Interview with Young Guns

Who would expect that Friday the thirteenth could turn out to be such an amazing day? It had been a day of amazing music and lovely superheroes. It’s actually quite hard to describe my thoughts about this fantastic band called Young Guns, cause my thoughts are wild and all over my brain. Truth is…can’t stop thinking about them. I know that they’ll be a band I would always remember. Just when I thought that I’d know what rock stars were all about, Gustav (vocals) proved me wrong. With his modest, honest and sweet attitude he’s a true superhero to me! And that’s exactly what this interview is about.

Interview with: Gustav (vocals)
Interviewed by: Pearl

So despite of Friday the thirteenth, did you have a good day?

I have had an amazing day! The guitarist said to me today is Friday the 13th and it’s an important show to us. I’m quite superstitious so I was really nervous. The last two shows were amazing, but tonight it was busy and the crowd was really up for a good time. So we’ve had a lot of fun. At least so far Friday the 13th had been a better day than I could have possibly imagined.

Are you a superhero?

Am I a superhero? No definitely not, I’m far too lazy to be as courageous as superhero.

Have you done any good deeds today?

Today? No, I haven’t done anything bad, but I haven’t done anything great today. In my life I would like to think that I’ve done some good things.

Like?

A while ago we had a house party and a girl turned up. I don’t know who she was. Turns out she is quite young and she drank too much and became ill. And it turns out she nearly died. I didn’t know this, but her dad came round next day and thanked me cause she had like slipped into a coma and if I hadn’t given her CPR, apparently she could have been seriously ill or died. I was quite proud of that, but today we’ve done nothing courageous. I’ve just gotten up and been really tired and then played a cool show!

Would you like to be a superhero?

I would love to be a superhero!

Which one?

Spiderman, without doubt! I already knew the answer on that. He has always been my favourite. When I was a kid I had like eight costumes of him. He has this great mix of powers you know. He can kind of fly, he can swing around he’s really strong, but he can also be just a person. So definitely Spiderman!

If we would be in the year 2012 when the world goes under…

Hopefully not

As a superhero which people would you safe?

Who would I safe? Well I’d be selfish and I would firstly safe my mother and my brother cause I come from quite a small family, but we’re very close. I’m lucky that I’m very close to them and they’re very supportive. Without them I wouldn’t be anything. So they would be the first two I would save. And then I suppose logically it will be my friends.

What about your fans?

Well I find it hard to believe that we have any fans, so that’s a difficult question for me to answer. We still are a very small band, but if we have any fans I would gladly save them.

Would you save us?

I would definitely save you two; you’ll be on top of my list.

Do you feel like a superhero on stage?

Well, it’s funny cause in a good show and if things are going well, there are times when I feel different because of the adrenalin, the moment and the attention that people give to you. You do feel a little bit like a superhero, sometimes. And I think that is probably why some people find it addictive, cause it is like a rush really, an amazing feeling. So I don’t know if I feel like a superhero, but I definitely feel something different than I feel when I’m walking around as a person during the day. There is a definite difference between me on stage and me off stage. That’s for sure.

What’s the difference?

I’m offstage a lot quieter and a lot less of a show-off.

What to you is a legendary band?

Well my favourite band of all time is a band called the Police. So they are my favourite band, they are a legendary band to me. I also like The Beatles; they are obviously one of the biggest bands and best bands of all times. When I was a kid my mother was really into the Police. So the Police and the Beatles for me.

Do they influence your music?

Not so much the Beatles, but the Police definitely do. In a way they look at song writing. We may not sound that necessary much like the Police but it’s kind of in the way that they approach their song writing. Is definitely something we try to keep in consideration. They wrote like pop songs in essence like verse chorus, verse chorus, but tried to step outside the band music. I like to say that we’re a pop band, in a kind of popular sense. We just don’t necessarily have like the Britney Spears kind of vocals. Pop music is a lot more than the kind of horrible shit that you see. It’s just popular music that is written with a structured and catchy formula.

I read your lyrics and they’re really beautiful!

It’s funny cause I’m so far of being satisfied with my lyrics you know. I think that they can be an awful lot better. It’s very kind of you to say so though. And I do like the lyrics, but I like to think that I can push myself and get better all the time Do you know a band called Say Anything? They’re an American band. On the surface it’s kind of emo/indie, but his lyrics are like out of this world. Phenomenal! It’s just incredible. When I listen to something like that I just think that I should better give up. So thank you, but I would like to think that we can get a lot better.

How are you going to make your band a legend?

That’s a difficult question, I think…What I would like to be legendary for, if you would like to be legendary for anything, I would like to play small shows, in small venues and everybody has to go as crazy as they possibly can. We would like to be a big band that plays in small venues. So if I could be legendary for anything, it would be for that.

Tell me the truth, are rock stars just desperate womanizers or are they true superheroes?

Well it’s not like that. You know like everywhere else in the world rock stars are mainly guys and because of that they’re interested in girls. But I wouldn’t say that they are superheroes either. If there are superheroes, they would be people like doctors, people that really contribute. I think it’s probably unfair to say that much rock stars are just after the girls, cause there’s a lot more than that. But they’re not superheroes, they’re just somewhere in between.

http://www.myspace.com/youngguns

Taking Back Sunday in Amsterdam

Let it be clear, Taking Back Sunday is new again! With their new singer and cd they manage to sound like they've just reborn. And along with this powerful cd called New Again came a glorious and spectaculair gig in the Amsterdam Melkweg.

