|
Tivoli, Utrecht (NL), 12 July 2004
 For more pictures by Klaas Guchelaar, visit his website. To be honest it was my first 16hp concert, although I 'have known' them for about 7 years. I wanted to go for quite some time and now they were playing in Utrecht. Tickets were bought and it seemed like ages before the day came. Finally a worthwhile band to see and hear. We managed to get up at the balcony (no, not the best sound but a nice view...). The show started with Stuurbaard Bakkebaard, which was nice. The guy playing the drums had very mimic facial expressions. I dare not say this for sure but I thought I saw them once at a wedding... ;-) The carpets were laid out, cables connected and finally the lights dimmed. Some 'dark, religious' music played. Undoubtedly to set the mood, but much too my surprise it didn't turn 'quiet'. (Some) people kept on chatting, like they were in a restaurant. It took some time and there they were. It started with a song I hoped they would play, Hutterite Mile.
The sky comes king Sung beautifully, and this could be because of the place where I was standing, but for me the song missed the atmosphere I feel when I listen to the record. The same applied for Flutter, another favourite of mine from Folklore. I missed the piano. The 'acoustic' part ended with Straw Foot. Jean-Yves Tola went to his drum kit and then the 'second' set started. The music was electrifying and I lost myself in their musical journey. I can't remember them all but American Wheeze passed for sure as well as Brimstone Rock, I Seen What I saw, Haw and others.
   
The funny thing is that when I looked at the 'arena', people simply stood there listening, some moving slightly. Not all songs 'provoke' you to move, to dance, but the sheer energy of the music itself makes it very hard to stand still. Nevertheless, most of them did. For that reason I had to laugh when David Eugene Edwards mentioned the beautiful trees we have here. He probably didn't mean it that way but I thought that he referred to all the people standing there, not moving. And that was the only verbal 'interaction' there was with the audience (except for a few thank you's). As mentioned it was my first 16hp concert and my place was not the best one (so I am properly wrong), but to me the concert seemed a bit uninspired. Mind you the music was great, but there seemed to be something missing. For one thing, I would have enjoyed some more interaction (although they don’t seem to be the most extrovert guys), something in between songs, to show that there is a connection with the audience (which is quite easy at the Tivoli). They didn't. And before and right after the 'encore' D.E.E. and Jean-Yves were off stage awfully quick. Pascal Humbert was there to take a bow, but to me it seemed as if the other two didn't know how to get away as speedy as possible. The concert was short (about an hour?!) and they played about 14 or 15 songs. To me D.E.E. seemed tired and maybe that is the cause that I missed a certain feeling. I don't know. If so, he's only human like most of us. If not, well, my perception is only that of one of the thousand people that were there. And nothing can be so misguided as your perception... for better or for worse... But I’ll be there the next time, because even on a 'tiresome' day their music is something to experience. by Rino
16 Horsepower Without laughter still satisfaction
By Mike B.
Stuurbaard Bakkebaard gets to warm up the audience in a chock-full Tivoli. At first sight they and 16 Horsepower seem a logical combination: a three-piece band, also with a double-bass, acoustic guitars and distorted vocals the obvious similarities. But as far as style is concerned we're dealing with opposites. Stuurbaard Bakkebaard, formerly street musicians, as usually shine at pleasantly disturbed madness, for instance with vocals sung through a tuba and megaphones. Combined with dynamics and dance grooves it results in an enjoyable show, but not in a staggering one.    It's been a while since 16 Horsepower last played in Utrecht. They became more popular after a sublime first European tour in 1996 and later they made a big impression at the Lowlands festival and afterwards at Pinkpop too. The band round David Eugene Edwards (vocals/guitar/banjo/bandoneon) now turns out to be reduced to an archetypical three-piece line-up with only staunch stalwarts Pascal Humbert on electric and double-bass and Jean-Yves Tola on drums. 16 Horsepower always makes use of dynamics a great deal and this time it's also evident in the structure of set. In order to get accustomed to the shift in atmosphere an intro tape, which goes on far too long, of monks singing in a minor key is started, whereupon the show starts with an 'intimate' setting with a mini drum-kit (snare drum + cymbal) at the front of the stage. After nearly thirty minutes of acoustic renditions of recent songs drummer Jean-Yves continues on his full-scale pots and pans kit ands the tension is heightened. Oddly almost exclusively with songs from the first two full-length albums (Sackcloth & Ashes and Low Estate). In the first instance this takes some getting used to without the additional violin and guitar parts, but after a few songs less proves to be more: notably the dark driving bass lines and the refinement in David's elegies come to the fore more than ever before. And many of the old songs have a new, more sober, arrangement. The trio plays with a maximum use of dynamics, and awesomely tight and intense too. Perspiration in beads on their brows and when David sporadically opens his eyes and glares back and fro wild-eyed you are involuntarily sucked in.
