With some music you should not write or explain too much. You'd better listen to it. Enjoy this gorgeous piece of music and mesmerizing voice of Luc Arbogast.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Happy New Year
A happy, healthy and prosperous 2012 to all my visitors!
One of my New Year's resolutions:
Post more often in2010, 2011, 2012.
One of my New Year's resolutions:
Post more often in
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Cover Weekend (Sandy Denny)
This time no extensive views on the artists and the original song and which version is better.
This time the song "The North Star Grassman and The Ravens" by one of my favourite folk singers, Sandy Denny. I didn't do a very detailed search about other possible cover versions. I'll just post a live and (IMHO) excellent version of the original song by Dutch folk group Ygdrassil. I ran into this version on YouTube. Possibly there are more cover versions, but I'm too lazy to find out
I would say just enjoy both. I wish someone would release a good cover of Sandy Denny's song "The Lady".
This time the song "The North Star Grassman and The Ravens" by one of my favourite folk singers, Sandy Denny. I didn't do a very detailed search about other possible cover versions. I'll just post a live and (IMHO) excellent version of the original song by Dutch folk group Ygdrassil. I ran into this version on YouTube. Possibly there are more cover versions, but I'm too lazy to find out
I would say just enjoy both. I wish someone would release a good cover of Sandy Denny's song "The Lady".
Monday, 11 April 2011
Jaga Jazzist again
Last week on Saturdaynight April 2nd I went to see Jaga Jazzist, a band from Norway. Had a great night with a great performance. I probably going to buy their latest album "One-Armed Bandit". Before the concert I only saw one YouTube video of this album, so I didn't know much of the other work on the album, but based on the earlier work from previous albums and previous concerts I visited I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. And I was right.
If you asked me to describe the music of Jaga Jazzist I think you can't mention one particular music style or musical influence. Their music has elements of jazz, big band, classical music, electronic music, minimal music and prog rock. The bandmembers often mentions bands like Talk Talk, Soft machine as one of their influences. If you listen to some of the songs from their last album you also can add Frank Zappa, Steve Reich and Phillip Glass to that list.
If you listen to the title song of this album you can probably understand why I added Frank Zappa to the list of musical influences. Some parts reminds me about 'Peaches and Regalia' from Zappa's "Hot Rats"-album and then especially the brass parts from the Saturday Night Live version.
And if you listen to the song 'Tocatta' of their latest album and which was the opening of Jaga Jazzist's concert you can understand why I added Steve Reich and Phikip Glass to the list of musical influences.
But Jaga Jazzist are certainly not clones of the mentioned artists. They mix all these influences into their own unique eclectic music style.
I found three videos on You Tube from the concert at Tivoli, Utrecht. I've embedded them so you can get a bit of an impression. They also played one of my personal favourites 'Oslo Skyline' as an encore. I couldn't find a video from the Tivoli performance of this song, so I've embedded a video from an earlier performance about 4 years ago. I especially like the massive part with the brass section at 2min34.
Enjoy the videos!
If you asked me to describe the music of Jaga Jazzist I think you can't mention one particular music style or musical influence. Their music has elements of jazz, big band, classical music, electronic music, minimal music and prog rock. The bandmembers often mentions bands like Talk Talk, Soft machine as one of their influences. If you listen to some of the songs from their last album you also can add Frank Zappa, Steve Reich and Phillip Glass to that list.
If you listen to the title song of this album you can probably understand why I added Frank Zappa to the list of musical influences. Some parts reminds me about 'Peaches and Regalia' from Zappa's "Hot Rats"-album and then especially the brass parts from the Saturday Night Live version.
And if you listen to the song 'Tocatta' of their latest album and which was the opening of Jaga Jazzist's concert you can understand why I added Steve Reich and Phikip Glass to the list of musical influences.
But Jaga Jazzist are certainly not clones of the mentioned artists. They mix all these influences into their own unique eclectic music style.
I found three videos on You Tube from the concert at Tivoli, Utrecht. I've embedded them so you can get a bit of an impression. They also played one of my personal favourites 'Oslo Skyline' as an encore. I couldn't find a video from the Tivoli performance of this song, so I've embedded a video from an earlier performance about 4 years ago. I especially like the massive part with the brass section at 2min34.