Starting with one of my favorite songs, this gig was garanteed for a lot of fun. Imagine the intro of "What's it feel like to be a ghost?"and you'd probably know what I mean. Adam, the singer really looks like a performer and apperantly he is. he has the moves, the looks, the attitude, the only thing I was missing was a real honest connection with the audience. Come on rockstars, you know what them girls on the front row like. Take off your shirt! or at least give them some high fives, that shouldn't be too hard right?

But I have to be honest, this had been an exeptional good show. The music was powerful and so full of energy. They've played for one and a half hour in which they performed 17 songs. Almost all of their good songs. Songs that really make you go crazy like spin and liar, but also songs from the new album called New again and lonely lonely. Trust me, you would really like to have this new cd, it's Taking Back Sunday like you've never heard them before, fresher, more energetic and completely New Again.

Interview with Little Man Tate

It has just been 4 days ago, but I already mis this amazing band! My voice is still a mess and I can’t stop smiling when I think about them and that’s pretty much all the time... It may be obvious that they’ve made a huge impression on me and I’m sure that you’ll love them too cause... This is britpop like it should be! Sheffield's finest. Little Man Tate rocked Amsterdam and Utrecht and I had the privilege to meet them. Don’t you get jealous girls, you can still listen to their music on their myspace or buy their cd’s. This band makes the most pleasant britpop you’ve ever heard, but there is more about this band, something indescribable. Is it Jon’s on stage charisma? Ben, the sweetest musician I’ve ever met? Or simply the fact that they are the funniest band on the planet? Get a peek into the crazy world of Little Man Tate and find out that they have more to offer than just charm, charisma and good looks...

How are you Jon?

I’m very well thank you very much, how are you?

I’m great thanks. So a new cd, brand new tour, how do you prepare for such a tour like this?

We’ve had a bit of a shopping expedition. We’ve had some rehearsals and picked out the songs that we wanted to play. We just practiced every now and then so we can get into a routine of exactly knowing what is happening. But every gig is different. We get better as the tour goes along basically. We’ve already had our first gig on the way but what is going on tonight should be really good.

How was the gig yesterday?

Great, yeah Belgium, it was really busy as well. We didn’t have any expectations when we went on this tour. When it is busy great, if not that than that’s no problem either.

So what can people expect from a Little Man Tate gig?

Well, hopefully we will be one of those bands that you see and you would like to see again. I mean too many times people go to see concerts and stand at the bar like they don’t really care about the band. We just want to get a bit more. I would like to see a cheer in the eye.

Most rock stars like Amsterdam for the sex drugs and rock ‘n roll, what do you think is the nicest thing about Amsterdam?

Well those three things! I’m not sure if my mom might read this.... Are you going to write this interview in Dutch?

No in English...

So I’m not saying sex or drugs now, cause my mom reads it. What more is nice about Amsterdam? I can say what is not nice about Amsterdam. The pedal boats! We went on a pedal boat and it didn’t work, we fell out. Well, is was a bit of a nightmare. But I think it is a great city, it is great!

Have you been to the red light district?

Never! Ever! Ever! Yeah we’ve been there, we’ve been to the Wallen. We window shopped there. You know just like girls do when they go shopping and love some pair of shoes, which they can’t afford.

You’ve performed here before on the London Calling festival, how did you experience that?

Yeah that was really good, the crowd gave us a really good vibe and a warm welcome. It seemed that when we played people were really interested. London Calling is great, it’s really good, I love the festival and I love the bands.

There are a lot of Britpop bands on the London Calling festival, but still you managed to stand out, what is your secret?

How we managed to stand out? Did we? Thank you! Probably it is just charm, charisma, good looks....I think that the thing with our band is that we have been on the other side of the stage so many times. We have watched bands and that made us know what we wanted to see on stage. When I see a band I would like to see that they want to be there and are happy to be there, I think that is a good thing.There is a voice for everyone if they would like to be there, but we try to be excited. If you stop turning yourself on then you should better stop doing it. Musically....
If you don’t enjoy playing yourself, you shouldn’t play in a band.

What is the relationship like between all those Britpop bands, is there like a lot of competition going on?

Well, not for us. A lot of bands though feel like it is a competition, but we just concentrate on our music and we play it for ourselves and for the people that want to hear our music and not for the other bands. It is too easy to get yourself upset with other bands. There is a lot of jealousy out there, but it is not too bad.

Are you very cultured people?

Are we very cultured? We are a bit more cultured than I think a lot of people think we are! It all depends on what you mean by cultured. I think that a lot of people think that all we do is bing the bells and making love to beautiful woman. But there is a lot more to it than that. We are definitely you know... SHIT! We’re not cultured at all! But in Belgium we went to that little boy (manneke pis). He pissed out a fire. I don’t get why he is so muscled, he is like six years old, it is impossible! On the other hand we knew about other venues and we like to go to places. But most people are not going to be too bothered by a museum or a capital. So no we’re not cultured at all...Shocking!

You’ve released the album: “Nothing worth having comes easy”. What are the main differences between “About what you know”and “Nothing worth having comes easy”?

