Rockezine.com concert review for NoMeansNo on May 04, 2001 in the Doornroosje/Nijmegen

May 04, 2001

Removal
Openers tonight are Removal. A trio that plays alternative rock the way Helmet, Prong and Quicksand used to do in the early nineties. It`s not so much the fact that this type of music is somewhat outdated that make Removal kind of boring to after their initial fifteen minutes of "fame". After all, you can`t keep a good band down, no matter what type of music they play. Removal fails to approach their music with the boldness, bravado and sense of adventure combined with the almost atomic punctuality and the undercooled punch that would hit you right in your face, all essential trademarks of the before mentioned New York bands.

NoMeansNo
Punkrockers NoMeansNo get a day older, or at least, that`s what you would think if you saw them coming on stage or listened to their latest album. But once they start playing, you can`t shake off the feeling that these guys haven`t lost a bit of their intensity. Okay, so the newer songs are slower and more `atmospheric` (whatever that may mean in NoMeansNo terms), but when they play the classics they are there. Vital and freaked as ever, growling and snarling, the guitar shredding, the bass whirring and the drums pounding. Yeah, a NoMeansNo concert is always a joy.

The audience`s reaction to the newer songs ("Hello, Goodbye", "Under The Sea", "The Phone Call") is not as joyous as to their old material, that is for sure, but it seems that people have gotten used to this new style and enjoy it in their own way. From their old material, especially songs as "Sex Mad", "Metronome" and "The Day Everything..." provoked moshing reactions from the crowd. Naturally, NoMeansNo came back for an encore, playing Ramones` "Beat On The Brat", but thanks to the huge applause and we-want-mores they decided to throw in a second encore, making the night even more spectacular than it already was.

(Review & Pics: Xander Hoose)