Guitar Gently Weeps'. I got to know the song through 'the blue one" after my birthday in 1974. I knew immediately it was special, but my appreciation of the song still grow. Of course there was much more. 'And Your Bird Can Sing', 'Come 'Together', the 'Abbey Road' finally, with pictures of all important people associated with The Beatles, that are no longer with us today, ending with George and John. This includes some contenders for the "fifth Beatle" title. In my view? Stuart Sutcliffe was physically the fifth Beatle, at the time when Pete Best played drums. But the only one really deserving it, is of course George Martin. Without his musical training and willingness to create something special for the whole of the time, Beatles records would not have been the same.

Did I personally miss anything? Yes, that song that since 24 February 2022 can not be sung any more, 'Back In The U.S.S.R.' My band decided to steal it back from Mr. Putin. F*ck him.

Photo "Prudence": WdN-vdB

Although The Bootleg Beatles dress up and pretend, do not let this distract you. The quality offered is extremely high. This is not a clown show, but one that brings The Beatles as close as one can come today. This show is not at the same level as The Analogues, that can be found multiple times on this blog. They had a near academic approach to recreating the music of The Beatles and did so at an awestruck level. The Bootleg Beatles allow some fun to exist as well, just like The Beatles presented themselves in the first half of their career. When the quality does not suffer in any way from the dressing up, etc., both bands deliver, delivered for The Analogues, as the band broke up late 2024. "A splendid time is guaranteed for all", in 2026 as it was on that poster from 1843.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

Amy Macdonald live. Ancienne Belgique, Brussel, zondag 22 february 2026

Foto: HareD

De vaderliefde voerde ons dit keer naar Brussel. Mijn zoon is al jaren dol op de muziek van de Schotse zangeres Amy Macdonald. Haar concert in Tivoli was al uitverkocht, er was ook nog een optreden in Groningen, maar dat was ook midden in de week. Dus op zondag op en neer naar Brussel was het meest geschikte alternatief. Nooit een straf natuurlijk, en ook voor de muziek hoefde ik mij niet op te offeren.

Amy Macdonald is singer-songwriter, met vooral uptempo werk. Haar debuut in 2007 This is The Life was direct ook haar grote doorbraak. De titelsong stond in zes landen op nummer 1, en haalde de top 10 in nog eens 11 andere landen, zo meldt Wikipedia. In Nederland, Verenigd Koninkrijk, Denemarken en Zwitserland bereikte ook het album zelf de nummer 1 positie.  Inmiddels zijn we 5 albums verder, maar geen van de opvolgers behaalde het enorme succes van nummer 1. Maar dat zegt niet zoveel over de kwaliteit van de songs, want Mcdonald maakt simpelweg mooie nummers, die goed zijn gezongen. Hoogstens is de variatie wat beperkt.

In Ancienne Belgique was ze ook in goede doen, samen met haar vijf man sterke band. Fijne zaal ook, perfect geluid, bar gewoon buiten de zaal dus niet de hele tijd mensen die tig keer heen en weer lopen. Het kan natuurlijk toeval zijn, maar de Belgische toeschouwers om mij heen praatten veel minder tijdens het concert dan in Nederland. Ook prettig.

Foto: HareD

We kregen een fijne selectie van de zes albums voorgeschoteld, met nadruk op de jongste boreling Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For? (zomer 2025). Met het titelnummer trapte ze af en ze ging uptempo door met Dream On. Een vroeg hoogtepunt was haar tweede grote hit Mr. Rock and Roll. Andere mooie nummers waren Don’t Tell Me That It is Over, Slow it Down en Can You Hear Me. Amy is nogal een prater, dus we werden ook nog vermaakt met talloze anekdotes en observaties. Zo leerde we dat de band en rest van de entourage bijzonder blij waren met de wasmachine in Ancienne Belgique, omdat ze al een tijdje op pad waren in de twee grote tourbussen die prominent naast de zaal stonden geparkeerd. De set sloot af met This Is the Life, waarna we op een toegift van drie nummers werden getrakteerd, met als mooie afsluiter Let’s Start a Band.

Het was geen levensveranderend concert, maar wel een bijzondere goede besteding van de zondag. Aanrader!

HareD

Kim Janssen live. Livingroom concert Haarlem, Saturday 31 January 2026

Photo: WdN-vdB

It was a grey Saturday afternoon, a cold, damp winter day. Inside it is warm. Kim Janssen walked into the house with a guitar case and two tote bags with albums in them. The soundcheck consisted of tuning his guitar. The room had slowly filled up with new and familiar faces all in anticipation of what they would get to hear. Most people had come over for the experience and not so much because of the artist. Nearly almost everyone went home an experience richer and as new fans of the artist.

It was not so different for Kim Janssen. Before the show he had indicated to look forward to play some songs that he does not play in a band setting, an indication that the variation of playing songs in such a small setting is a pleasant change for an artist as well. A few years ago Janssen played two support slots for Kensington's residency in the Ziggo Dome, to illustrate two extremes in his career.

