I was really expecting the Summer Darkness weekend.
Holland's crowds have always loved us, so I was expecting another nice gig.
Lots of friendly bands were playing, plus a couple I was really expecting to finally see live, and I was also looking forward to meet and work with Kees.
All my expectations were completely fulfilled in the end, because it has been a weekend to remember.
I arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol on friday's afternoon, after having had to check in my laptop [buried between my clothes and safely stored in its Vanguard hard case] due to the bomb's scare of the previous day, which left me worrying a little about its safety. Everything went ok, even if my luggage arrived after a whole 45 mins waiting at the belt... I was already wondering if there were some kind of curse going on, remembering WGT and the Russian tour.
I arrive at the hotel, and after a shower, we reached Tivoli Oudegracht for the Faderhead's and VNV Nation's gigs: FH was pretty cool on stage, even if he had some problems with his mic and I really did not like the addition of acoustic drums, they kinda killed the groove on many songs... an electronic kit would have suited them way better.
VNV Nation's gig has been special for me... despite some tech problems, again, they played lots of songs for the first albums, which will always hold a special place in my heart, and that left me happy.
Plus, I watched all the gig with my friend Roberta, both completely drunk, and remembering past times/sharing little secrets with each other
Plus ..2, I finally got to meet Peddy from Neuwerk, Unter Null's manager, and not only he seemed to me like a really nice and professional guy, but he also seemed really dedicated to the band.
The rest of the night was spent dancing till 3 am, where I decided to try and sleep a bit back at the hotel.
Alcohol Level for Day ..1: 7/10
Waking up at noon, I suddently realised I did not eat a single thing the day before, so I played it sensible and went to the Central Station/Mall to get lunch... there I met with Jokke, the light engineer that I met years ago when we did the IOC/A23 support, and that works with every big band in the scene, and we went for a loooooong discussion/gossiping about everyone over a King Size Whopper Menu at the local Burger King, the ONLY food store in the whole mall who also had tables and seats.
After that, I leave to reach Tivoli De Helling and see Reaper... which left me with a sour taste in my mouth: I just LOVE the project on CD, but Vasi as a frontman really did not convince me, and also the vocals/effects on top of the instrumental tracks need a lot of work in my opinion. Still it's like his third gig, so there's surely space for improving.
I left immediately after the gig, and reached the Tivoli Oudegracht again to meet with Jos, Marc and the rest of the Grendel's posse.
That's where things started to get blurry, and they would not have gone on focus anymore for the remainder of the weekend
In the backstage, we chatted about everything, and from time to time I drooled over the impressive amount of analogue instruments Welle:Erdball were preparing for their set.
arrived as well mid-afternoon, and that obviously meant more drinking.
Watched the Grendel's gig, which was impressive as usual... can't wait now to play with them in Athens the upcoming 11th of October, the new song "Harsh Generation" is going to be a new dancefloor killer.
Backstage again, this time to meet with DJ Cyberchrist, DJ Hive, and the Moonspell guys, and suddently Andy and Shaun arrive as well: which meant, MORE drinking.
Combichrist go on stage, Paul tells me our friend Valerio arrived from Amsterdam with some Fear & Loathing, and things go from very drunk to completely fucking wasted, but in a good way of course... Andy played a new song as well, I guess the title is "Electrohead" but I am not sure, and hey that's another hit, can't wait to spin it in my sets.
The rest is blurry, and I bet you understand why.
Alcohol Level for Day ..2: 9/10
Bonus F&L: achieved.
Waking up the third day was a difficult task, but somehow I managed to do it.
We had to be at the Oudegracht at 12.30, and I arrived almost on time, meeting with Marko and Francesca.
Then, we waited the usual hour for our frontman to show up... but everything was cool, so I panicked less than the usual.
Soundcheck went fine... playing as the first band is not that bad after all, you even get to have a soundcheck, and after the WGT experience, and since we still are without our own sound engineer, I really liked it... plus, the tech guys were cool and nice.
