Since the last entry 3 months ago (excluding 5 min ago)! Life has zipped by. Here are a few photos of what's happening in my world. Fisheye fun, glowing balls of light at kijkduijn. I have seen some great gigs the last two weeks.
On Valentines eve I got to see Marillion in Hamburg on their Happiness is the Road tour. The first time on this tour for me, which was nice because it has been over a year and a half since I saw them last. The crowd in Hamburg were fab and much more involved than 5 years ago when I thought them less than warm.
After seeing Emiliana Torrini on Friday night at the Paradiso in Amsterdam and the Kings of Leon at the HMH also in Amsterdam on Saturday.
Emiliana was wonderful, beautiful and so worth seeing. she is funny and charming and had so much charisma it was great to see her again.
The Kings of Leon... meh! I have typed it more than once now describing this gig, and I mean it. Not bad, not great.. mediocre. they rocked, played the songs and that was IT. I felt no love. I have the feeling they are all so fed up and actually might not even like each other any more.. I am glad I saw them in a venue that was not too big and before they beat each other up or stop talking all-together because fame has made their egos so big they can't fit through a stadium loading dock. The drummer impressed me the most, since he was playing, singing back up vocals and blowing bubbles with his gum, he actually had the most charisma and he looked like a slightly less hariy version of cro-magnum man.
Still was fun to sing along to the songs and have a night out again in Amsterdam. But give me smaller intimate venues or Bands that can carry their talent across any divide any day. So all in all, glad to have been there done that.. did not buy the tee shirt but will most likely not go see them live again either, you can get more enjoyment from the actual CD, LP's and imagine your own concert. 
I came to the realisation why I still love watching Marillion, cause they actually still like what they do, and it shows and the likes of Emiliana because she is not only talented but also sweet and goofy between songs, both artists perform and seem to care about what they are doing, they entertain! Whereas the Kings of Leon.. did not.
My only complaint AGAIN is why does the Dutch audience still insist on talking all the way through a gig. Even Emiliana had to ask them more than three times to be quiet because it was her gig and she had the mic. Why, why, why, even go to a concert if you are just going to talk all the way through. Can't you people just Shut the frac up, and enjoy what you paid for?!!!
Next stop March 20-22 Marillion weekend 2009, where they rent out the CenterParcs Port Zelande in Ouddorp, Holland for the second time and hold their convention. The others have been held in The UK and for the first time also this year Montreal Canada. It should be again a wonderful way to bring fans from around the world together. I am quite honored to have been to every weekend so far. Stay posted for more photos soon! For a better way of life, http://www.marillion.com/