With albums like 'Video Days', 'Cousins; and 'The Lonely Mountain' to his name, he has a lot of interesting songs to choose from. It translated into a very intimate show with an either intimately strummed or delicately picked guitar, to accompanied his voice. That could range from moderately dark to high, "I have to sing multiple voices from the record all by myself", as he said.

In the introduction to one song, we were told to imagine all the strings that the song consists of on record. I remember thinking 'what would I make of it' ? and now writing I realise that I forgot all about the thought because of the beauty of this acoustic version. By then Kim Janssen had caught me completely with the strength of his songs. The intimacy of having an artist play in a living room is can't be replicated in any other setting. I wish all artists to play Paradiso level and better, but seeing them so up close is a treasure. It gives insight into the nucleus of the songs, just like they were conceived.

In the stories in between Kim Janssen explained the inspirations for songs, making the show even more intimate. Living in Thailand and Nepal as a child. Going to school there, living with the fear of a major earthquake there. It makes listening to the song and its lyrics even more special.

We were treated to one or two new songs as well that are in the process of being recorded. To hear them on record will take at least one year. Patience is the word, but this live experience is not going to be taken away from audience and artist.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Kim Janssen's albums here:

https://snowstar.bandcamp.com/album/cousins 

 

10 best shows of 2025

In 2025 I did not see as many shows as is many other years. Most likely it is still far more than most people, yet I am one of the people that our less outgoing today than I was pre-covid. Still, in 2025 I saw 23 acts play live between February and December. And, for consolation, the first show is already booked for 2026. There will be more to come. Here are my ten favourites of the past year.

 

 

10. Cari Cari, Tolhuistuin 23 April

The Vienna based duo, live a trio, played another invigorating show. It was our third show in as many albums and the band simply delivers. With two very good and one good album under its belt, the show gets more varied as well. With a special shout out to support act Komodo (who was the last to be dropped for this list).

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/04/cari-cari-live-with-komodo-tolhuistuin.html 

9. De Toegift, Paradiso 22 februari

The Vlissingen band released its latest album early in 2025 and showed progression by diversifying its music and it showed in the live setting. The six piece played an inspiring show at the Paradiso, with a keen eye on the audience that gave it a lot of energy in return. De Toegift ought to be able to grow some more.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/02/de-toegift-live-paradiso-amsterdam.html

8. Tramhaus, Patronaat 24 april

It almost becomes normal, the energy a Tramhaus show brings its audience. Because the band played my hometown's venue, I decided to go again and again the progression of touring so much showed. Not so much routine as added experience came across. It may well be that Tramhaus has not reached its limits yet. A lot will depend on album number 2.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/04/tramhaus-live-patronaat-haarlem-24.html 

7. Timo de Jong and the Leadbeaters, De Rode Bioscoop 6 april

Timo played our living room earlier in the year and entertained the audience no little. I decided to opt for this show, that he announced in our living room. His bronzed voice in combination with the blue grass band works a miracle. After the break the band itself played and it seemed like they would never stop. What an energy! The Hackensaw Boys from Virginia, in which Thomas Olivier plays also when in Europe, has a serious competitor.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/04/timo-de-jong-and-leadbeaters-live-rode.html 

6. Holandaluz, Haarlem 16 October

The final show in my living room this year was by Marnix Ducroock or Holandaluz. He played a solo show with just his guitar, presenting a mix of traditional flamenco compositions and his own. It was an extremely intense experience to see someone work so hard, play so exquisitely and above all so good. To think he mentioned to still needs a few more years of study to become truly good. 

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/04/timo-de-jong-and-leadbeaters-live-rode.html 

5. La Luz, Rotown 31 October

The Seattle band played a revenge show for the rather bland Paradiso show in spring 2024. On Halloween the ladies played a great show with songs from all albums, showcasing the might of singing together. I can't understand why such a good band plays such a small venue, not even selling it out. La Luz is just so good. I'm a lucky guy though for seeing them so up close.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/11/la-luz-live-with-earworms-rotown.html 

4. And They Spoke In Anthems, Haarlem 10 May

The second live show in my living room was a solo show by Arne Leurentop or And They Spoke In Anthems. There were enough instruments and gear schlepped in for a whole orchestra and from it all came pure magic. The band instantly had a 100% new fanbase.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/05/and-they-spoke-in-anthems-live-saturday.html 

3. Timebox, C 16 October

In 2025 it is becoming harder of not impossible for bands to perform. Band members have left music long ago, are no longer able to play or have left this world for other pastures. Enter cover bands. The younger members of The Analogues continued under the name Timebox, playing hits from Dutch artists and bands from 1965-1969. It was so impressive and such a delight to hear all this old songs played with a freshness as if it was (close to) 60 years ago, but probably played far better.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/10/timebox-live-hoofdorp-c-thursday-16.html 