Enjoy the videos!
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Jaga Jazzist tonight
I'm going to a concert from Jaga Jazzist tonight with friends. Looking forward to it. Report possibly follows later.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Donation links for relief aid to victims of earthquake/tsunami Japan
This is a repost of the donation URL's from Tokyo Doll Weblog
If you wish to make a donation you can follow one of the URL's below. Thanks!
Red cross England
Red cross America
Red cross Japan
Red cross the Netherlands
International Red cross
Donate for Japan: Important links and information
Lady Gaga : Japan Earthquake Relief Wristband
If you wish to make a donation you can follow one of the URL's below. Thanks!
Red cross England
Red cross America
Red cross Japan
Red cross the Netherlands
International Red cross
Donate for Japan: Important links and information
Lady Gaga : Japan Earthquake Relief Wristband
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Cover weekend (Heartbreak Hotel)
I'm not sure if i should make it a weekly, monthly or irregular returning item, but I'm thinking to post on a more or less regular basis about cover versions together with the original. Every now and then I run into cover versions of songs that sometimes brings back interest in the original or shows a complete new perspective on the original. And sometimes there are cover versions that I find better than the original. An example that I always use is Joe Cocker's version of "With a little help from my friends", which I find way better than the Beatles original.
In this post I want to give you another example of a cover version that is IMHO better than the original. It's John Cale's (solo) version of Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" Although I consider this song as one of Elvis Presley's better ones and a classic Rock "n Roll song, I think the musical setting of Elvis' original doesn't do justice to the pretty dark lyrics, also when you know that the inspiration for the song came from an article in the newspaper about a lonely man who committed suicide.
John Cale's solo version is way darker, especially his live version with only John Cale singing and playing the piano. The version I'm referring to is the live version from John Cale's 1992 live-album "Fragments of a Rainy Season". Later I found out that John Cale already covered this song in 1975 on his album "Slow Dazzle". From this version there is also a haunting and disturbing live version on YouTube from 1981 where you also can recognize Police guitarist Andy Summer.
I have embedded the original and the different John Cale versions, so you can judge for your self. The sound level on the 1992 live piano version (second embedded video) is unfortunately quite soft, so you have turn up the volume quite a bit to be able to hear it properly. But I think it's worth it. I personally find this the best version of "Heartbreak Hotel".
I finish with another live version that was broadcasted at Night Music, a late night music show that ran for two seasons at the late eighties. In this (also) pretty haunted version John Cale plays with musicians like Richard Thompson, David Sanborn and others. I also can recommend this version.
Below the last video I put a short poll where visitors can vote for their best version of "Heartbreak Hotel". Enjoy the videos and I probably return soon with other cover versions.
In this post I want to give you another example of a cover version that is IMHO better than the original. It's John Cale's (solo) version of Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" Although I consider this song as one of Elvis Presley's better ones and a classic Rock "n Roll song, I think the musical setting of Elvis' original doesn't do justice to the pretty dark lyrics, also when you know that the inspiration for the song came from an article in the newspaper about a lonely man who committed suicide.
John Cale's solo version is way darker, especially his live version with only John Cale singing and playing the piano. The version I'm referring to is the live version from John Cale's 1992 live-album "Fragments of a Rainy Season". Later I found out that John Cale already covered this song in 1975 on his album "Slow Dazzle". From this version there is also a haunting and disturbing live version on YouTube from 1981 where you also can recognize Police guitarist Andy Summer.
I have embedded the original and the different John Cale versions, so you can judge for your self. The sound level on the 1992 live piano version (second embedded video) is unfortunately quite soft, so you have turn up the volume quite a bit to be able to hear it properly. But I think it's worth it. I personally find this the best version of "Heartbreak Hotel".
I finish with another live version that was broadcasted at Night Music, a late night music show that ran for two seasons at the late eighties. In this (also) pretty haunted version John Cale plays with musicians like Richard Thompson, David Sanborn and others. I also can recommend this version.
Below the last video I put a short poll where visitors can vote for their best version of "Heartbreak Hotel". Enjoy the videos and I probably return soon with other cover versions.
Which "Heartbreak Hotel" do you like best?
