'long lingering glances, fairytale romances, every single day..'
(Amy Macdonald - A Wish for Something More)

 Aviv Geffen  /  Maria Mena

Concerts of a Decade
2000-2009

Prologue: The Cure, Luka Bloom, Interpol and Emilíana Torrini have been taken out of this list. Look for them in separate articles in the near future! The reason for this is their superior status, because I've seen 'em all live five times or more.

Two years ago this article wouldn't have made much sense, even though some legendary concerts already were locked into memory. But then I moved to Amsterdam, the possibility to easily attend many more gigs being one of the reasons. By the end of the decade I actually visit concert halls more often than cinemas, now that's a real revolution. Found out I really enjoy taking pictures and making videos every now and then as well, but of course the circumstances have to allow it. So there's no filming when audience is seated and a lit up screen will ruin the song for everyone around. Also, when audio and/or video quality turn out to be too low, I won't publish it. The amount of crap posted online is stunning and I refuse to participate. Some tips for you beginners out there: don't film the start of a concert unless your favorite song will be played, because this is obviously the time everyone and their mother will be grabbing their cameras. If it's a small venue, try to catch a glimpse of the setlist, so you know when to start preparing. Film complete songs and allow some clapping and the artist's 'thank you' before pushing the button again. And never forget the most important thing: enjoy the concert! If you're too busy filming, just don't do it, you'll hate yourself for it later. Find the right angle, then press the cam to your chest and look at the stage again, don't be a tourist. Photographs roughly follow the same rules.

Let's talk about big bands. No, not the ones with lots of brass instruments, but those that sell out stadiums in the blink of an eye. Being a child of the eighties, I thought it very necessary to see at least one of the three big ones: Madonna wasn't available, Michael Jackson was busy making a rehearsal video, but U2 happened to play just around the corner. In fact, I wasn't even planning on going until the evening before, when from a distance some familiar sounding grooves entered my bedroom window. So I thought 'what the heck' and checked online to see if there were any tickets left for the next day, turned out I was lucky. Sometimes it's just fun to put a little way too expensive spontaneity in your life. And I just love to defend Bono, his crew and his fans to the cynics, even if I agree with them quite often. U2 live is one hell of a show and at least these guys are trying to make the world a better place, it doesn't matter they will fail on all accounts. Watching musicians that have been around for decades is a pleasure, even if their music does not speak to my heart personally. Over the course of the past ten years I've seen living legends like Eric Clapton, David Byrne, Sting, Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, Jools Holland and Solomon Burke, all in great shape and I wouldn't want to have missed them for the world. I like it when a new generation is being raised to appreciate the classics as well as discovering their own.

Do you know Tokio Hotel, that pathetic German emo 'band' aimed at prostituting underage girls? Check, seen 'em! That story is so frigging cool to bring up whenever some stupid alto, gothic or critic in their midtwenties are bashing innocent hypes, because they somehow need to feel important themselves. Eat this you losers: Muse sucks! Now that we have the children's play out of the way, let's revisit one of my funniest trips ever. I have a friend whose pubescent daughter is like totally into everything Japanese, as all young girls are these days. J-Rock bands are worshipped way beyond all rationality, idols are flying around like noodles. As far as I've observed, correct me if I'm wrong, An Cafe beats the crap out of all the others. Of course it helps I decided to join the adventure into Cologne, Germany. Driving for hours after a big traffic jam, arriving at a computerized and malfunctioning hotel, laughing our asses off in bed, getting up at 5 am to be in time for the autograph session at a local record store, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting and then at sunset finally watching the toyboys perform, it's been a blast! And believe it or not, this is a good band, playing their instruments for real and mixing styles admirably, defying expectations. Afterwards of course I asked the girls how it was for them. Still trembling, tears in her eyes, one of them mumbled something about 'music that means so much to me'. It was beautiful.

Literally dozens of favorite songs have been witnessed live: Blackfield's Miss U, Blonde Redhead's Misery is a Butterfly, Ladytron's Deep Blue, Afghan Whigs' What Jail Is Like (played by Greg Dulli & Mark Lanegan), orgasms all over the place! But two tracks need special mentioning. When legendary Bauhaus was playing the Summer Darkness festival in Utrecht, the shit hit the fan. The band is famous for its clashing egos, but that night a breakup actually seemed to be happening on stage. Peter Murphy left and refused to return, drummer and organizer apologized to the audience, who reluctantly started leaving the place. And then suddenly the band came back after all, for the one and only Bela Lugosi's Dead. It was a VERY strange night. The other special, special song is a very, very personal one. Californian singer Mia Doi Todd drew a paying audience of around seven (doors were opened for the Tracy Chapman crowd in the big auditorium), but she played a cutie set nonetheless. And we were kindly allowed requests, so I asked for the lovely little song that had been steadily growing in my heart for the past couple of years. I got my Tongue-Tied, for all girlies I have tried to love.