With the first album we just wrote the songs and played them live. On that moment we never know that we would make an album out of it. With the second album we went to the studio, wrote the album and then played it live. Does that make sense? Completely the opposite way around. So many times you’ve got this songs on the album and you’re like shit how are we going to play that live? I think it is quite interesting doing it the other way around. I think that is a bit more mature. And maybe there are a bit more messages and deeper meaningful lyrics on the second album. With “About what you know” we just took the surface on life, but also we’ve had loads of stories on the first one about growing up and things like that. On the second one we couldn’t do it exactly the same. So we tried to change it, we tried to be little bit more mature and thoughtful. See, I’m f*cking cultured!

What things inspire you to write the lyrics?

It is about real life I think. About things that we’ve experienced and saw. But all the way trough the album we can say that it was worth it. It is quite cool.

If you could be a woman for one day, what would you do?

Stay in all day! Get as many pair of nice shoes and lingerie as I can. I would start the video camera and make my own solo masturbation. Would I find man attractive as I do woman? Would I be attracted to woman? Would I be a lesbian though? So yeah, I want to make love to another woman.

Wouldn’t you make love to a man?

No, I think I would still make love to a woman. But I don’t know what to do if it is a woman. I don’t know, if I like man like I like woman now as a man, then I’d go out and get lots of drinks in bars. But I wouldn’t give myself up, I would play hard to get. That’s like the weirdest question I’ve ever been asked!

If you were president of the United States, what would you do?

If I were president of the United States I would make a phone call to skin records and tell them that I would like to have Little Man Tate over here to do a massive tour. Then I would make a call to mayor radio stations and say: I love this band called Little Man Tate, I want you to play them! I would get free food, free drinks. Do you think they really need me when they’ve got him? I mean he’s good looking! Anyway, it is impossible, I would be kicked to the ground. If I were president of the United States it probably wouldn’t last much more than a day...

So I’ve heard that you would like to become the biggest band of the world, apart from the money, why would you like to achieve that?

We want the critical acclaim, we want what we should have had all along. I still do believe that we are one of the best bands in Britain in the last five/ten years. You know, we’ve sold out gigs, we’ve sold out tours, we’ve released records, but we’ve never really had the critical acclaim. We want to be respected and we want people to talk about us. Forgetting about the money, forgetting about everything else we just want to be recognized as a music force! But with the money I would also be very happy.

How far would you go to achieve that? Matthew, the lead singer of the Pigeon Detectives kissed two guys on stage. Would you do such crazy things just to get attention?

Who would kiss Matthew?! I wouldn’t kiss him, he’s not really my type...I probably wouldn’t kiss just to get attention, but maybe that gets you on radio, maybe that is not about the music anymore. It probably gets you magazines and radio airplays.

Are there any huge festivals planned this year?

Not yet, we’ve got this tour and we’ll have a gig in Sheffield in March, but that is as far as we’ve planned the gigs. Normally the festivals come in around March. We also have the third album to record as well, so we like to do a festival, but we don’t know how may time there is going to be needed to be recording and writing.
I bet she kissed Matthew!

NO! I really didn’t!

Yeah, because when I said those things about him she was like NAAAH... I feel awful now! No, he is a very good looking guy... If I would have that hair I would have it long, definitely! When I was about ten I wanted my hair permanent so much! But my mom is a hair cutter and she wouldn’t do it...

Do you have any tattoos?

Yeah I have six, this one means that something is going to change my world, it is from a Beatles lyric. But the minute I had it done I thought: Well that is bullshit! Cause lots of things changed my world! When I got my very first guitar, I took a picture of it and took it to the tattoo shop and I asked if she could do that.

What is your favorite guitar?

I like playing my Fender, but I like Telecasters as well. But my favorite guitar is my acoustic guitar with which I write the songs. Sometimes I do that when I’m in my room and then I get out at night, have a few drinks and write a song. My favorite guitar is my Taylor, nobody else can touch it, cause it is very expensive. I’ve got plugins too and amplifiers... How did we get from the tattoos to the guitars?

What is the weirdest thing a fan ever gave to you?

Toe socks, when we were in Japan.They were kind of weird! They were like foot gloves.

If this wasn’t your career what would you be?

Probably a politician. Or actually I would say a footballer. But if I wasn’t a footballer, what would I be? Than I would probably work for the government. Then I would get a big cheque!

Are there any more juicy details you would like to share with the Taters?

What happened so far? They’ve lost the key to the room in Belgium. We’ve played there with the Soulwasters, they are great, you should check them out! They could possibly be the nicest people in the world as well.

Jon: Do you have any questions guys?

Dan: What is your favorite food?

Everything! I love food. I would be quite happy if my life could be filled with food, beer and woman. Do you need anything more than that? Is there anything more than that? Why would you need woman if you’ve got all that? No actually you don’t need anything more than food and beer.

Interview with Attack! Attack!

Attack! Attack!

A fresh new hot Welsh band! A powerful name makes me wonder… The powerful songs make me want to dance! They have already toured with some famous bands like Underoath and the Blackout and they are about to leave for their next tour with Funeral For A Friend. With a hell lot of tour dates you might be able to catch them!!! Until then, turn up your speakers and listen to their amazing songs… http://www.myspace.com/attackattackband


Interview with Neil Starr from Attack! Attack!
Interviewed by Pearl Vink

You have a lot of gigs till the end of the year! How do you manage to survive that?


plenty of drugs! no just kidding, we are just running off pure adrenalin ! we love playing shows and meeting people, and the buzz it gives us keeps us going


A brand new start with a new amazing band…Does that mean the end of Dopamine?


