After some tinkering the show did restart, with Hutterite Mile. With Pascal Humbert playing a Lilium-esque acoustic guitar. And the modest newcomer John Rumley (formerly of and presently of Tarantella on double bass. The latter also played bass, guitar and banjo during the show. The other new 16 Horsepower member (or hired hand?), Daniel McMahon of Woven Hand fame, played keyboards, acoustic guitar, mandolin. And maracas, lest we forget :-) Especially notable when they provided the only accompaniment in the outro of Splinters and when he hit the microphone with them during Brimstone Rock :-). Besides that he did the backing vocals. Audible this time :-) Plus he remembered the setlist. When Edwards was lost ("Where am I?") and temporary unaware that Splinters was the next song to be played, McMahon came to the rescue. Reminding Edwards that he needed his Gretsch.

All of Folklore was played with the exception of La Robe a Parasol. That mazurka seems to be confined to the album for eternity. Because the Folklore material is slower and more sober than the older songs, those older songs provided the only opportunity for some physical release. Or rocking out, to put it more basal. For Heaven's Sake gave Humbert the opportunity to strike Metallica poses and make faces, while providing a solid and reliable backbone, together with Jean-Yves Tola. The first encore was the most extravert and loudest part of the show, consisting of powerful versions of Brimstone Rock (with Edwards speaking in tongues again as of old, or is that Russian?), Sac Of Religion and a scorching rendition of Poor Mouth. During which the old trick of bathing the band in white light during the most dynamic part got the intended cheers. Physical release time again. The Folklore tracks were played competently by the quintet. With Sinnerman and Blessed Persistence the most convincing songs. When Edwards picked up the bandoneon for the first time he wrong-footed a large section of the crowd. They immediately cheered expecting a favourite from former years. Instead they got the Hank Williams cover Alone And Forsaken. Together with Hutterite Mile my favourite Folklore track. This live version was slightly disappointing though. Single Girl went down well with the audience. Much to the delight of Edwards, who had a broad grin on his face afterwards.

Some of the older material doesn't need a five-piece band though. The piano on For Heaven' s Sake and Splinters was superfluous and drowned out moreover by loud guitars. Rumley still has to get used to his new surroundings. He clearly looks impressed. He obviously is a very capable musician. But at this stage he is still lacking the confidence, or is too unpresuming, to come to the fore and really hit home that Clogger solo hard.

The folklore songs demand an attentive and respectful audience. The previous time 16 Horsepower played at 013, during the Secret South tour, there was a lot of tittle-tattle. Not this time round. With the notable exception of the people right behind me (hotverdomme :-) the almost sell-out crowd (capacity 2.000) had their traps shut. They only managed that for two or three songs during Conway Savage's opening act. Well act, just a man and his piano. Sweating like a pig, in his own words. Remembering he did Love Is In The Air at 013 on the previous Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds tour. He was armed with a dry sense of humour. Announcing his third song as a slow one, in a deadpan fashion. They're all slow songs. Not all pearls, but they were surely cast before swine.

And speaking of animals, 16 Horsepower's second encore was Horse Head Fiddle. With Edwards once again playing the guitar as a cello, when he wasn't hitting himself with the bow on the head. Humbert on double bass, with fiddlestick too, trying to saw his instrument in half. Making whale-like noises. Alternated with the sound of cats being skinned alive. With Tola further increasing the ambience with kettle drumming. Unlike in Amsterdam the song did not finish abruptly, but had a proper ending. A theatrical, slightly experimental, yet earthy end to the show.

"I'm sure there is a lot of good television on tonight," Edwards said when he stated that he appreciated our coming. Obviously he doesn't watch Dutch television regularly, but anyway it was well worth missing. Though the show was not a classic. It was good, but not fantastic. There were too many long breaks between songs that slackened the pace of the show. Plus Edwards did not seem to really give it all he' s got. So early on in the tour, the set seems to have some developing to do. Thank God for evolution :-)

By Martin

Setlist by Martijn