@ 't Hoeske, Belgium. March 2 2002
Darlington, Travoltas, the Apers, Dirtshakes, the Lulabelles, Wiseguy, Granny's Hemroids
The
bands' reputation and the work done by Stefan at Stardumb Records, prompted
me to travel from far away to Belgium to catch this punk rock party, in a cute
village straight out of a Stephen King novel: Gierle. I wasn't the only one.
People had come from everywhere to party together: punk rockers, freaks, teenagers,
night trippers and r 'n' r travellers.Granny's Hemroids (that's poetic, huh?), start the fight against silence with a kind of Dwarves attitude, silly sex-addicted punk rock. Stupid fast songs, just as we like them sometimes. In a few minutes, it's done. Come on, men!! We need more songs to party...
The Lulabelles (pictured right) are a band that rocked many places in France on their first tour and have a new drummer. He is a guy (lucky guy, grrr), Simon, and also plays in a band called the Ragin' Hormones. He replaced Joke, a pretty and friendly young woman who decided to quit the band. (My respect, Madame).
The Lulabelles' setlist was 11 tunes. They played songs from their EP on Stardumb, "El Camino", "Punkrock Show" and songs we've heard before on tour like "Lovesong". These are songs for R 'n' R radio! Think Surfpunkrock'n'roll with girls' singing swirling around you. Wow...
We need them on TV too! If only they could take their best 13 songs and make a LP - it would be a killer album. They already have their own style, good vocals with harmonies, pretty lyrics, nice attitude, and they plan to release a new single soon. You won't stop them. Just imagine Charlie's Angels playin' in a R'n'R
band.
You think it's a dream? That's not a dream...They are special. THAT IS NO BLA-BLA.Wiseguy (right), another Dutch band, is more into a kind of Hellacopters trip. They could be seen as Powder Monkeys-alike band, or you can think Brother Brick.
They seem to be so young, especially one of the guitar players, and they have so many good ideas. You can already see the enjoyment on their faces as they pull out electrified solos and Heartbreakers-style riffs. Their debut single is on Stardumb, of course, and it's called "Pull the Cup".
Who told me to not miss the Dirtshakes? I can't remember, but he was wise.
Real Aussie fans will appreciate this devoted band that covers the Fun Things ("When the Birdmen Fly") and Radio Birdman "Do the Pop". They also move so much on stage, especially the bass player in the Hawaïan shirt (below right) who played his instrument on my back while I was crouching on the floor. Jenz, the singer and guitar player, gave us an energy-packed set, a non-stop show of craziness.
I thought the Apers would have trouble finding a receptive audience after this blitz...God I was so wrong!!
This is another band you have to see live. I thought all kinds of things about them, maybe "too much Ramones", but as i write down those lines, I play this gig all over again in my head, and I have to admit they are a fuckin' good band. Our Dutch stars, who have a videoclip on TV now
from
the single "Eyes Wide Open" brought us to a peak so high that I had
to put my camera in its bag to keep it safe from the undertow behind me. Their songs are Ramones-influenced - they all start with "1, 2, 3, 4" - but the more they play, the more they get out of this influence. Jerry, one the guitar players, has got such an easy rapport with the audience.
They are the best Dutch band up to now, I guess, and I really wish them to be one of the best European bands ever. The Apers are a band you have to know. They'll do more gigs, they'll do more LPs, ad we'll have them around for a long time... I'm so damn sure of that. Did I hear a rumor about the Apers? Something like they could be on the next SXSW festival?? "Hey ho let's go", then.
And Travoltas? And Darlington? Ooops! They played.. Yeah! People told me! But i have to admit I couldn't resist to the Tiki Bar on the other side of the village, and I had to check (with the assistance of beers) whether I really have a Dutch heritage. Is that a good excuse? And I'm so damn sure we'll here more about the Lulabelles and the Apers... - LAURENT VAN BOUVELEN