Dopamine is resting right now, its impossible to do both bands at the same time , the other guys in dopamine are very supportive so its cool to know we can do attack attack with no pressure

What was it like to record and produce your debut album by Stuart and Mike of the Lostprophets?


It was cool to hang out with them everyday, we have been friends for a long time but dont get to see each other very often with them living in the US and us living in the UK . Recording in USA was cool too cos its very different to the UK especially the weather :D


The new album will be released the sixth of October, how would you describe the album?


its rocking, full of slamming drums , loads of melodies and harmonies, pumping bass lines! its very energetic and fun to listen too


What had been the influences for the album?


Musically - bands like Nirvana, Foo fighters, Jimmy eat world, ACDC , Linkin Park
Lyrically - life experiences we have had and seen others go through


A few days ago you have had a gig in Amsterdam, did you act like the typical rockstar does in Amsterdam?


Haha we did rock and roll , but stayed away from the sex and drugs haha we love the city , we had plenty of beer on the square, it was good times


What more can we expect from Attack! Attack! in the near future?


Well come see our live shows, its a different side to our band, we put in as much energy as we can and love to get the crowd involved. We are set to demo new songs at christmas , hopefully make a return trip to Europe mainland in April and play festivals in the summer :D

Vanilla Sky in Amsterdam...

I am already smiling when I think about it... It had been seriously the best concert I´ve ever been to! Panama is such a cosy venue and Vanilla Sky is such an amazing band! I am speechless... I decided not to go to early to this gig. So I arrived at seven ´o clock. Despite that I waited a long time for the band cause they were late. I had the best spot of all! between Brian and Vinx (the singers)... There were not a lot of people, I think maybe 35 or something. That made it even more fun, for me. I can imagine that Vanilla Sky would have liked some more audience. The audience was very silent, I think I was the only one screeming, dancing and singing along...I don't want to talk about the bands that supported Vanilla Sky, cause they suck sooo badly!!!!They were called 'so called celeste'and 'the maple room', well that's the only thing I'm saying about them. I was just shocked when the Vanillos came on stage, not that they did something special. It was just that I have been looking forward to the concert! And they look sooo good! As a joke I told my friends that they were only allowed to flirt with the bassist called Francesco (or cisco) and the drummer called Lucetto (or Luca). These Italian names are sooo beautiful don't you think? Well actually I told you it was a joke, but I was kind of serious about it. I prohibited them to wear skirts, heels or something like that and they were not allowed to make eyecontact or talk to them...I know I am sick, I should find help...It is just that I like Vanilla Sky sooo much! And I am a very jealous person...Vanilla Sky played incredibly well! I could sing along all the songs except for one cover they played of the Cardigans. Songs like Break it out, Devastante,letargo, Cut away and of course umbrella made me feel really good:)He almost kicked me several times, because I was really close to the stage! That was kind of scary, but I rather have a kick from Brian then from any one else;)Unfortunatly Vinx cut his hair, I liked it better before. Vinx does have the most beautiful voice I've ever heard, and that is not a lie! You should listen to the part where he sings in the song 'the fight', incredible;)!After the show I fell in love...with the whole band! I went to Brian first to ask for some autographs and a picture:) We talked about his holiday and Italy and yes, he has had a great holiday on the seaside of Italy! After talking to him I went to Francesco (Cisco) and I said: My sister is in love with you! She is six... No no not a lie, she told me herself, she keeps saying Francesco is sooo romantic!!! He asked how old I am and stupid as I am, I didn't lie... I made a picture with him and he stood on a seat cause he didn't want to look smaller than me... I was a lot taller than him ...Then I talked to Luca, the drummer. Sometimes being tall really sucks, it's usually the first thing people say to me! Luca said that it only had advantages, he said I could be a model and he could only drum. Then he and Cisco almost started kissing, really weird, with their lips like one inch away from each other. I looked at Cisco like what are you doing?? he told me that he and Luca were like brothers...I know that Italian people are close with families and stuff, but this was strange:S Then he and Luca started talking in Italian, the only thing I could say on that was: Italian is a beautiful language... On which he answered 'Do you speak Italian?' No I just know a few words..like Come estai (or something like that), ciao, ciao bello, ciao bella... Then hen said Pizza and something I really didn't understand.. I asked him what he told me, but he said he really couldn't say that to me..Well then you really make me curious! Please tell me? Come on tell me? Cisco said it again in German, but that isn't my best languange either... Finally Cisco told me that Luca said that he has well...a big penis:S That wasn't the kind of information I wanted to know, and I didn't believe it to. So I asked Luca to write it on a paper, he couldn't do that. So he wrote it on my arm: Sei una bella ragazza... I checked it at home, it means you're a beautiful girl, I am very flattered, but I don't believe it is the thing he told me before... Ha but I was soooo happy after and during the concert!!Everything had been perfect. A perfect end to a perfect concert:) Like a fairy tail, we lived happy ever after:)!

Lostprophets are Heaven!!