  
You have to look elsewhere for gaiety. 16 Horsepower always emit the sentiment that life is one big vale of tears, and people are sinners with a shadowy past. Which isn't strange when you realize that David is the son (sic) of a priest and sees himself as a sort of musical minister. Nevertheless he is not a big talker, let alone a preacher. Only after an hour does David address the very enthusiastic crowd with a "thank you" once in a while. Later he actually uses more words: "I love this city. You’ve got beautiful trees. I love trees." Because of the music you cannot help but think "to hang yourself from maybe?" Strangely enough, despite the low-key presentation, the sober and sombre lighting and the somewhat unvaried repertoire, there are plenty of reasons to become quite delighted. If only because of outstanding renditions of great songs like 'I Seen What I Saw' and 'Low Estate' (sic). In contrast with previous shows David "let's go" more with nervously wiggling feet during intense slide solo’s, and he even threatens to get off his perpetual barstool every now and then at fervent moments. It may seem odd but this makes a bigger impression than the next guitar player you see in some rock band who is wielding his guitar like an axe. Really this band deserves the award for 'heaviest band with banjo and bandoneon'. If you seek it you can find purification and ecstasy in 16 Horsepower's vehement sounds. In case you missed it: get your tickets early next time. Because probably everybody who saw this show wants to see them again then. Translation by TYFC To give you the conclusion: the sold out concert of 16 Horsepower at Tivoli (Utrecht, NL) was a wonderful one. There wasn't a new record; there wasn't an old(en) record. It should be a surprise party. After an impressive concert by Stuurbaard Bakkebaard with all sorts of streetmusic tricks and a climax of pretty noise, we were all waiting for the musical trinity of 16hp. And then, everything dimmed. No light, no music. Just atmosphere. And there was music from a neo-gregorian era. They needed it to create the right mood in the hall for an acoustic set of four songs.
 Starting with Hutterite Mile (brilliant); Poor Mouth (lacking the electrical changes); Flutter with David for the first time on bandoneon. These 15 minutes were the first highlight of the concert. The crowd was roaring. There even was some contact between David and the audience (I never heard him say "thank you" at least 10 times). After this start they played their usual electric concept. A selection of songs you couldn't predict. I missed a lot of highlights (For Heaven's Sake, Sinnerman, Black Soul Choir) but I heard their musical career passed by. They are able to play their whole musical history on stage. Each song has enough power to perform. But a few songs are always there. It was my fifth concert and I suddenly realized the strength of 'Strong Man'. They always played it and DEE is singing the last lines with quite some emphasis:
"There is power The man with the mission was stressing the gospel again. Unfortunately, it ended within an hour. They came back for just three songs (Outlaw song; Splinters and a brilliant Joy Division cover). This last song showed the growing strength of the band. It was no longer David and his assistants. It's a trinity, almost holy. by Jan
 Heart and Soul: Joy Division cover Setlist by Ferro    
|