2. The Beths, Paradiso 4 October

The Beths returned to my country for its latest record and were able to play for a nearly sold out Paradiso. The New Zealand band is tremendously good and ready for more. Songs from all its albums came by and of course my absolute favourite, 'I'm Not Getting Excited'. The interludes with the flutes were hilarious from a musical perspective, the solo song by singer Elizabeth Stokes about her mother impressive.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-beths-live-with-dateline-saturday-4.html 

 

Photo: Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

1. The Fortunate Sons, Patronaat 12 December

Yes, again a cover band. If you play the oeuvre of one of the best bands ever, Creedence Clearwater Revival, this good, not much can go wrong and it didn't. Hit after hit after hit came by and then add great LP/b-side tracks like 'Travelling Band' and 'Fortune Son'. What a show and all thanks to that tv show called 'The Tribute: Battle of the Bands, that seems to deliver a higher quality each year.

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-fortunate-sons-live-patronaat.html 

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

Te gast bij The Wonderstuff, 19 december, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London

Foto: HareD

In mijn bijna veertigjarige carrière als concertbezoeker was ik nog nooit te gast van de optredende band. Tot afgelopen vrijdag, toen ik op de guestlist stond bij het Londonse concert van The Wonderstuff.

Dat is één van mijn favoriete bands, waarover ik al vaker schreef op dit blog. ‘The Stuffies’, zoals de Britten ze liefkozend noemen, bestaan 40 jaar en geven traditiegetrouw (ook) een reeks concerten in de weken voor Kerstmis. Shepherd’s Bush Empire (2000 man) was ook nu weer uitverkocht, na goedbezochte optredens in Manchester en thuisstad Birmingham eerder in de week

De violiste van de band, Erica Nockalls, is naast haar muzikale werk ook schilderes. Een paar jaar terug gaf ik haar een opdracht voor een schilderij en haalde dat bij haar thuis op (ze woont in Parijs).  Tijdens het mailcontact in het kader van het schilderij werd door haar een toekomstige guestlist-plek aangeboden, waar ik afgelopen najaar op kon ingaan.

Ik wist niet precies wat ik kon verwachten, maar kreeg het ‘totale pakket’. Dus toen ik mij meldde bij het loketje van het theater kreeg ik zowel een gratis kaart, als een polsbandje. De kaart bleek voor een gereserveerde stoel op het eerste balkon, met perfect uitzicht op het podium. Nu zijn concerten de enige gelegenheden waarbij ik zodanig beweeg dat het in een verre verte op dansen lijkt. Daarom sta ik altijd en gelukkig was daar ook ruimte voor (zie foto, links boven).

Foto: HareD

Na het concert kwam het bandje van pas. Daarmee mochten wij, na wat gedoe met de bewaking, naar een aparte barruimte. Van daaruit nam een medewerker van de band enkele gelukkigen mee naar boven, naar de kleedkamers van de band. ‘Back stage’ bleek in dit geval ‘above stage’. Daar was het een gezellige, maar typisch Britse ongeorganiseerde, puinhoop. In en uitlopende bandleden, roadies, managers en gasten, samengepakt in twee heel kleine ruimtes. Inderdaad met afgetrapte lederen bankstellen, kledingrekken, wandspiegels met gloeilampen erom en -na wat zoeken tussen de lege flessen -  een beetje wijn uit een papieren bekertje. Na de nodige small talk met bandleden en gasten ging ik op zoek naar de uitgang en toen ik die eindelijk vond, bleek daar nog zanger Miles Hunt te staan, met wie ik ook nog een praatje en een selfie kon maken (zie foto).  Al met al erg grappig en leuk om een keer mee te mogen maken.

En de muziek? Erg goed, zoals altijd. Extra tof was dat ook Vent optrad in het voorprogramma. Dat was een band van Miles Hunt, samen met drummer Billy Duffy (The Cult), Peter Howard (The Clash) en bassist Morgan Nicholls (o.a. Muse) die in het midden van de jaren negentig kort bestond, zonder al te veel succes. De heren Hunt, Howard en Nicholls zijn na 29 jaar weer verenigd en speelden ook nieuw werk. Een donkere en hardere versie van The Wonderstuff, dat erg lekker klonk. Zowel Vent als The Wonderstuff brengen volgend jaar een nieuw album uit, waarbij er ook nog opnamen voor een live album werden gemaakt. Dus laat 2026 maar komen!

HareD

 

Een kleine aanvulling van Wo. HareD heeft namens WoNo Magazine op de guestlist van Bettie Serveert gestaan in het jaar 2016, waar hij tevens een interview heeft afgenomen. Zie alhier:

https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2017/01/interview-bettie-serveert-hedon-zwolle.html

Dit doet vanzelfsprekend niets af aan de mooie ervaring hier boven.