I love the Lostprophets....I do I do I do! Especially Ian Watkins, he is really one of the hottest guys alive. But enough of that, lets tell you about last Thursday, the day the Lostprophets came to my town... It was 11 ´o clock in the morning and I was sooo crazy to stand in front of the Melkweg at that time. Appearantly I wasn´t the only crazy one over there cause there had been people that stood there since half past six that morning:S So I went to the Melkweg and at first I was afraid to stand over there cause the faces on the emos there told me something like stupid bimbo get out of here you don't belong here you're just here for the Ian Watkins or the fact that rockmusic is hot in fashion nowadays. After an hour I decided to sit there anyway, instead of walking around doing nothing. I could see that they didn't like me, but after a while I didn't care anymore. I was soooo cheerful and those people looked like they had just seen an environmental disaster. I grabbed my mathematics book, cause I would have a very important test the next day. It looked kinda sully, bit geeky, but I was determinded to get a good grade. At half past 12 my friend Natasha came and that was kind of a relief since I didn't have to be alone with the grumpies anymore. At half past two the bus arrove, I ws soooo thrilled. Stuart, Ilan, Lee, Jamie and Mike came out first, but I didn't pay any attention to them. Although I couldn't keep my eyes of Stu's bare but, it seems to be the latest fashion according to the Lostprophets, to wear the pants half way the but and wear no underpants. After 10 minutes or something Ian arrove, he got out of the bus and my heart missed a beat or two... His hair had grown, he wasn't as tall as I thought he would be and he was a little bit skinnier than I thought. I think that he lost some weight. It may be strange but I liked him more with a little bit more fat and I hoped he would be taller. Actually all with all I was a bit disappoited, I aslo saw some grey hairs! So I checked his age when I was at home, he is almost 31! Still he looked very good!I got an autograph and a picture with Ian Watkins can you believe that!?! Then he got inside with his huge Louis Vuiton bag and styish outfit: White skinnyjeans, shoes, that used to be white (I think), a light coloured shirt with some neklaces over it. So there I sat still waiting for the concert four hours to go... Then we heard that the rest of the Lostprophets went to a terras on the Leidseplein and so we went their for some autographs and pictures. They were really nice, adorable! Unfortunately Ian wasn't there cause he was a bit ill:( Poor Ian... When the doors finally opened we went inside with high speed! I got second row, which was perfect, cause I am like a head taller then all the girls in the front. First the band Seether came, which I also had a picture with some hours ago... The band was quite good, but I really coudn't wait till the Lostprophets! They played a Nirvana song which I found very cool! But enough about Seether! The moment was finally there...Lostprophets!!! When Jamie came on stage I realised that I didn't recognised him before cause his hair grow long and turned blond...I mean blonder than blond! When Ian arrove I screemed my heart out! Although I have seen them already four times, this time felt like it was the first time...The started with the song We still kill the old way, which was a perfect song to start with. Powerfull, perfect...The second song ride was one of my favourite songs, an oldie just like the first one. Ian talked a lot, something I really like, it makes the show special and Ian is sooo funny! I think he has talked about his new haircut for like five minutes... And now the moment were all girls will be soooo jealous at me.... Ian took his shirt off!!! His shirt, out, topless! All my dissapointments dissapeared! Ian is Heaven! More than heaven! I was hard to face the fact that I couldn't touch him, till the moment at the end of the show. They started with the great song Burn Burn the song were I cried the last time, tears of happieness! This time he took his neklace off and I knew that he was going to jump! And of course right in my arms, I didn't let him go! NO! I grabbed and hold, his back on my cheek, his belly in my arms, what a great combination! I touched him everywere! Than he stood right in front of me, thirty red nails rubbing his stomach, a very funny sight... It had been an amazing show, soooo awesome! The audience had been very enthousiast and the Lostprophets to. It had been one of the best concerts ever! Especially when I caught a drumstick with Ilan's name on it <3 I aslo caught Ian's water bottle and a pick! What a lucky bastard;) I can't wait for their new album, they played some of the new songs and those were amazing just like all of their songs! I really hope to see the Lostprophets soon again, not only Ian, they are all amazing! The best superstars in world without a doubt!

Vanilla Sky...

