Looking back at yesterday evening’s show at Nighttown, I can’t resist comparing it with the one in Nijmegen. And all this in a very positive way.

I’m sure listening to the Clogger Cds and the Hoarse CD during the day, had a lot to do with it. The Clogger CD single has a remix of Clogger on it. When I think of a remix, my heart usually misses a few beats per minute, afraid of hearing those same beats back on the work of destruction (called a 'remix') by some kind of DJ. But this one is really great, even better than the original.

The live Hoarse CD is of great quality, with a few nice surprises: Bertrand from Noir Désir sings along on Fire Spirit (recorded in Paris). And Black Lung (resembling the Black Lung version, which they played in the park in Eindhoven as shown on "Lola da musica" in 1997) isn’t mentioned on the back cover, but makes up a total of 11 songs.

Before the show we had dinner upstairs at the Nighttown restaurant with the band (use the force, umm, use the forks Jean-Yves ;-) and An Pierlé at the next table. When they went downstairs it was time for us to do the same, so we headed for the mainhall of Nighttown. Packed! Again a sold-out show. (around 1.000 people) . An Pierlé’s performance was stronger than the night before. Perhaps because she stuck to her louder (relatively speaking) songs. Yes, drop the Amos-act and concentrate more on an angry Toyah voice. ;-) (that is, before the teletubbies-era ;->)

Then it was time for 16HP.
I know the band has a warm relationship with Rotterdam, starting back in ‘96 when they played at the Basement. So it wasn’t surprising that they came out on stage with smiling faces. Elin behind, blessed wih a full pack of gum in her mouth (hey, a girl can’t chew on only one the whole evening ;->), with a lot more self-confidence.

They played the same setlist as the days before, but with much more conviction. David gave us some amusing dramatic acting at times. Stressing the sentences of 'Burning Bush':"I can look good, I S-W-E-A-R!!!!!!!!!" (hum, not yet really convinced about that ;->) and "every man is a L-I-A-R" (this, on the other hand, I have no trouble believing :->>) from Black Soul Choir. Elin played the intro of Cinder Alley without any mistakes, much to everyone’s delight. And for a moment I didn’t see her lips move, yep, she stopped chewing ;-> To give her some credit, she fitted in much more with the band than before. And I’m starting to like her xylophone contribution.

The audience was well pleased, as could be heard from the loud applause. Very powerful versions of Low Estate, For Heaven’s Sake, Clogger, Haw and Black Soul Choir. As happened the same as the night before the set collapsed with Burning Bush and 'Cept You. It didn’t fit in after Flowers in my heart and before Splinters, Low estate etc. A shame.

Let’s hope they have not already xeroxed the setlist a couple of 100 times so they can still make some alterations?? ;->

By Ing!

And this is what the (NRC) paper said.