 

PPS van HareD:

Dat was toen het plan bij Bettie, maar dat liep een beetje anders. Ik had namelijk vroeg dat interview met hen gedaan in de Hedon, backstage inderdaad. Maar dat was ruim voor het concert voorbij. Het was niet echt de bedoeling dat ik bleef hangen  ofzo, dus toen ben ik via de gewone weg naar de zaal gegaan. Maar de portier wist van niks toen ik over de gastenlijst begon, dus dat was tikkie lullig. Ik had ook een gewoon kaartje, en daarop ben ik toen bij het concert geweest…

Wellicht had ik als het echt een punt was geweest Peter Visser kunnen bellen,  maar dat heb ik toen niet gedaan…. 

Wo. 

 

The Fortunate Sons live. Patronaat, Haarlem Friday 12 December 2025

Photo: WdN-vdB

Creedence Clearwater Revival was no longer a band before I had the chance to see any band live, with the exception of The Cocktail Trio that I perhaps even saw twice (and it did not play my favourite of the day, 'Li Wang Tai Fu'). The next band was Kayak in the gym of my high school and then David Bowie in Ahoy.

Two years ago, The Fortunate Sons competed in 'The Tribute: Battle of the Bands' and came in second that year, after a Bee Gees tribute. Both bands are touring a lot since. Yesterday. it was Haarlem's turn to enjoy this tribute. The four piece band comes incredibly close to the original. With his harsh voice singer-guitarist-pub owner in Almelo Toon Eppink is John Fogerty, The sound of the band is indeed "the real deal" as The Tribute juror Spike said. Arn Kortooms, bass, Ipo van Drooge, drums and Jan van Bijnen, guitar, organ and harmonica can take full credit alright.

CCR scored an immense number of hits in a very short period of time. Albums came out in a tempo that is beyond incredible. In my country, The Netherlands, it all started in 1969 with 'Proud Mary', a song many people associate with Ike & Tina Turner.and ended with 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' in 1973. By then the band had already folded. Brother Tom Fogerty had already left the band and the bass player and drummer thought they were successful  songwriters as well. Add the well-known issues with the record label and CCR came to an untimely end fast.

Around 1980 I had the money to buy most albums. I think I miss the last one, 'Mardi Grass'. Slowly but surely, the music became a pleasant memory but not something to actively enjoy. I saw John Fogerty live in the mid 00s and it was a great show but it didn't push me to play the records again. That happened Friday evening before the show. I put on 'Green River' and then 'Willy And The Poor Boys' and was truck by the quality of the songs, the energy and diversity in the music. My memory didn't serve me well, to paraphrase Bob Dylan/Julie Driscoll.

Photo: WdN-vdB

The Fortunate Sons played for close to two hours and all the hits and more came by. All, no, I missed 'Sweet Hitchhiker' and 'Someday Never Comes' but that was compensated by 'Rocking All Over The World', made famous by Status Quo of course. Singing along, dancing along, and enjoying myself tremendously. The Fortunate Sons is a machine of a band, that has a lot of fun on the side. Allowing the audience to sing in the right places and all. What I also realised really for the first time, how many songs by CCR my previous band, Flopsband', played, of which my favourite was 'It Came Out Of The Sky'. FYI, that band plays its 50th(!) anniversary show next month, with me returning for a last time for one set, including 'I Put A Spell On You'.

In 2025 a band like The Fortunate Sons can play in bigger venues like Patronaat easily on the strength of the material written by John Fogerty and/or played by CCR at the time. Fogerty is still touring at 80, with his sons. The Fortunate Sons will make a lot of people happy with its rendition of CCR. It all ended with 'Up Around The Bend', one of the two number 1 hits over here. What a song to go home with!

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

Timebox live. Hoofdorp C., Thursday 16 October 2025

Photo: Wout de Natris

Dutch pop music 1964-1974? That contains a lot of music, very different music and a distinct growth from beat to symphonic rock. It contains songs that were hits across the world, though always incidental and not structural and it contains 'Venus' that was a number one hit in three different versions and may have made Robbie van Leeuwen the richest musician of his generation. Dutch pop music 1964-1974? This era may simply contain the best songs having come from this country. So, here we go.

When I learned at a solo performance Diederik Nomden played at the Phil in Haarlem in late summer that he had a new project called Timebox and played his favourite song from it, 'True Love That's A Wonder', My Love and I knew we had to get some tickets. And were we in for a treat.

After the show, I wondered: had I been a Timebox member, would I have made a much different choice of songs? Many were very obvious choices and a few real surprises. With some I might have preferred another song from that particular band. But overall? No, I don't think so.

First a fact. The Analogues stopped performing at the end of last year, with the 'Let It Be' and 'Abbey Road' show. Five members decided to continue in a new format, Timebox. So, Jac Bico, Felix Maginn, Jan van der Mey, Diederik Nomden and replacement drummer Kees Schaper were on stage with Ralph Mulder and guest singer Josephine van Schaijk. With news flashes from the era played in the old-fashioned tinny sound of the time, the band came on stage and started with one of the weirdest songs from the Nederbeat era, but one of my all time favourites, 'Ik Heb Geen Zin Om Op Te Staan'. For me there was no way this evening could go wrong after this song. The sound was superb, the whole evening long. Maginn, who played mostly bass, played these fantastic parts that I had never really noticed before. In 'She Likes Weeds' the guitar lines Jac Bico played gave the song a super rock and roll feel in an already very nice poppy tune. Of course I had heard these lines before, but just never like this. The details in all songs were so obviously present. It made me want to hear the originals immediately to get those details in there.