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
R.I.P. Gerry Rafferty
Last night I heard the sad news that Gerry Rafferty died at the age of 63. With his decease the world loses a very skillful songwriter with a distinctive slightly hoarse voice which I always easlily recognize during his Stealers Wheel time, but also in his solo work.
I don't like talking about my all time top 10, 25, 100 etc.. music albums, because these list are always under influence of time, my state of mind, and feelings of strong or less stronger nostalgia. These lists change all the time, but Gerry Rafferty's solo album City to City probably would be in my top 10 or 25 music albums. Music wise and production wise I think it's an excellent album.
For the backgroundinformation you can read his Wikipedia page. I think it's better to let the music speak for itself. I leave you with a selection of my favourite Stealers Wheel- and solo Gerry Rafferty-songs.
R.I.P.
I don't like talking about my all time top 10, 25, 100 etc.. music albums, because these list are always under influence of time, my state of mind, and feelings of strong or less stronger nostalgia. These lists change all the time, but Gerry Rafferty's solo album City to City probably would be in my top 10 or 25 music albums. Music wise and production wise I think it's an excellent album.
For the backgroundinformation you can read his Wikipedia page. I think it's better to let the music speak for itself. I leave you with a selection of my favourite Stealers Wheel- and solo Gerry Rafferty-songs.
R.I.P.
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Gareth Pearson
Two weeks ago on December 12th I went to a concert from British guitarist (I hope I don't insult him with this, he's actually from Wales) Gareth Pearson. He’s a recording artist for the record label Candyrat Records on which I posted before here.
Candyrat Records is surely one of the best musical discoveries I did the past two years. Through their YouTube Channel I discovered artist as Andy McKee, which concert I visited last May, Don Ross, Antoine Dufour, Pino Forastiere and many more great guitarists. And a half year ago I also discovered Gareth Pearson, or as the other great Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel calls Gareth, “The Welsh Tornado”.
I discovered Gareth Pearson not through CandyRat Records but through a Youtube video from Gareth playing with one of my Dutch guitar heroes Jan Akkerman, the legendary guitarist of the Dutch seventies ProgRock group Focus. In this video they were playing an acoustic instrumental version of Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean”, an arrangement that Gareth also plays solo. You can check the video here. Image quality is not the best, but sound is okay.
A bit later when I checked out for possible other videos of Gareth I found out that he was also a recording artist for CandyRat Records and that he just had his debut album out, “Urban Echoes Vol. 1”. On this album you’ll find original compositions from Gareth, but also a few of his (instrumental) interpretations of well known classics as Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” and “Thriller”, Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” and Weezer’s “Buddy Holly”. If you’re into acoustic guitar music this album is recommended.
Candyrat Records is surely one of the best musical discoveries I did the past two years. Through their YouTube Channel I discovered artist as Andy McKee, which concert I visited last May, Don Ross, Antoine Dufour, Pino Forastiere and many more great guitarists. And a half year ago I also discovered Gareth Pearson, or as the other great Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel calls Gareth, “The Welsh Tornado”.
I discovered Gareth Pearson not through CandyRat Records but through a Youtube video from Gareth playing with one of my Dutch guitar heroes Jan Akkerman, the legendary guitarist of the Dutch seventies ProgRock group Focus. In this video they were playing an acoustic instrumental version of Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean”, an arrangement that Gareth also plays solo. You can check the video here. Image quality is not the best, but sound is okay.
A bit later when I checked out for possible other videos of Gareth I found out that he was also a recording artist for CandyRat Records and that he just had his debut album out, “Urban Echoes Vol. 1”. On this album you’ll find original compositions from Gareth, but also a few of his (instrumental) interpretations of well known classics as Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” and “Thriller”, Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” and Weezer’s “Buddy Holly”. If you’re into acoustic guitar music this album is recommended.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Concerts over the past year (part 2)
I'll just continue with the concerts where I finished in my post of November 8th last.
Last May I went to Andy McKee with a friend who is also into guitarmusic. I'll wrote about Andy McKee before in a post on him and some other artists from record label CandyRat Records. It was the first time to see Andy McKee live and it sure was a treat to see him play live. Of course I already knew from his YouTube videos that he's an amazing guitar player, which was just confirmed by this live performance. It was just one man, one guitar and an audience. If you're good it's all you need. I enjoyed every minute of this concert. It was really great to see such a gifted player at work.
