Noorderslag Festival, 20.30 - 04.00 hours
Noorderslag Festival in De Oosterpoort shows the new breed of contemporary Dutch rock, pop and dance music in full swing. Highly publicised and broadcast live on national Radio 3FM, close to 50 acts perform on eight stages under one roof.
With the presentation of the prestigious Dutch Pop Award as an extra media event, Noorderslag brings you in touch with the new sounds from the Netherlands.

EUROSONIC
First band we found very interesting is Blind Dog from Sweden. We also saw them last night in Nijmegen, so here we go.

Blind Dog + Moodswing – Doornroosje, Thursday the 10th
The Embassy darts game had ended on t.v., and the supporting act Moodswing entered the stage. Especially the singer-guitarist was ready for it, dressed up as if he had to play a stadium stage. Despite the visible nerves spinning ‘round this young bands stomag, they surely tried to make a stand. Strongly emotional vocals, steady drums and a bass player standing his ground with his legs wide spread, and his hair bangin’. The singer-guitarist, completely going up into his solos, crawling over the stage. Shortly: expressive exposure. This place half empty, and an audience not waiting for your thing, is not the most ideal gig for a band. Nevertheless, this Dutch Muse (with balls) is a band, which could grow quickly. Wonder what their upcoming CD will bring.

Then half an hour later, while the venue still is not really crowded, the Swedish power-trio Blind Dog takes the stage. When I got their CD "The Adventures of Captain Dog", I was curious if they were capable of making this real on stage, and yes they can!! Thundering versions of "Blend", "Beyond my Reach", "Coming to", and "Back where I’ve always been" (to mention a few), are coming out of the speakers. The vocals in the melodic episodes were not to clear, and there were some technical problems with the delay in "Back where I’ve always been", still this band is a great live band.

Tobias Nilsson is a convincing bass player-singer, angry throwing his lyrics at his audience, and disarmingly calm in between the songs. Thomas Elenvic is a solid drummer with surprising fills, and a drum style reminding me of Ginger Baker is revealing on stage. The wizard-guitarist Joakim Thell knows how to put down the right atmosphere, from psychedelic Cream, to Black Sabbath, as heavy as the masters themselves never been. To stay with the influences: the set ended with a beautiful "Children of the Grave", and got an encore with "War Pigs". Sure no waste of time.
(Cor)

Blind Dog – Grunneger Sproak
Having seen them the evening before, and knowing this would be a shorter set, I was wondering what this evening would bring. The (smaller) venue was packed with rockers this time, and they got what they came for. An almost perfect sound, and no technical problems like the evening before. This time in the quieter pieces, with a clear voice of Tobias Nilsson, it reminded me of the latest Masters of Reality. Again in the heavy parts he spit out his words with enormous intensity, and pumped some dragging bass into his audience. Sometimes I missed the additional organ and guitar parts which are on the record, because the bass sound was a little thin at times. Guitarist Joakim Thell mixed his weird and heavy stuff wonderfully in this short set.

To me it seemed as if the band had not as much space for extended versions as the night before, but still, they were in flames. Someone in the audience told me this would be the new Metallica, but if that person doesn’t recognise "Children of the Grave" as a Black Sabbath cover, it makes you wonder about the expertise of that person. Still, Blind Dog has made a hell of a great first album, and to me their concerts cannot be long enough. Would like to really see them jam. Hopefully we will hear much more of this band.
(Cor)

4 Lyn – Huize Maas
Arriving just in time to pick up the last couple of songs of the band on the big stage. Enthusiastic youngsters from Germany (perfect English by the way), playing hiphop-metal-crossover. The pretty big audience also is enthusiastic about the band. A jumping and bouncing singer who needs the (big) stage all for him self, and a band who is showing their fun in making music.
(Cor)

Clone - Huize Maas
Getting to the smaller stage in Huize Maas, an other band is already playing. Talented musicians, a singer who is trying to be a real frontman, eighties metal riffs, and some well picked samples. The girls who scream loudest or dance most sensual, get the most attention and a Clone T-shirt from the singer, it’s Rock and Roll. This Swiss metal band is o.k. to listen to (for a while).
(Cor)

NOORDERSLAG

Fools Fatal
The lights go out, the band is ready,…or not. Guitarist Stefan Korda just arrived on stage, still tuning his instrument. Within seconds this problem was solved and a screaming Jean Piere Schrijver introduced a catchy “She hates me”. Pearl Jam fans will love this band, a voice like Eddie Vedder, guitars in a way from grunge to Led Zeppelin, and a very groovy rhythm section. Something you can expect from a veteran drummer like Toni Peroni, but bass player Jeff Bickes sure adds his part.

After this well chosen opener, the band got really loose with a 1-2-3-4 “Turn Around”, the opener on their upcoming CD. This is a real live band, the third song “Fear of Flying”, with a beautiful solo of a very expressive Korda, is something that got lost on the (over-produced) CD. Sometimes with some additional guitar by singer Schrijver the band kept on going with a fragile “You make me feel” some poppy rockers “Glue” and “ Queen in White”, and a solid “Tears and Pain”. A well preformed half hour, from a band who knows how to do their thing and reach their audience (except the Gene Simmons tongue act from singer Schrijver) When you like the mix of a lot of Pearl Jam, with some Counting Crows, Led Zeppelin and Faith No More, go see this or listen to the coming CD (but they are even better live).
(Cor)

After Forever
This gothic metal band got a lot of attention in the media lately and their show tonight is succesful as well. Allthough that they`re relatively young, the sound from After Forever is suprisingly mature and from an international level. Especially female vocalist Floor impresses with her performance. With songs from their debut album and a lot of new "Decipher" stuff, After Forever shows us that they`re worth all the media attention. Their gig is tight and solid, yet very exciting indeed. Don`t be suprised seeing them on the DOA and/or Pinkpop 2002 stages.
(Johan Godschalk)

Peter Pan Speedrock
Arriving halfway the concert, seeing a crowd go wild with a full speed performing PPS. This place was loaded with people, sweat in the atmosphere, and full of energy. The band was roaring, the audience screaming, and beer was streaming. PPS knows how to Rock and Roll! In high speed their songs (mostly from their latest album: "Premium Quality") came down like a thunderstorm. This band is growing more and more: professional performance on stage, and musically very strong.

Fanatically torturing their instruments and amusing their audience. These guys know how it party, though I had my doubts with their grand finale with guest singer “Dikke Dennis”. It was funny to hear their “Signorita” and their Dutch version of “Ace of Spades”, but when you have such a short time to present yourselves, and so many good songs…. However PPS stood their ground and especially in terms of getting to your audience, this band was the best of the evening.
(Cor)

Jovink (en de Voederbietels)
These 4 party animals have the honour to close this years Noorderslag. Being around for 10 years now and selling thousands & thousands of albums, they really deserve it. As soon as the first riff from the title track of the latest record "Thuis Voor De Dwangbuis" is played, the Oosterpoort starts having a huge party. Everybody is tired and (mostly) drunk, but this band has so much energy and such a positive attitude. With other tracks like the ballad "Lieve Rikie", their hitsingle "Noadöst" and the rocking "Halen Wat Halen Kan", Jovink gets the crowd going just one last time. Watch out for a cool studio report on the new record from these guys soon at REZ.
(Johan Godschalk)

Your REZ team is almost ready to go to bed, but first we`ll have to get ourselves one last drink at De Ster, the mighty rock bar in the centre of Groningen. Cheers!

(Review: Cor Schilstra
Pics: Marcia Gransbergen)