So many good songs came by. I am not going to mention them all. Should you be inspired to go, there's still the element of surprise for you. I will share a personal memory or two.

Photo: Wout de Natris

The oldest songs played were all from (a few years) before my time. When did I hear them for the first time? There's no telling any more in most cases. But not for Boudewijn de Groot's 'Testament'. Friends of my parents where I stayed regularly in the first half of the 1970s, had the 'Land Van Maas En Waal' single. The B-side is 'Testament'. I remember it so vividly and the impact the song had on me. Or 'Hair' by Zen. I had just discovered the Top 40 in the fall of 1968, got the leaflet every Thursday after school and listened to the radio show. A song entered on #40 and it sort of exploded in my mind. Not unlike 'Summertime Blues' by Blue Cheer did in spring 1968, without me at that point in time having knowledge of something called the Top 40. Later I learned that Veronica had put the single on that spot without it having any sales. For a positive or a commercial interest reason? Who cares? History was made. Three or four weeks later it was number 1. And it just stayed in the charts. With the nickels and dimes I received as pocket money I saved and saved and in the final week of the 22 week chart run of 'Hair' I could finally purchase it for 4,50 guilders, which was a huge amount for a school kid. I still love playing the song.

Two of the songs we have played/still play with my band, Sweetwood. I was the singer of the former, Cuby + Blizzards best known song, and received the compliment that my rendition was not behind what we heard in Hoofdorp. It was nice to hear, as I do not often receive compliments for my singing voice. The compliment came from our "Mariska Veres" and no, we do not do 'Venus', but my absolute favourite of Shocking Blue. It pleased me a lot to hear it live from such a good band. (I'm afraid that Timebox is better than all the bands from the era were live at the time. Except for Kayak, not on the show, in 1974 I have not seen a single one at the time, so do not truly know. It's just a gut feeling I have.)

If you ask me about albums and what was my first? I remember getting a compilation album of Dutch bands in 1969, 'Their Greatest Hits'. The best song on that album was played, a song by Brainbox. I had sort of forgotten about the album and always mention 'Coz I Luv You' an album by Slade. Funnily enough that album does not seem to exist. Try and find it on Wikipedia. One that followed very soon was 'Tee-Five Tee-Set', a compilation of five years of hits. It contains one of the weirdest songs in Dutch pop history, when the band went psychedelic. I loved it as a child because of all the weird sounds and all. Today I have to concede that it is not a very good song, unlike 'Ma Belle Amie' and the already mentioned 'She Likes Weeds' are. But, this song was released months before Small Faces' 'Lazy Sunday', a far better song. Both are highly original.

No matter how good some of the music made today is, for some reason it doesn't compare for me to the pop, beat and everything after music from roughly this era. Despite not having been consciously present for all of the years, based on the love for what came after let's say from late 1966, when I started to notice new music people slightly older than I was listened to and from 1968 starting to have something like my own favourites, the few years before fell easily into its place. There was not a song I did not know. Only one by Rob Hoeke I knew marginally. (You almost have the title this way.)

Timebox are musicians with a lot of experience but if anything shone through, it was their love for this music and the fun they have playing this music together. Most people were even older than I am and they come out to hear the favourites from their youth, in droves. And which song would I have added? I think 'Maybe Tomorrow Maybe Tonight' by Earth & Fire. Hearing that other big hit was already more than satisfying though. It may be there best.

I have one question left. Were there any songs from 1964 and from 1974? I don't think so. Herman Kuiphof's most famous quote from 1974 was there sure enough. Luckily enough the audience in Hoofdorp did not "tuin" in it. We got the best on offer in 2025.

Timebox still tours extensively with this programme and returns later next year with a tour of Britpop from the same era. This is going to be so good as well.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

Here is the touring schedule:

https://gvproductions.nl/artiesten/timebox/ 

 

The Beths live with Dateline. Saturday 4 October, Paradiso Amsterdam

Photo Wout de Natris

On the back of its superb new album 'Straight Line Was A Lie' The Beths returned to The Netherlands for a just as superb show, in which the singer apologised that people had to travel more for this show!

Four albums into its career the New Zealand band has become a fine-tuned machine that is simply fantastic to listen to, on record and live. I'm very glad that I can still watch them in a venue the size of Paradiso, but I can only wonder what it takes for a band this good to play a bigger venue.

In a Paradiso that was not packed but very pleasantly filled, The Beths received a reception that came close to being reverential. The Dutch disease was almost non-existent this evening. Standing completely at the back during the centrepiece of the evening, a solo played 'Mother', I could hear a pin drop from there. For such a large venue that is near unprecedented. 'Mother', also the centrepiece of the album, was preceded by some small talk from each bandmember and even that did not ignite the audience into their own talkfest. Impressive it was.