You probably know the song ´Umbrella´.... Vanilla Sky is the super fantastic band that gave a new rocking dimension to this song! It is rocking like never before en the video is sooooo funny! They are making fun of little popprincess Rihanna, but I am sure that even she could laugh about it!I mean, face it, everybody would like to see the guys from Vanilla Sky in miniskirts and high heels?! Dancing trough tins of water, so that you can see their thongs! Okay...I can imagine that you might get strange ideas of this band, if you have never heard of them before... But as you might know, I kinda like crazy bands;) So reasons enouph for me to go to the concert! Finally it was Saturdaynight, the day that I had been waiting for the whole week! I had been confident that it wouldn't be very busy, but that had been a wrong suggestion... There I stood in the huge row in front of the Melkweg, next to the tourbus. Words were written into the dust of the tourbus. Things like:Bella Brian... I coundn't agree more...When I looked next to me I saw...You wouldn't believe this... Vincenzo, or Vinx how he is liked to be called. My friend also arrived that moment and she immidiately went to him with the question: Can she have a picture with you? So I went on a picture with Vinx next to all the fans. I found it very stange that I was the only one paying attention to him. My English also lowered to a level of 0, so I couldn't even chat with him a little! I could only say 'thank you', wait, did I even say that??? Shortly after that, the doors opened. We took a look at the merchandise and there I made a huge blooper! I listened to the supportband on myspace and I did not like that a lot...So at the merchandise I screamed to my friend pointing to a teeshirt of them: That band really really sucks!! The 'Better Offs 'are really awfull!!! That moment the guy in front me said: This band is really good actually...I am the manager! Ooops...I quicky went into the hall. At eight thirty the band the Better Offs started and I have to say that with my eyes closed it wasn't even that bad! It actually sounded kinda good! The songs contained a lot of energy and the singer had a really good punk rock sound. But the moment I opened my eyes I could see again that it was a beginning Dutch band. If I had been their manager I would at least give them some skinny jeans! they would take an example of the good looking Italian guys of Vanilla Sky. Vanilla Sky looked great, amazing! They played all my favourite songs like: On and On, break it out, letargo, get away and the beautiful Devastante. Also a few oldies like Umbrella, beat it, a thousand miles and during the time that the drums failed, Vinx imprivised a part of Oasis' Wonderwall. During 'a housand miles', Brian was convinced that we could sing a lot better than he does, so he invited 2 girls on stage to sing a song of Blink 182. The girls sucked...But I guess I would have done it even worse. Despite that their only Dutch words had been: Neuken in de keuken...(which means fucking in the kitchen) It had been one of the best concerts I have ever been to! The music had been great!They looked awesome and they had been very good connected to the audience, they made eyecontact and communicate a lot! And of course the constant laugh of Brian.... Heavenly;) Proud with a caught pick and a drumstick I waited for the artists to come. After a while I saw Brian! He had been very nice. I got a photo and a autograph from him. And groupie likely as I am, I wanted to get more attention;)So I bought him a beer, he had been very surprised and thought in first instance that he could only have a sip. At that moment my friends started shouting that I should kiss him...Yeah, right, like I dare to do that! So a friend of mine went to him and asked if he wanted to give me a kiss! And he did, for like 20 seconds!But after that I saw Vinx standing, so I quicky gave him a kiss on the cheek and went of to Vinx;)I asked Vinx an autograph and he wrote beneath it: Most beautiful eyes I've met in all Holland!!! Maybe you can imagine that I felt very very very happy that moment! After that he didn't mind going on a picture with me again. Due to his enormous sidebeards I didn't dare to kiss him on the cheek... I could talk about this concert forever on and on.... But I think you get the picture;) Vinx, Brian, Francesco and Luca are real rockstars and I just can't get enouph of them!

Velvet revolver the last fight.....ever:(

I am totally shocked!!!! When I googled to get some information for this review about Velvet revolver in Amsterdam, I came to find that they are breaking up!!! I've just seen their last concert ever:( It is really a shame, cause I hoped to see this great band more often, but obviously that is not going to happen:( Scott Weiland, singer of the band announced at the gig in Glasgow that they were watching a very special show....A show of the last tour of Velvet Revolver. The band had been shocked that moment, but things weren't going very well between the guys. This had been also very obvious on stage. They were a great awesome spectaculair band, one like I've never seen before....but something was missing, and now I know what! They weren't enjoying it!! They didn't smile or looked happy and now I understand why! You should read what these guys have been saying about their bandmates, it's right here in this article: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1583956/20080324/velvet_revolver.jhtml?rsspartner=rssColdFusion Plus, Scott and (I guess some of (or all) of the other bandmates) have serious drugs problems! Scott has just been out of rehad just before this tour! So I guess I should be happy that they didn't cancelled this tour... I think that the biggest problem in their band is....They all have a huge huge HUGE ego!!! And that just doesn't work...If you see them perform, you get the point... Slash is an amazing guitarist, really the best guitarist of the world!!! But the problem is that he knows that makes him stand more in the middle than the Scott does...And that makes him play at least one or two guitarsolos in one song....And that makes him always want to end the song!!....And (I have to say I was in for that) that makes him play a (at least) five minute guitarsolo, which was awesome (btw).....He totally blew the other bandmates away and that is very ego! The question though is....Is it okay what Slash is doing? I mean he is the best guitar player there is, so is he allowed to be have a huge ego?! Tell me what you think! But of course it is not only Slash' fault...Because they are all bandmates from huge former bands:Guns n' Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, they are frustrated that they are not as succesfull as they used to be...I mean they didn't even sold out the show in Amsterdam...Their last ever show! And it is not even a very big hall!!! A lot of people might think that these guys are old farts now, but that is totally not true! They play real rock and roll, I even think that they are better than Guns n' Roses, they are more underground:)They played almost all their best songs, exept for Spectacles:( They even played some of the Guns n' Roses songs like 'Have al little patience'. Slash played on a lot of different guitars, one of them of course the Gibson Les Paul! The start had been weird..After waiting an hour after a strange band called Sons of Aboil (or something like that) they finally arrove on a hip hop song:P Well they set it straight after that point...They are a selection of the best bandplayers of the world, so sure they make technical awesome music!The sound in the beginning wasn't very good, but that wasn't their fault. The crowd had been very boring and old...(I'm sorry..) The band seems not to attract the youth a lot...But I think that has not to do with their music, their music is ageless, original and energetic...I think it has to do with their attitude, Velvet Revolver is the kind of band, you expect trouble of! They have huge ego's, do not smile a lot, and seem to have not a lot of interest in what they are doing...The youth seems to chose performances above music these days and I think bands just have to go with that! We like to see hot young Ian Watkinskindofmen with nice clothes, movements, smiles and especially pleasure on stage. But I am really going to miss Velvet revolver and I will play their record again and again and again and again and..... Well...It did surprised me that yesterday they didn't say anything about that this would be their last show, should we still have a little hope? I hope so...