Eight days after Andy McKee my wife N. and I went to the SJU-huis, the local jazz club in our hometown to see Michiel Borstlap, a Dutch jazz pianist, who also gets foreign recognition and worked with great names in jazz like Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Bruford, George Duke and guitar legend Les Paul. He played work from his last gorgeous CD SOLO 2010, with, like the title suggests, solo work on the piano, mostly composed/improvised by Michiel Borstlap himself. I really like this album and the past months it's been played on my CD player and computer on a regular basis. Recommended! An excellent piano player and composer/improvisator and worthwhile a visit when he's touring near you.
A few weeks later on June 10th N. and I went to see Them Crooked Vultures, with Dave Grohl, drummer of Nirvana and frontman from the Foo Fighters, Josh Homme, founder of Kyuss and also founder member and frontman of his current band Queens of the Stone Age and John Paul Jones, bass player of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin. It was pretty loud, but certainly not bad, but quite different from the introspective music from Michiel Borstlap.
Nine days later N. and I went to Muse. It was on the same day that Holland had to play against Japan at the world cup football in South Africa. When we booked the tickets for Muse we didn't realize the concert and the football match were on the same day. Although I'm not so fanatic about football anymore but when Holland is joining the worldcup I like to watch. And because my wife N. is Japanese, you can imagine why we would like to watch the game. Lucky enough the game was in the afternoon, so we manage to watch the game first and then took the train to Nijmegen where the concert was. It wasn't an easy game for Holland but they beat Japan 1-0 and it didn't cause a matrimonial crisis.
It was the first time for us to see Muse live. The Muse concert was quite a spectacle with a huge stage and big light show and also the sound was very good. Sometimes the sound on open air concerts can be a disaster but at the Muse concert the sound quality was much better than I expected. They gave a great show and they proved to be an excellent live band. The weather gods were kindly disposed to us, despite the bad weather forecast.
Below I uploaded
Last May I went to Andy McKee with a friend who is also into guitarmusic. I'll wrote about Andy McKee before in a post on him and some other artists from record label CandyRat Records. It was the first time to see Andy McKee live and it sure was a treat to see him play live. Of course I already knew from his YouTube videos that he's an amazing guitar player, which was just confirmed by this live performance. It was just one man, one guitar and an audience. If you're good it's all you need. I enjoyed every minute of this concert. It was really great to see such a gifted player at work.
Eight days after Andy McKee my wife N. and I went to the SJU-huis, the local jazz club in our hometown to see Michiel Borstlap, a Dutch jazz pianist, who also gets foreign recognition and worked with great names in jazz like Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Bruford, George Duke and guitar legend Les Paul. He played work from his last gorgeous CD SOLO 2010, with, like the title suggests, solo work on the piano, mostly composed/improvised by Michiel Borstlap himself. I really like this album and the past months it's been played on my CD player and computer on a regular basis. Recommended! An excellent piano player and composer/improvisator and worthwhile a visit when he's touring near you.
A few weeks later on June 10th N. and I went to see Them Crooked Vultures, with Dave Grohl, drummer of Nirvana and frontman from the Foo Fighters, Josh Homme, founder of Kyuss and also founder member and frontman of his current band Queens of the Stone Age and John Paul Jones, bass player of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin. It was pretty loud, but certainly not bad, but quite different from the introspective music from Michiel Borstlap.
Nine days later N. and I went to Muse. It was on the same day that Holland had to play against Japan at the world cup football in South Africa. When we booked the tickets for Muse we didn't realize the concert and the football match were on the same day. Although I'm not so fanatic about football anymore but when Holland is joining the worldcup I like to watch. And because my wife N. is Japanese, you can imagine why we would like to watch the game. Lucky enough the game was in the afternoon, so we manage to watch the game first and then took the train to Nijmegen where the concert was. It wasn't an easy game for Holland but they beat Japan 1-0 and it didn't cause a matrimonial crisis.
It was the first time for us to see Muse live. The Muse concert was quite a spectacle with a huge stage and big light show and also the sound was very good. Sometimes the sound on open air concerts can be a disaster but at the Muse concert the sound quality was much better than I expected. They gave a great show and they proved to be an excellent live band. The weather gods were kindly disposed to us, despite the bad weather forecast.
