damien jurado

damien jurado and his stories, that's what i like. and his songs of course, but primarily his storytelling, and the banter in-between songs. and i wasn't disappointed when he took to the stage at the solo gig in haarlem, a taster for what is to come in a couple of months when he is back with a full band to tour his new album, maraqopa (due out towards the end of next month). and herein lies my dilemma: i never know if i prefer the solo act - just one man and his guitar - or the full-on band version (see my similar quandaries with chad vangaalen last year, here). turns out i guess that i can like both equally and, in which case, this gig was an exciting taster of what is to come when he's back in march.




 
  

at some point, i would like to come back here and try and put into words the impact of one of his songs (before the encore) which, with its so-vivid-storytelling, transported me into the situation of the tale being recounted... i can't tell the story as well though, so maybe i'll just keep it in my head.

//full set of photos on flickr here; bamshakalah blogpost here; in-photos gallery set on drownedinsound here

laura gibson

a few days before the damien jurado show, i saw laura gibson at paradiso in amsterdam. her voice is something special, and i now need to check out her album. 

 

 

//a few more are on flickr here

x

looking back over 2011

happy new year! let's hope it is as music-jammed as 2011 was. according to my collection of gig-shot sets on flickr, i pretty much saw the equivalent of one band per week. that might sound a lot but i think there is room for improvement! ;) so now i've got one full year under my belt living in the netherlands, it might be a good time to reflect. i am so happy living in amsterdam and i am extremely happy with my decision to move here. i moved for the music, and it hasn't disappointed. a friend said to me before i moved that paradiso would become my second home and, although yes i do see a fair number of gigs there (more in the small room upstairs i think, altho i also see lots of great gigs in the big room - see below), actually it is not my favourite venue...

fave bits of 2011:

-gigs: see below...
-venue: de nieuwe anita (fave gig at this venue here)
-festival: iceland airwaves (full set of photos here, so many favourite moments!)
-musical family: belmont bookings (my fave bamshakalah blogpost here)

so... favourite gigs? i'm rubbish at choosing, but think i'd plump for these top five dutch gigs:

1. tv on the radio (paradiso, amsterdam)

// link to original blogpost here, and full flickr set here

2. band of horses (paradiso, amsterdam)

// link to original blogpost here, in-photos gallery on drownedinsound here, and full flickr set here

3. olafur arnalds (500-year-old house in nijmegen, as part of de affaire)

// link to original blogpost here, and full flickr set here.

4. no age (ot301, amsterdam)

// link to original blogpost here, in-photos gallery on drownedinsound here, feature on belmont bookings blog here and full flickr set here

5. tallest man on earth (paradiso, amsterdam)

// link to original blogpost here, in-photos gallery on drownedinsound here, and full flickr set here




in 2011, i saw so many good bands and met so many good people who i know will help to make this new year just as good if not better. exciting things are hatching, look forward to seeing what emerges.

x