Breda Barst
Valkenberg Park, Breda
05/07/03
It’s the middle of festival season and currently it feels like there is a free festival happening everyday. Of course I’m quite happy with that, so I took a trip down to Breda for day one of Breda Barst.
My first impressions of Valkenberg Park were good. Security wasn’t overbearing and the festival site seemed very relaxed. There was also numerous stages all set up in close proximity, and they were artistically decorated rather than just blocks of hired scaffolding for once. In fact, the organization and design of the event in general seemed very positive, so hopefully it will have the successful future that everyone involved is seeking.
The first band I caught during the evening was 2nd Place Driver. I’m still not sure what I think of them though. Sorry to be indecisive on the matter, but I was confused by the band looking and sounding very ‘metal’, yet the singer looking and sounding like he was in a completely different band. It certainly wasn’t terrible, just confusing. No matter what, they’ll mainly be remembered by me (and probably some others) for their cover of ‘Overload’ by the Sugababes. It was time to move onto Fishbone though.
I remember seeing their videos on TV when I was about 15 or 16 years old and I really thought they’d had their day. Sure, it was a fun day, but it seemed like a long, long time ago. I don’t think I had even heard any of their songs for at least 4 years, so it was a great surprise when I recognized the opening number, as well as a few tracks scattered throughout the set..
See, Fishbone haven’t changed much in the years they’ve been away from my life. They’re still pulling out all of their ska / funk / reggae / hardcore moves, typically in the same song. On a warm, sunny day, Fishbone are the perfect soundtrack, but unfortunately it wasn’t so nice in Breda. With greying skies and a stage shrouded in trees, the atmosphere was just never perfect for this kind of concert, yet still, the band gave their all and people danced down the front.
At the end of the day, that has to be classed as a victory but it could have been improved greatly by a better sound mix. Opening this stage did not help the band and the sound quality didn’t really show off the subtle aspects of the Fishbone songs. Instead the mix was very muddy and lacking vocal clarity, so after a few tracks it was all beginning to sound like the same thing. Still, I’m grateful I got to see this band live.
The Gathering were the main reason for taking the journey to Breda though, and after keeping us waiting a little longer than necessary, they wowed the local crowd for an hour and ten minutes.
Thankfully, the set was weighted heavily towards recent album Souvenirs. I love the old stuff of course, and I felt they could have taken the easy way out on a Saturday night by playing older crowd pleasers, but this band has become unstoppable with the new songs.
They have all simply morphed into very powerful renditions that are too good to be left out of the set. The band realizes this and I am so delighted that they are gaining the confidence and ambition to act on it. It felt like the audience was accepting it too, which was a pleasant surprise.
I also feel I have to give a special mention to bassist Hugo Prinsen Geerligs. Whilst Anneke receives most credit for her vocal abilities, when you see the band live, you realize just how important the bass is to these songs. It’s a much understated style of playing, but when combined with the drumming of Hans Rutten, every single note is the perfect part to play, creating a wonderful and solid foundation for the songs.
My only complaint about the set can be the withdrawal of ‘Black Light District’. I understand the logistics of missing out a 17 minute track, but I couldn’t help living in hope. Apart from that, this band is getting stronger and stronger.
Steven McCarron
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