Right before the gig, I finally talk with Kees, the festival organisers, with whom in the past there has been some friction due to third parties spreading shits and gossips: he turned out to be a really nice and professional guy: the day was going just perfect.
Backstage, we get into discussions about music, strippers and drugs with the guys from Inertia, and of course we drink... but I guess I don't need to remind you that every time now, do I?
We go on stage.
It's 3 am.
On a Sunday.
After 2 days of festival.
I thought everyone would have been sleeping.
The place was full. Not packed, granted, but nicely full of people dancing their asses off and screaming and applauding after every track.
We had just 35 mins, so we slam them hard with all the dancier tracks.
Nice gig, once more Holland is THE place to play in for us.
At the merchandise booth, things go crazy as we sell lots of stuff, sign CDs, and meet nice people... among them,DJ 23, at last!
Backstage again, this time to realise the merch guy for Inertia is one of the members of SPK and Current 93 [omg ..1], and to talk a bit with mr. Bill Leeb in person [omg ..2].
Then out to see Stromkern, who put out a nice show, and the much anticipated Front Line Assembly gig, which was... dunno... I like it, but mr.Leeb seemed really bored and not really there.
XPQ-21 arrive, and I get to chat with Jeyenne again, in Italian of course: the guy is great, and he puts out an AMAZING performance... go and see them if you have the occasion.
After the gigs end, we stay for the afterparty.
After the afterparty ends, the Grendels bring me to pub nearby, where me and sensibly decide to destroy ourselves, sponsored by Jaegermeister.
Things like "Mi Scusify You" starts to happen, followed by DJ Pruttelpower [I think?] asking me if I have any intimate piercings, and trying to convince me to get one before leaving the Netherlands.
I thought we stayed there forever... but I have only flashes of the whole "experience"
Alcohol Level for Day ..3: 23/10
I could tell you how HARD was waking up, getting everything ready and leave for Italy the next day, but I'm sure you can imagine it.
WHEN CAN I START IT ALL AGAIN??? null
Holland's crowds have always loved us, so I was expecting another nice gig.
Lots of friendly bands were playing, plus a couple I was really expecting to finally see live, and I was also looking forward to meet and work with Kees.
All my expectations were completely fulfilled in the end, because it has been a weekend to remember.
I arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol on friday's afternoon, after having had to check in my laptop [buried between my clothes and safely stored in its Vanguard hard case] due to the bomb's scare of the previous day, which left me worrying a little about its safety. Everything went ok, even if my luggage arrived after a whole 45 mins waiting at the belt... I was already wondering if there were some kind of curse going on, remembering WGT and the Russian tour.
I arrive at the hotel, and after a shower, we reached Tivoli Oudegracht for the Faderhead's and VNV Nation's gigs: FH was pretty cool on stage, even if he had some problems with his mic and I really did not like the addition of acoustic drums, they kinda killed the groove on many songs... an electronic kit would have suited them way better.
VNV Nation's gig has been special for me... despite some tech problems, again, they played lots of songs for the first albums, which will always hold a special place in my heart, and that left me happy.
Plus, I watched all the gig with my friend Roberta, both completely drunk, and remembering past times/sharing little secrets with each other
Plus ..2, I finally got to meet Peddy from Neuwerk, Unter Null's manager, and not only he seemed to me like a really nice and professional guy, but he also seemed really dedicated to the band.
The rest of the night was spent dancing till 3 am, where I decided to try and sleep a bit back at the hotel.
Alcohol Level for Day ..1: 7/10
Waking up at noon, I suddently realised I did not eat a single thing the day before, so I played it sensible and went to the Central Station/Mall to get lunch... there I met with Jokke, the light engineer that I met years ago when we did the IOC/A23 support, and that works with every big band in the scene, and we went for a loooooong discussion/gossiping about everyone over a King Size Whopper Menu at the local Burger King, the ONLY food store in the whole mall who also had tables and seats.