Below I uploaded
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Working on my template
For the regular visitor things might look a bit different. That's correct! Yesterday I started to work on the old template on my other weblog and transferred the old one to a new one. The lay-out is not suppose to change that much. It was basically to be able to use all kinds of new functions within the new template, which wasn't possible with the old one. Because I want both lay outs to look the same I also change the template here to the one I'm using on my other weblog.
Between now and the next few days returning visitors might notice some differences. But now you know why.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Concerts over the past year (part 1)
In my former post I already announced that I would give an update about the concerts that my wife N. and I went the past year in chronological order with a short review/comment. Of every concert I will embed some video (if available).
On November 30th last year we went to Depeche Mode at Ahoy, Rotterdam. Visiting this concert was a bit of a compensation for their cancellation of their performance at Pinkpop earlier that year due to illness of their lead singer Dave Gahan.
Although I never have been a huge fan of Depeche Mode, I like some of their singles like "Enjoy the silence", "Personal Jesus" (also like the Johnny Cash version) and "I feel You". And they have been unquestionably a major influence in electronic music. Although I didn't had extreme high expectations, the concert was much better than I expected. The sound was good, light show was excellent and their performance was energetic.
One week later we went to Rammstein at the Gelredome, Arnhem.
On November 30th last year we went to Depeche Mode at Ahoy, Rotterdam. Visiting this concert was a bit of a compensation for their cancellation of their performance at Pinkpop earlier that year due to illness of their lead singer Dave Gahan.
Although I never have been a huge fan of Depeche Mode, I like some of their singles like "Enjoy the silence", "Personal Jesus" (also like the Johnny Cash version) and "I feel You". And they have been unquestionably a major influence in electronic music. Although I didn't had extreme high expectations, the concert was much better than I expected. The sound was good, light show was excellent and their performance was energetic.
One week later we went to Rammstein at the Gelredome, Arnhem.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
It's been awhile (TSPO and Korn)
Dear visitors,
A little bit longer than planned, but I'm back again. Not that I've been away. I didn't left the country. Just took some leave from blogging for an unspecified amount of time. I had enough things/subjects to blog about, it was just a matter of other things on my mind, lack of energy, focus etc...
When it comes to music I didn't kept completely quiet the past 7, 8 months. I just didn't blog about it that's all.
In my next post I will give you an update on the concerts that I, often accompanied by wy wife N., visited the past 9 or 10 months with some videos.
In this post I'll give a short report on two concerts that we visited last Friday and Sunday.
Friday N. and I went to Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (TSPO) from Japan together with an ex-colleague and her friend at "De Melkweg", Amsterdam. For N. and I it was the fourth time to see TSPO. If you're in for a fun night with a good band
A little bit longer than planned, but I'm back again. Not that I've been away. I didn't left the country. Just took some leave from blogging for an unspecified amount of time. I had enough things/subjects to blog about, it was just a matter of other things on my mind, lack of energy, focus etc...
When it comes to music I didn't kept completely quiet the past 7, 8 months. I just didn't blog about it that's all.
In my next post I will give you an update on the concerts that I, often accompanied by wy wife N., visited the past 9 or 10 months with some videos.
In this post I'll give a short report on two concerts that we visited last Friday and Sunday.
Friday N. and I went to Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (TSPO) from Japan together with an ex-colleague and her friend at "De Melkweg", Amsterdam. For N. and I it was the fourth time to see TSPO. If you're in for a fun night with a good band
Friday, 12 February 2010
A little more patience
As visitors might have noticed, things have been very quiet the past three months around here. Due to family circumstances (after a short sickbed my mother passed away last december, one month after we came back from Japan) I took some compassionate leave from blogging.
Things are slowly getting back to our normal daily routines. I probably will start posting again within one or two weeks. So please a little more patience. I'll be back soon.
Bye for now.
Things are slowly getting back to our normal daily routines. I probably will start posting again within one or two weeks. So please a little more patience. I'll be back soon.
Bye for now.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
North Sea Jazz
A little bit late, but here are some videos which I found on YouTube with (parts of) performances that my wife N. and I saw at North Sea Jazz Festival 2009. I already posted some pics which I took at the festval on my photoweblog BrownNoisePhotos here, here and here.