This is a part of the awesome solo Slash played, I've never heard such a great guitarsolo in my life before....

The Wombats in Amsterdam!!!

I LOVE the Wombats!!! What an amazing band! Two days ago I saw them in concert. I went early cause I wanted to be in the front. So right after school I went to the 'Melkweg', it was 4 o'clock but their were only six people in front of the door..So I thaught I might get to eat something first. I ate a pizza and at six o' clock we went back to the concerthall. We walked and suddenly I saw a guy with funny hair and red sun glasses (it was snowing..). Then I realised it was Murph!!!The singer!!! So I directly looked for the rest of the band, and yes, they were walking after him:) I was shocked, sooo long have I waited for this concert and sooo long I had been lokking forward to it. This moment.... I whispered to my friend: They are the band! That is TORD!!! And she directly went like: Is that TORD?! On a very loud tone... So, I know it's bad, but we went stalking them...My friend wasn't that much experienced as I am, so she walked like three meters behind them, taking pictures with het mobile, and I was 20 meters behind them on the other side of the road...They went to a place were they got a photoshoot with a chessboard, in the snow;) After that they went back to the concerthall, were they got in and we had to wait before it in the snow:( After waiting one and a half hour, we finally got in...but still had to wait for an hour inside, although there the temperature had been more likely....The first band started, a Dutch band called the Hype. The Hype had been okay. The singer was a great performer (for Dutch terms). They have really catchy nice songs that perfectly fit the audience. The guy that played the keyboard was really really weird, he looked and acted like he was totally wasted. Sometimes that just makes an artist funny, but this time it was just horrible to see, cause you see that it is just a beginning band. Beginning bands first need to prove themselves, before going nuts! Exept for the keyboarder and the bassist, was the band fine. They played a cover of the Beatles, which the audience dearly appriciated. The played for half an hour and at half past nine the Wombats came finally!!! Although I had seen them just a few hours ago, it felt like I haven't seen them in decades!!! I screemed my hart out! They started with 'Lost in the post', a very good cheerful song! A great starter:) During the show they played all of their best songs, like 'School uniforms', ' Moving to New York,' Backfire at the disco', ' My first wedding','Little miss pipedream', 'Here comes the anxiety,'Patricia the stripper', 'Kill the director', 'Party in a forest' and of course 'Lets dance to joy division'!!!! Tord also performed his Postman Pat in Norwegian, wich was very cute!!The Wombats are just sooo original! You might think that this is the next of a thousand crappy Britpop bands, but that is totally not true! The funny thing about the Wombats is that the lyrics are actually a little depressing , but due to the melody and the o o o's from Tord it sounds sooo cheerful!!! That is also what they are trying to tell with the song 'Lets dance to joy division', they are trying to say, that although joy division is a depressing band, you should make a joke out of it and dance on it! Which I think is a wonderful thought, look at the bright side of life, whatever happens, keep smiling;) Not all their songs are as brilliant as 'Lets dance to joy division', but the important thing is, that they grew a lot compared to a few years ago! The Wombats make a joke out of everything, but I believe that especially the singer has also a darker side, wich brings a great performance and great lyrics;) And that is probably why this concert had been sold out really early!!! I don't know if they were totally wasted, stoned or just themselves, one thing is for certain, they totally rocked the stage. Everthing was perfect! At the end Tord and Dan jumped into the stage. I caught Tord and he almost fell, but I managed to get him up;) After that Murph kicked the keyboard into the audience, people were really fighting for it! I did not, cause I already had a lot trouble keeping Tords waterbottle for myself;) The big rockout ended with some crazy jelling from Murph and Dan. And then I knew.... This had been one of my best concerts ever! (After Deep Insight and the Lostprophets). Althought it is not the heaviest rock ever, the Wombats rock harder then enyone else;)!! After the show my friend wanted to leave right away...But I had other plans... If you bought a single or a cd you woud get a afterparty bracelet, which alowes you to have a meet and greet!!! And even though my friend didn't want to go, I got two bracelets for the price of one;) I begged her to come with me and finally she agreed to go for ten minutes...The problem was, the band came after an half an hour:O She was not happy with me at all.... I know..I should think a little more about my friends at a concert and a little less about the band...But NO I am not willing to change myself:P I got a photo and authographes, but not from Tord, cause he wasn't there:( And I got a really special authograph, cause Murph wrote under it 'But to the lizard of my own hell!!!' What the hell does that mean???!!! Please if you know, tell me what it means!!! And I was the only one with that:) In the army a Wombat means a waste of money brains and time, but that is definitely not what they are!! They had been worth all my money, brains and time!!! They are my favourite marsupials ever, and if that means I have to be the lizard of his own hell....Well I'll go for it;)

Marsupial love







XO

30 seconds to mars in Amsterdam...