 

Some more highlights that almost made the top 10: Anna Ternheim in a church, Cranes at touching distance, Crowded House for free with two hundred lucky invitees, The Frames also for free in front of an even smaller audience, Dutchies Roosbeef and Stevie Ann, dancing like an old drunk with Aussie blues rocker Rob Tognoni, Virginian Devon Sproule twice in three days without planning it. Who could forget beardy dude Benji Hughes, extremely cool The Birthday Massacre in support of gothfathers Clan of Xymox or a cafe corner filled with Brown Feather Sparrow. I gave away tickets for free and I missed some gigs thanks to depression, in particular: James McMurtry, Marissa Nadler, Kristofer Åström and Xavier Rudd. But there's no complaining, I guess :-). Now, as recommended with zZz and Mogwai (these kick so much fucking volume ass, drilling the cement from your entire body), wear those earplugs for the ten best of them all. Put your hands in the air, wave 'em around like you just don't care, do it all for the nookie or at least get your blood on the dancefloor!
 

9. Nine Inch Nails Rockin' Park, Nijmegen, 26 June 2005 BOOM! Fistfucking Wish started and the tent exploded immediately. I knew Nine Inch Nails would blow me away, but never could I have expected this outer body experience. After three or four songs all available energy was drained already, so I left the crowd, lay down on the grass and closed my eyes. To this day I still believe Something I Can Never Have caused me to float a centimeter above the ground. Filthy fundamental and painfully pure.

8. The Chameleons Paradiso, Amsterdam, 19 October 2000 Must've died a thousand times.. This was the first visit to Paradiso all by myself and guess what, it remained the highest placed gig there on this list. Look deep underneath the surface of the eighties and you'll find Mark Burgess and his legendary band, in all its raw despair often cited as an Interpol precursor. I remember totally freaking out on Caution, the rest is just one big blur, made of loneliness and awe.

7. The Veils Into the Great Wide Open, Vlieland, 4 September 2009 For a band known for its dramatic, even tortured frontman, the amount of feelgood is not surprising: real people know life is just one big sentimental journey, might as well wallow. It was cold and wet, at the best festival of the decade. So we grabbed our raincoats and felt good, plain and simple. This reminds of fine female bass player movements, spilled hot chocolate, handwritten letters and loyal friendship, topped with a giant happy hug.

6. Simply Red Bospop, Weert, 9 July 2006 Three days of old time festival heaven, I have never felt this relaxed in a crowd. Simple Minds headlined the second night and were an unexpected disappointment, Simply Red more than made up for it 24 hours later, with their lighthearted pop by really good musicians. I've never been a fan, still don't play the records at home, but this performance was one big triumph. Didn't see it coming: unlimited smiling and dancing, humanity at its best.

5. An Pierlé / 16 Horsepower Doornroosje, Nijmegen, 20 March 2000 Intense. Must be seen to be Believed. Whether it's 16 Horsepower or its new incarnation Woven Hand, this is the way every church should be. And no problem to include support act An Pierlé (rightfully called the Belgian Tori Amos) then, with her angelic voice. Ultimate anthem Black Soul Choir was played as an encore, ending an astonishing set chock-full of hypnotizing classics. His sweat still hasn't dried up yet.

4. Daniel Johnston 013, Tilburg, 13 April 2007 Hi, how are you? Straight from heart to heart, giving a friendly nod to all people who are intellectual enough to stupidly believe objectiveness exists. If you ever want to get drawn into his sad though wonderful world (highly recommendable), see documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston then get spooked during a short, rickety gig. One woman danced during True Love Will You in the End, right in front of the biggest cult hero alive. Magical.

3. Mark Kozelek / Mojave 3 Conway Hall, London, 25 November 2005 Excuses for Travellers indeed, taking the boat to London for one soothing double bill in a wooden hall. In fact, I didn't even know Mark Kozelek back then, he quickly became the living equivalent of serenity. He stood beside me during the technically inept Mojave 3 concert, which only added to the enchantment. Not much later Rachel got severe ear problems and couldn't continue touring. What's left is an everlasting memory of peace and quiet.

2. Tom Waits Carré, Amsterdam, 21 November 2004 Dreams come true, but this one still is beyond all comprehension. I fell off my chair when third row tickets showed up on my screen, then I pinched myself and completed the transaction. When the miracle arrived, a rainy evening surrounded the royal theatre. Lights dimmed and there he was, the holy ghost, fairytale in squeaky circus. 'Life is all about events', thus declared the slightly tipsy Englishman sitting next to me. He was right.

1. Leonard Cohen Westerpark, Amsterdam, 12 July 2008 The concert to end all concerts, waited twenty years for it. After this my life truly was complete, all the rest is gravy. Whenever life doesn't agree with me, I remind myself I've seen Leonard Cohen live and the dark clouds disappear. Surprising highlight turned out to be Boogie Street, as sung by Sharon Robinson. It's beauty of romance meeting poetry of depression, in perfect balance. It's the balance that us dreamers continue to search for.

So it's old men with hats ruling the decade. Just for good luck and because not everyone will understand the attraction of those senior citizens, let's return to the ladies again, for eternity if you wish. The Webb Sisters accompanied Cohen and silenced thousands with their rendition of His classic If It Be Your Will. There you go. And now I will speak no more.

(Menni, untamed.nl 2009)