I don't have the time to give extended reviews about the perfromances that we saw, but you must believe that we had a nice day and that we saw some great perfromances. Hopefully you can agree after seeing some of the videos that I've embedded.
You can see some video's from Akiko Yano & Hiromi Uehara, The John Scofield Piety Street band and from Michiel Borstlap, Han Bennink & Ernst Glerum. From Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock there is enough material on YouTube but nothing from their performance at North Sea Jazz. Herbie Hancock also did a very nice solo improvisation on his own composition Dolphin Dance from his classic album "Maiden Voyage", but unfortunately no material from this on YouTube.
Well I'm going to leave you with some video's. I hope you will enjoy!
I don't have the time to give extended reviews about the perfromances that we saw, but you must believe that we had a nice day and that we saw some great perfromances. Hopefully you can agree after seeing some of the videos that I've embedded.
You can see some video's from Akiko Yano & Hiromi Uehara, The John Scofield Piety Street band and from Michiel Borstlap, Han Bennink & Ernst Glerum. From Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock there is enough material on YouTube but nothing from their performance at North Sea Jazz. Herbie Hancock also did a very nice solo improvisation on his own composition Dolphin Dance from his classic album "Maiden Voyage", but unfortunately no material from this on YouTube.
Well I'm going to leave you with some video's. I hope you will enjoy!
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Pinkpop 2009 (3)
I'm getting a little behind with posting. Pinkpop 2009 was already two and a half months ago and I still have to post some (embedded) vids of the bands we saw.
This time some selected embedded videos from Keane. For the report of their great performance (imho) I would like to refer to my post at my photoweblog Brownnoisephotos.
For the rest I would like to say enjoy the vids.
This time some selected embedded videos from Keane. For the report of their great performance (imho) I would like to refer to my post at my photoweblog Brownnoisephotos.
For the rest I would like to say enjoy the vids.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Pinkpop 2009 (2)
I've embedded some more video's of Madness that I uploaded to YouTube. They've been recorded from television where they broadcasted the highlights of the 2009 Pinkpop Music Festival.
Also embedded a video from Placebo, the closing band on Sundaynight when N. and I were there. They closed instead of Depeche Mode who unfortunately had to cancel their gig because of illness of their frontman Dave Gahan. Depeche mode was one of the main reasons to go to Pinkpop, so it's not hard to understand that N. was disappointed when we heard that Depeche Mode had to cancel. But lucky for Depeche Mode Dave Gahan has recoverd and they've start performing again. We will go to Depeche Mode now when they come back to Holland later this year in November.
I also uploaded some video's of older editions of Pinkpop. Because of the 40th anniversary of Pinkpop viewers could send in their favorite Pinkpop performance of all times. Most of the top 10 was broadcasted on television. The uploaded video's can be checked here.
In the mean time I'm also selecting pics and video's from Sonisphere, a heavy metal festival which took place a week ago in Nijmegen with headliner Metallica and 6, 7 other heavy metal bands like Korn and Slipknot.
Also embedded a video from Placebo, the closing band on Sundaynight when N. and I were there. They closed instead of Depeche Mode who unfortunately had to cancel their gig because of illness of their frontman Dave Gahan. Depeche mode was one of the main reasons to go to Pinkpop, so it's not hard to understand that N. was disappointed when we heard that Depeche Mode had to cancel. But lucky for Depeche Mode Dave Gahan has recoverd and they've start performing again. We will go to Depeche Mode now when they come back to Holland later this year in November.
I also uploaded some video's of older editions of Pinkpop. Because of the 40th anniversary of Pinkpop viewers could send in their favorite Pinkpop performance of all times. Most of the top 10 was broadcasted on television. The uploaded video's can be checked here.
In the mean time I'm also selecting pics and video's from Sonisphere, a heavy metal festival which took place a week ago in Nijmegen with headliner Metallica and 6, 7 other heavy metal bands like Korn and Slipknot.
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Pinkpop 2009 preview (Madness)
I'm still sorting out pictures and editting video material from Pinkpop 2009 that was recorded from television. As I mentioned on my photoweblog BrownNoisePhotos my wife N. and yours truly went to Pinkpop 2009 on Sunday May 31st. We only went one day, but the whole festival was three days from Saturday till Monday.