After waiting 5 and a half hour, I decided not to wait for my friend anymore and walk to the concert hall, called Heineken music hall. And I asure you that is a long walk!!! I walked for one hour and almost there I arrove at the side of the Heineken music hall. I was about to cross the street when a big and very expensive car crossed my side I looked in it and the first thing I saw was a man with a black lok and a woman sitting next to him... he looked like Tomo Milicevic (the guitarist) and above that he was driving to the back of the Heineken Music Hall... I was not completely sure that he was it, or actually I was pretty sure, but I was completely in shock... And guess what..He waved at me!!! I was totally dressed into the dresscode, with red clothes and all and I was looking so shocked that he might have recognised me as a 30 seconds to mars fan;) I cannot blame him... But stupid as I am, totally shocked, I completely forgot to wave back...Okay after my surprising meeting I went on to what I didn't expect a immense big row... I planned to be there at 3 'o clock, but after some misunderstandings, it became 6 'o clock when I arrived. My friends immidiately got some fries for me cause I couldn't walk any much farther. I quickly went to the bathroom in the cinema next to it and I suprisely saw another row on that side of the building as well, this row was even bigger! After half an hour the doors opened, people were running, like they were running for a bullet, to the inside! So what did I do? Yes gave my coat to my friend and ran for my life! I went together with one of my friends and the rest went to the garderobe, we were supposed to reserve a nice spot, where we had a great view at Jared leto. We did found a great spot, but the other friends became unable to reach for us...I really think that they could have tried harder, but well we went a litlle bit to the back... The fist support act started, a stupid Dutch band called make believe, the singer had a very strange way of moving and they had some good songs, but as you might know, you don´t have to expect a lot of a Dutch band... I mean lets be honest, I don´t want to disrespect my own country, but we only have shit bands over here. Name one good Dutch band...maybe Anouk, but we will not come any furter and above that...I don´t really like bands with women...Sorry! I just like to hear a mans voice and they are more tougher as well...I am a woman and as a woman I just like to see a man perform;) But I don't think that that is just a womans issue, Ian(Lostprophets) also once said it!But I am getting off the subject...O I remember, the supportbands! The next supportband was well....very embarassing, I don't know the name...And I am not willing to look it up for you now as well. It was something German, a kind of electric sort of thing, bit strange but kinda funny! Mostly funny because they were totally tripping!!! At least the singer was, or he must have been a brilliant performer... It wasn't really my kind of music, but I could appreciate it, mostly because of the show they gave. When they finished, I of course screemed my heart out, to prepare my longs for 30 seconds to mars;) But a lot of people were jelling this band out! I never have seen this happen, and I felt very sorry for the band... The waiting became deadly, it became hot and I needed to drink something, but I was unable to leave the audience, cause I would lose my spot... Then my friend fainted, I didn't see it happening, but certain was that she needed to go out of this pushing and sweating mass. Luckily she didn't mind me staying in the front and two of my other friends went to the tribune with her. My other friend who was still with me was having her doubts as well to be standing in the front of a rockconcert, it had been her first rockconcert and she is quite claustrofobic. Finally the concert started! They have had the most impessive start I've ever seen! I don't really know how to explain it, there was like a white curtain before the stage and when they came up you could see all there shadows. They came up with that song, I don't know what it is called, but boxers also use it a lot. After 4 minutes of shadows, a green light appeared and you couldn't even see the cutain fall, but suddenly the band was in front of you! Wow that was a nice special effect! I thought that the started with one of their untitled tracks "Battle of One", but I am not sure... It was just a great opening! But then....my other and last friend that was still with me freaked out, she jelled Pearl please help me, please go with me to the back, I can't go out of here alone, I won't manage! And well, I was like please, please let me stand here, I waited too long for this concert, you can't do this to me! yes, I know, I should have gone with her, it was very mean of me to stay, you can't do that to a friend, she was sooo scared! I still doubted and a few seconds later I couldn't see her anymore I looked everywhere, but she was gone...I send her a sms to say that I was really sorry, but she already found the rest and said that it was no big deal. Jared looked even better than normal! His beard was finally shaved, his hair was nice cut and he had a nice leather jacket on, which he kept on the whole show! He must have had something to hide, cause it was bloody hot over there. They played all the great songs, songs like the kill, from yesterday, attack, was it a dream?, battle of one and some others...then they just left. I was like: If this is it, I never go to one of their concerts again...But of course they came back, first only Jared leto and he played an acoustic sesion, that was soo incredibly beautiful! he played capricorn, the story and a modern myth acoustic. When he started to sing a modern myth everybody was singing along, but not like they usually do, no really beautiful! It sounded like some kind of choir! Luckily they were still not finished after the acoustic session. The played some other songs and Jared and Tomo started wearing bunny ears, looked pretty cute;) And finally they were playing the mission! One of my favourite songs I had not hear yet. They ended with the fantasy, a great song, from which the lyrics were also on my back...I made a shirt with on the back: Do you live, do you die, do you bleed, for the fantasy. This concert was definately worth the money! And it is a shame that it is over already:( Jared had not been as crazy as he was in Utrecht last year, he didn't crowdsurf often (only once a little bit) and because it had been in the big heineken music hall, it wasn't a really personal concert, but I can't blame them for being soooo famous. It does have to do something with the quality. They have been amazing! An all star band!!!!!!