After that, I leave to reach Tivoli De Helling and see Reaper... which left me with a sour taste in my mouth: I just LOVE the project on CD, but Vasi as a frontman really did not convince me, and also the vocals/effects on top of the instrumental tracks need a lot of work in my opinion. Still it's like his third gig, so there's surely space for improving.
I left immediately after the gig, and reached the Tivoli Oudegracht again to meet with Jos, Marc and the rest of the Grendel's posse.
That's where things started to get blurry, and they would not have gone on focus anymore for the remainder of the weekend
In the backstage, we chatted about everything, and from time to time I drooled over the impressive amount of analogue instruments Welle:Erdball were preparing for their set.
arrived as well mid-afternoon, and that obviously meant more drinking.
Watched the Grendel's gig, which was impressive as usual... can't wait now to play with them in Athens the upcoming 11th of October, the new song "Harsh Generation" is going to be a new dancefloor killer.
Backstage again, this time to meet with DJ Cyberchrist, DJ Hive, and the Moonspell guys, and suddently Andy and Shaun arrive as well: which meant, MORE drinking.
Combichrist go on stage, Paul tells me our friend Valerio arrived from Amsterdam with some Fear & Loathing, and things go from very drunk to completely fucking wasted, but in a good way of course... Andy played a new song as well, I guess the title is "Electrohead" but I am not sure, and hey that's another hit, can't wait to spin it in my sets.
The rest is blurry, and I bet you understand why.
Alcohol Level for Day ..2: 9/10
Bonus F&L: achieved.
Waking up the third day was a difficult task, but somehow I managed to do it.
We had to be at the Oudegracht at 12.30, and I arrived almost on time, meeting with Marko and Francesca.
Then, we waited the usual hour for our frontman to show up... but everything was cool, so I panicked less than the usual.
Soundcheck went fine... playing as the first band is not that bad after all, you even get to have a soundcheck, and after the WGT experience, and since we still are without our own sound engineer, I really liked it... plus, the tech guys were cool and nice.
Right before the gig, I finally talk with Kees, the festival organisers, with whom in the past there has been some friction due to third parties spreading shits and gossips: he turned out to be a really nice and professional guy: the day was going just perfect.
Backstage, we get into discussions about music, strippers and drugs with the guys from Inertia, and of course we drink... but I guess I don't need to remind you that every time now, do I?
We go on stage.
It's 3 am.
On a Sunday.
After 2 days of festival.
I thought everyone would have been sleeping.
The place was full. Not packed, granted, but nicely full of people dancing their asses off and screaming and applauding after every track.
We had just 35 mins, so we slam them hard with all the dancier tracks.
Nice gig, once more Holland is THE place to play in for us.
At the merchandise booth, things go crazy as we sell lots of stuff, sign CDs, and meet nice people... among them,DJ 23, at last!
Backstage again, this time to realise the merch guy for Inertia is one of the members of SPK and Current 93 [omg ..1], and to talk a bit with mr. Bill Leeb in person [omg ..2].
Then out to see Stromkern, who put out a nice show, and the much anticipated Front Line Assembly gig, which was... dunno... I like it, but mr.Leeb seemed really bored and not really there.
XPQ-21 arrive, and I get to chat with Jeyenne again, in Italian of course: the guy is great, and he puts out an AMAZING performance... go and see them if you have the occasion.
After the gigs end, we stay for the afterparty.
After the afterparty ends, the Grendels bring me to pub nearby, where me and sensibly decide to destroy ourselves, sponsored by Jaegermeister.
Things like "Mi Scusify You" starts to happen, followed by DJ Pruttelpower [I think?] asking me if I have any intimate piercings, and trying to convince me to get one before leaving the Netherlands.
I thought we stayed there forever... but I have only flashes of the whole "experience"
Alcohol Level for Day ..3: 23/10
I could tell you how HARD was waking up, getting everything ready and leave for Italy the next day, but I'm sure you can imagine it.
WHEN CAN I START IT ALL AGAIN??? null