While sorting out and editting I'll kick off with a little preview from Madness, one of the bands that we saw at the festival. It was great fun and while they were playing there was a huge party going on among the crowd.
More Madness and other videomaterial will follow soon. For pictures you can check my photoweblog. Enjoy!
While sorting out and editting I'll kick off with a little preview from Madness, one of the bands that we saw at the festival. It was great fun and while they were playing there was a huge party going on among the crowd.
More Madness and other videomaterial will follow soon. For pictures you can check my photoweblog. Enjoy!
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Yamato - Drummers of Japan
It's already three weeks ago that my wife N. and yours truly went to a concert of Yamato, the drummers of Japan. I saw them three times before, so this was the fourth time to see them, but for N. it was the first time. She was really impressed by their performance.
In all the performances that I saw there were similar elements, but the whole setting was different every time, but the energy and level of performance was the same every time.. The lighting on stage was beautifully done and like the three times before it was a real visual and energetic spectacle which was very enjoyable to watch.
Although the emphasis was on the drums and the rhythm (which shouldn't be a surprise for a percussion/drum group) there was also some musical variety with, next to the main instrument the taiko drums, the use in a few compositions of other instruments like the shamisen, a traditional three string instrument which sounds a little bit like a banjo, bamboo flute and the koto, another traditional Japanese instrument, which is played horizontal (see first video) and sounds a little bit like a harp.
I couldn't find any video's on YouTube from the last tour, but the two that I've embedded give a good impression of the stage show of Yamato. If they ever perform in a place nearby you definitely should go. We both can recommend it. Don't get a CD or DVD. It doesn't get close to a live performance. Yamato, the drummers of Japan is something you should feel and experience. Enjoy the video's.
In all the performances that I saw there were similar elements, but the whole setting was different every time, but the energy and level of performance was the same every time.. The lighting on stage was beautifully done and like the three times before it was a real visual and energetic spectacle which was very enjoyable to watch.
Although the emphasis was on the drums and the rhythm (which shouldn't be a surprise for a percussion/drum group) there was also some musical variety with, next to the main instrument the taiko drums, the use in a few compositions of other instruments like the shamisen, a traditional three string instrument which sounds a little bit like a banjo, bamboo flute and the koto, another traditional Japanese instrument, which is played horizontal (see first video) and sounds a little bit like a harp.
I couldn't find any video's on YouTube from the last tour, but the two that I've embedded give a good impression of the stage show of Yamato. If they ever perform in a place nearby you definitely should go. We both can recommend it. Don't get a CD or DVD. It doesn't get close to a live performance. Yamato, the drummers of Japan is something you should feel and experience. Enjoy the video's.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Gorgeous guitar music (CandyRat Records)
It's been a while since my last posting. I also wrote on my photoweblog BrownNoisePhotos that it's not a lack of material. I've been listening music, visit a concert every now and then and did some new musical discoveries. So plenty to write about, but the past months I simply couldn't find the time and energy to post about it.
There was (and still is a bit) a lot of stuff going on. but I'm not going to bother my visitors with it. Little by little things are getting in smoother water, which gives me the opportunity to post more often again and on a more regular basis.
This time I would like to kick off with not just one artist or group. I just would like to advertise a very interesting (independent) record label, called CandyRat Records. I found this label by accident when I was watching some YouTube guitar videos and from one video I got to the other, until I got to a video from Andy McKee called "Drifting" (see the first embedded video). I instantly liked it when I was watching and listening.
At the video they were referring to CandyRat Records. I gave their website a check and a whole new huge world of acoustic guitar music was released to my ears. For now I've only been checking their acoustic section, but they also have jazz, blues, fusion etc.. If those sections have the same quality as their acoustic section, then I'm pretty sure that my cd/music-collection will expand in the upcoming year.
The site offers albums as CD for 15 US Dollar or as download for 10 US Dollar. That's just 11 Euro for a CD and 7 Euro 50 for a album download. They offer good quality samples from all the songs on the albums, so you get a good idea about the album and the artist. I felt like a little kid in a candy shop, not knowing what to choose. If you are into virtuoso and melodic acoustic guitar music CandyRat Records certainly is the place.