The Beths kicked off its show with the opening and title song of its latest album. 'Straight Line Was A Lie', the song sort of fell into place for me. I liked it alright, but now I've become almost addicted to it, while the lyrics landed in the live situation, not at home. It was followed by 'No Joy', the postpunk track of the new album. With its staccato rhythm it sets a totally different mood with the clear aim to draw in the audience even more. From there a tension bow was created with more melodic songs and somewhat slower songs until we learned about the breakfast blog of bass player Benjamin Sinclair and that all the gear was stolen a few days ago, something that unfortunately happens to most bands while touring. Too easy targets, I'm afraid, for criminals, but so sad, as they will tour with their favourite instruments to play on.

Before the show drummer Tristan Deck put something mysterious in the spot where the guitarist and bassist would stands. What is it?, I wondered and then of course forgot about it, until they pulled green coloured recorders from their stands during the show. More than once too, making the show something completely different and so much fun to watch and listen to. The Beths surprised some more. 

Mother, WdN-vdB

This culminated into Elizabeth Stokes performing 'Mother' solo. After which the show was slowly working towards a climax. For me that always will be the song that introduced me to the band in Covid times: 'I'm Not Getting Excited'. Well, have I got news for The Beths. This song really, really excites me every time I hear it. This evening was no exception. In it, as in many other songs, guitarist (and producer) Jonathan Pearce plays a guitar solo that seems to go totally off the rails. He finds notes to play that no one else would even imagine playing in their wildest dreams, in a rocksong that is. Somehow they fit and make the song explosive. 'I'm Not Getting Excited' is a banger of epic proportions to me. One of the great discoveries that put me on to a great band. I only learned later about 'Future 'Me Hates Me' later but it has grown into another favourite. (Yes, even I can have my ears screwed on wrong when I hear a song for the first time, which I did circa 2018.)

My final comment is on the harmony vocals. All four bandmembers sing and that gives The Beths another extra, as also here it is not necessarily the most easy harmony the band could have found. The songs may be written by Elizabeth Stokes, the band arranges them and they are masters at it. On record and live. Next time the AFAS, I'd say, although seeing them so up close is a treat, but lets not be selfish.

Photo: Wout de Natris

I came late to the support act, Dateline. I had no information on the band but that usually does not stop me from hearing a new band. Due to circumstances I came in only during the fourth song before the end. What struck me was the super clear sound of the lead guitar, like glass. I was taken in immediately by what I was hearing. Also Dateline's members all sing and brings this extra quality to its show. And then came a song in which the band played louder and more postpunk. The song was good but then went into overdrive. If I've ever saw anger on stage, it was here and now. Singer Kate Everingham started screaming at someone called Henry. The only thing I could think, besides wow, this is good, am I glad not to be in this guy's shoes. In the circa 15 minutes I heard, I was totally convinced to have heard another alternative rock band from New Zealand that is more than just good. I am truly sorry to have been late.

Dateline has two albums out, 'It's All Downhill From Here' (2024) and 'Dumb For My Age' (2022). Kate Everingham said after the show that there will be a new album in 2026. And that "Harry" had not even been recorded yet. I can't wait to hear more.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can buy The Beths music here:

https://thebethsnz.bandcamp.com/album/straight-line-was-a-lie 

and Dateline's here:

https://dateline.bandcamp.com/album/dumb-for-my-age 

Diederik Nomden and Philine live. Phil, Haarlem 31 August 2025

Photo WdN - vdB

The new season of performing arts traditionally is opened with free shows and Phil in Haarlem is no different. Thanks to My Love, I learned about 'Phil opens up', as in general I'm not into what plays at Phil. On the programme this Sunday was an artist that we saw live twice in the first half of the 10s, who at the time performed under the name Royal Parks, Diederik Nomden, now releasing his records under his last name, Nomden. As we were there, we decided to take a look at Philine and were pleasantly surprised.

Diederik Nomden 

Of course, since 2015 onwards Diederik Nomden's career took a totally different direction. From standing about 10 meters away from him playing, the distance became larger and larger, right up to Ziggo Dome proportions. With The Analogues he performed the studio albums of The Beatles to great success and if it hadn't been for Covid, the question will always be unanswered where the concept would have taken them.The band is no more and this spring Nomden released a new solo album 'Sooner/Later' and will be going on tour soon with a new project Timebox and a duo show with Bertolf.

In Phil he played a solo show, with several acoustic guitars and a piano. With his presence, voice and songs, he packed in the Phil café that was fully filled. My Love never stops saying that Diederik Nomden has one of the most beautiful voices in the land and I tend to agree. Things have changed though. From a somewhat timid support act around 2013, Nomden has become a very confident artist, telling anecdotes about his songs while playing them in a relaxed but secure way. He took us though his four solo albums. When I think of his music, it is always 'She' that floats into my mind. He played it as his second song.