You won't find one particular style, although listening to most musicians you'll find influences from folk-, jazz-, world- and classical music.
I have embedded some videos from YouTube from some of the artists that appear on CandyRat Records. With some of them you see mixtures of tapping techniques, different fingerpicking styles, percusive styles, unusual tunings and use of harmonics. Players like Andy McKee, Don Ross and Stefano Barone are all tributary to Michael Hedges, a very inventive and talented acoustic guitar player and innovator, who died way too young in a car accident, just 43 years old, almost 12 years ago. Later on I might do a posting entirely on Michael Hedges.
For now I would like to invite you to take a look at the selection of video's below and listen to these very talented skillful musicians. I have also add a video from Michael Manring, a excellent bass player who worked a lot with Michael Hedges and who you also can see playing with Andy McKee and Don Ross in the third video. For those who think that a bass guitar couldn't be a solo and melodic instrument, you should have a look at his video where he plays his solo piece "Selene".
I also embedded a video from Antoine Dufour, a Canadian guitarist and two Italian guitar players, Pino Forastiere and Stefano Barone. The first italian guitarist music is very tranquil, but still virtuoso. The second Italian plays acoustic guitar but with the use of electronics, which gives it a more experimental sound, but without losing the character of the acoustic guitar.
I hope that you will enjoy these videos as much as I did. You can check much more samples, also from other artist, on the website of CandyRat Records and you can check loads and loads of videos from these and other artists from CandyRat records on YouTube.
There was (and still is a bit) a lot of stuff going on. but I'm not going to bother my visitors with it. Little by little things are getting in smoother water, which gives me the opportunity to post more often again and on a more regular basis.
This time I would like to kick off with not just one artist or group. I just would like to advertise a very interesting (independent) record label, called CandyRat Records. I found this label by accident when I was watching some YouTube guitar videos and from one video I got to the other, until I got to a video from Andy McKee called "Drifting" (see the first embedded video). I instantly liked it when I was watching and listening.
At the video they were referring to CandyRat Records. I gave their website a check and a whole new huge world of acoustic guitar music was released to my ears. For now I've only been checking their acoustic section, but they also have jazz, blues, fusion etc.. If those sections have the same quality as their acoustic section, then I'm pretty sure that my cd/music-collection will expand in the upcoming year.
The site offers albums as CD for 15 US Dollar or as download for 10 US Dollar. That's just 11 Euro for a CD and 7 Euro 50 for a album download. They offer good quality samples from all the songs on the albums, so you get a good idea about the album and the artist. I felt like a little kid in a candy shop, not knowing what to choose. If you are into virtuoso and melodic acoustic guitar music CandyRat Records certainly is the place.
You won't find one particular style, although listening to most musicians you'll find influences from folk-, jazz-, world- and classical music.
I have embedded some videos from YouTube from some of the artists that appear on CandyRat Records. With some of them you see mixtures of tapping techniques, different fingerpicking styles, percusive styles, unusual tunings and use of harmonics. Players like Andy McKee, Don Ross and Stefano Barone are all tributary to Michael Hedges, a very inventive and talented acoustic guitar player and innovator, who died way too young in a car accident, just 43 years old, almost 12 years ago. Later on I might do a posting entirely on Michael Hedges.
For now I would like to invite you to take a look at the selection of video's below and listen to these very talented skillful musicians. I have also add a video from Michael Manring, a excellent bass player who worked a lot with Michael Hedges and who you also can see playing with Andy McKee and Don Ross in the third video. For those who think that a bass guitar couldn't be a solo and melodic instrument, you should have a look at his video where he plays his solo piece "Selene".
I also embedded a video from Antoine Dufour, a Canadian guitarist and two Italian guitar players, Pino Forastiere and Stefano Barone. The first italian guitarist music is very tranquil, but still virtuoso. The second Italian plays acoustic guitar but with the use of electronics, which gives it a more experimental sound, but without losing the character of the acoustic guitar.
I hope that you will enjoy these videos as much as I did. You can check much more samples, also from other artist, on the website of CandyRat Records and you can check loads and loads of videos from these and other artists from CandyRat records on YouTube.
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