I had not heard his latest album yet, but the songs that came by immediately packed me in. The very positive review in 'Oor' appears to be well-deserved. The surprise was an acoustic rendition of 'True Love That's A Wonder', one of Sandy Coast's biggest hits. That will be part of the Timebox shows that will travel all through the country from October onwards. Timebox is The Analogues, minus two. It will play Dutch hits from 1964 to 1974. Yes, tickets for Hoofdorp have been purchased.

In other words, the renewed acquaintance with Diederik Nomden as solo artist was a very pleasant one.

Photo: WdN - vdB

Philine 

Philine in Phil, it seems a very logical combination. I had never heard of the singer before. She played with a five piece band: two guitars, keys, bass, drums and a lot of harmony vocals. Who is in the lead here, there's no doubt about that: my band, my tour, etc. From what I've heard, Philine in influenced by the dreamy kind of music Dakota/Loupe made in this country and many others like Warpaint abroad. The other one came forward more and more during the live show: Stevie Nicks. The atmosphere of her biggest hits (with Fleetwood Mac) shone through the whole of the time.

The music was presented very rhythmically and certainly in the first half of the show made it too uniform. If however I heard right and that the lead guitarist is with the band since only very recently (three days?) than it's amazing what he has achieved in so short a time. If not, then I would advise to take more time for some variation in the arrangements, as having two guitars, keys and bass, allows for more melodies. I could hear a few playing along in my head during the show.

As said, things changed in the second half of the show, as the band seemed to get a bit looser and at the end even a guitar solo was played. I remember encountering Dakota for the first (and last) time in Amsterdam. Philine had the same impact on me. I can't tell yet what she sounds like on record, but will take a listen for sure, as a new song is released on Friday. The band goes on an extensive tour this fall and of a length that may make many a colleague band jealous. It may be worth your while to check Philine and band out.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can order Nomden's records here:

https://www.diederiknomden.com/shop

 

and Philine's music here:

https://philine.bandcamp.com/album/the-truth-of-living-in-reality 

Playing in Lillestrøm, Norway

Every once in a while I write about my own musical adventures. My latest is the kind of adventure worth writing on. Being an amateur musician, playing guitar and singing background vocals in a cover band, is not a situation that will bring you in a position to play abroad. Unless you're playing in Floyd Pink or The Back Doors Men or something. Having played in Norway recently, I have added a tenth country, on three continents, to my roster.

Besides playing in Sweetwood, the Leiden-Haarlem band, I am also a member of GEMS, the Global Equal Multistakeholder Band, that performs off and on at ICANN and IGF meetings. Both are internet governance institutions, where people from all over the world and from different stakeholder communities come together to discuss the state of the internet. On the respective Music Nights those delegates who want to play together do so. Usually there is a jazz set and a rock set.

Myself, I am only active at the IGF, so can't tell you about the ICANN meetings. Just imagine the following. Music Night is announced and a bunch of people start to indicate, yes, I'm there and then start sharing ideas for songs they would like to play and what instruments they to play in an Excel sheet. Online they agree on it all. Come Music Night, all players come together. In four cases for me it was an introduction, as I had never met these fellow musicians before and not played ever with one of the additional musicians/singers.

We had a backstage and a well-filled refrigerator, in fact we had two, which was new and greatly appreciated. Come show time, the show started with a Bach prelude played by keyboard player Susan. Next up, was 'A Hard Days Night'. The honour was for me to open the set with that famous The Beatles chord and kept the suspension for just a little longer before going into the "It's been a" and the band kicks in on the word "hard". Without any hesitation all kicked in and of we went for a constant shuffling of instruments. I had learned the lead guitar lines for 'Stuck In The Middle With You', others learned the parts to 'Back To Black', 'Better Be Home Soon' was learned at home and then we sang a four parts harmony flawlessly, etc. We were all amazed by the voice of our newby Lea, who played before an audience for the first time. She is a natural alright. I looked on in amazement how Chris played the Jonny Greenwood guitar part of 'Creep' and on how 'Champagne Supernova' came alive thanks to Nico. Singing 'Wish You Were Here' is always a highlight for myself.

We were on a huge stage, with very professional gear set up for us by an organisation. We were televised on the huge screen behind us, as it was the main stage of the conference all changed for the band. In front of us were easily a thousand people. Who became more enthusiastic the more we got in the real rock part of the sets. By the time we were playing 'Song 2', 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go' and 'Basket Case' it was game set and match for GEMS. With thanks to the IGF secretariat, the Norwegian host and the professionals in the background, the music equipment guys as well as the ladies of the venue, taking care of everything. Thank you, thank you. A great job done!

Of course there were little and sometimes bigger mistakes, but who cares. We had loads of fun and gave it in abundance as well. I'm nearly convinced that practising together is overrated, except that my own band shows me time and again that it is not. With GEMS it is. We rock around the (free) world and who knows where the next show will be? First the U.N. General Assembly has to decide on the continuation of the IGF in December. Then we'll know more. Music brings people together in a very positive way. The karaoke following GEMS proved that well beyond doubt.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

To get an impression look here and scroll down to Music Night:

https://www.igf2025.no/ 

Sly Stone (1943 - 2025) RIP

What do I know about Sly Stone? Not very much. I will refrain from repeating what everybody else has written on the man in the obituaries that can be found in the past two days. Let me just share my personal experience.

Somewhere around 2000 I bought a mid price cd with "the Greatest Hits" of Sly & The Family Stone. To be frank, I was totally disappointed. It was just limp music to my ears. The reason being a defining moment in my early teens.

After my then friend Frits got the triple album 'Woodstock' from his dad in an illegal Taiwanese pressing, our respective fathers were merchant marines, so you can guess which assignment my dad received when he sailed to Taiwan two years later, we played the album beyond grey. There was so much extremely exciting music on the album. You will know the names and if not go and check it out now.

One of these exciting tunes was a medley by Sly and The Family Stone. I had no idea what funk was or whatever the music was called at the time. 'I Wanna Take You Higher' and 'Dance To The Music' were one boost of energy. We were too young to call it sexually charged but charged we were. This band took the thousands upon thousands in the audience on Max Yasgur's farm ever higher. No drugs were needed in any form to reach ecstasy during this set. Each time the break came and bang, another explosion of music followed. I had never heard this much rhythm before. There's no other word for it, Sly and The Family Stone spread pure jubilation.

It is no surprise that nothing is able to surpass this high mass of rock and funk music. Nothing I heard on this cd came even within a continent's reach of the Woodstock version of these songs. The medley the band allowed to be on the Woodstock compilation album is one of the best pieces of live music ever recorded and officially released. It is a monument for a deeply troubled man but also for his time. "I wanna take you higher .... higher". And that they went, band and audience and teen listener.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght 

And They Spoke In Anthems live. Saturday 10 May 2025, Haarlem

Photo Wout de Natris

Can an artist totally mesmerise an audience? That answer is of course yes and the smaller the venue the more intense the experience can be. The question needs to be more direct. Can an artist mesmerise an audience that, for the most part, has never heard a single song from that artist before? Let me tell you all about it.

On Saturday 10 May the Belgian singer-songwriter Arne Leurentop, who releases his songs under the name And They Spoke In Anthems, mesmerised a living room in Haarlem.

Going to a living room show, is always a surprise. Sometimes there is a full band, sometimes just a musician with an acoustic guitar and anything in between. When Leurentop arrived, he unloaded an enormous stack of gear and was setting up all sorts of connections between instruments, gear, a laptop and what not. I had no idea what to expect, but certainly not a one man orchestra.

How I got to know And They Spoke In Anthems, I can’t recall. It is either a record company sending a link to listen or a personal outreach from the artist, pointing me to a new record. ‘Money Time’ was my introduction in 2019, followed by the album ‘Still.’ And the mini album ‘.Here’. The accompanying bio said something about the many house shows played and so an invitation went out, the date set.

My guess is that most people come to the show without being familiar with the artist. That makes the effect Arne Leurentop had on the audience count for at least two. Sitting so close to each other, artist and audience, without any natural barrier, makes it possible to notice all emotions and responses and have an interaction, something that happens in a quite natural way.

Leurentop mostly played electric guitar but seldom without looping parts, so whole songs were created, including a beat, or a short keyboard part by pushing a pedal, playing an old Philips organ over the recorded guitar part. He even played a violin, as the emotional ending of a song about the death of one of his best friends.

Photo: Wout de Natris

Since I’ve started writing about music, I am listening in a different and a far more intense way to music and notice more than I did before. It is not so much that I did not hear what a song contains, as that I notice it more directly and most likely sooner. One of the things that strikes me often, is the difference between “a shallow song” and “a rich song”. This has nothing to do with the quality but with the musical experience.

What Arne Leurentop showed live, all by himself, is how he is able to find a melody within the chord structure of his song and then add another and another and another and they all fit perfectly. That is where music theory becomes mathematics, while an artist uses his imagination and ears. He not only did that with instruments. There were two songs where he started with looping his voice, until he had created a four part harmony, out of nowhere, with only one note played before he started to sing for his first loop. That was a truly mouthdropping moment for me.

That is all technique I’m writing about. The beauty of each individual song is the most important part, what it is all about. And They Spoke In Anthems has made a few beautiful albums so far. Live the songs came totally alive, as the emotion put into them was shown so abundantly. From very personal songs about loss, to a love song for Jacinda Ardern, the former New Zealand prime minister. (If this song doesn't win her over, nothing will. Sheer beauty it is.)

This show was an experience. Believe me when I tell you that nearly everyone in the audience said this was not only one the best shows they saw in this living room in Haarlem, it was one of the best shows they saw, ever. From my end, I can only agree. Arne Leurentop/And They Spoke In Anthems is a must see and hear.

Wout de Natris – van der Borght

 

You can buy the band's records here:

https://www.andtheyspokeinanthems.com/store