Tivoli, Utrecht, the NetherlandsOctober 3rd 2005
Kaizers Orchestra and Geoff Berner
It was one of those days you have this shitty feeling, it's Monday, the week just started and the next weekend seems further than ever. In time like this you need a really good band to make you happy again and forget all about the office, your boss and that smelly colleague. Tonight the Norwegian Kaisers Orchestra has the honour to turn misery into happiness and a full Tivoli is ready to experience it.
Geoff Berner
Ok, who is Geoff Berner many wondered looking at the agenda pages of Tivoli (http://www.tivoli.nl/), he was just mentioned there without any link to read more about him. Fortunately Geoff did introduce himself properly when he entered the stage: “Hello I'm the support act".
Music
On stage we see just three microphones and one man, though he's not alone, he brought his trustworthy companion: his accordion. Geoff has been at many tours with a variety of musicians and has even played in a punk band as he explains. But tonight he'll be playing Jewish drinking songs. Most of the audience had no clue what that meant apart from the few die hard fans in the audience but it soon became clear. Just take some basic folk music, add some punk bits into it and mix that with great poetic lyrics. Geoff has an intriguing voice that manages to keep your attention and makes sure you can clearly understand the words, whether or not you get the whole message s all up to your level of English, history and culture as well as the amount of alcohol consumed. I'd sure recommend everybody to check out some of his lyrics and mp3's on his website (www.geoffberner.com) and see for yourself what beauty one can discover in support acts. Geoff wants to show accordions are cool, well accordions are now officially cool and so is Geoff.
On stage we see just three microphones and one man, though he's not alone, he brought his trustworthy companion: his accordion. Geoff has been at many tours with a variety of musicians and has even played in a punk band as he explains. But tonight he'll be playing Jewish drinking songs. Most of the audience had no clue what that meant apart from the few die hard fans in the audience but it soon became clear. Just take some basic folk music, add some punk bits into it and mix that with great poetic lyrics. Geoff has an intriguing voice that manages to keep your attention and makes sure you can clearly understand the words, whether or not you get the whole message s all up to your level of English, history and culture as well as the amount of alcohol consumed. I'd sure recommend everybody to check out some of his lyrics and mp3's on his website (www.geoffberner.com) and see for yourself what beauty one can discover in support acts. Geoff wants to show accordions are cool, well accordions are now officially cool and so is Geoff.
Performance
On stage we see just three microphones and one man, though he's not alone, he brought his trustworthy companion: his accordion. Yes you read that line before, but that's also the whole visual aspect of his show. In 30mins Geoff just stands there in scarcely colour shifting light playing his accordion, singing and talking to the audience. And because the show is rather static and dull when it comes to the visual aspect, his interaction with the audience is great. During his show he's joking around as well as introducing his songs. This man is an entertainer who made this venue look like a small smoky bar, very up, close and personal. And a final piece of advice from Geoff: “whiskey on whiskey on whiskey is risky! (Try to memorize that rhyme)
Setlist
02. Song Written in a Romanian Hospital
03. Maginot Line
04. Lucky Goddamn Jew
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 8
Light: 7
Total: 9
Kaizers Orchestra
We review quite a few Norwegian bands for the webzine and here's another one. This band makes a type of music that is hard to describe. Maybe 'heavy humpa prog rock' would fit them best. Humpa you said? Does that fit this webzine? It does when you combine it with some really powerful music with a twist. The masters of humpa are on tour to introduce their new album 'Maestro', after 2 other shows in the Netherlands and many others around Europe, Utrecht's Tivoli is the next stop.
Music
Drums, guitars, some pretty powerful vocals a contra bass and the Maestro behind keys, Kaizers Orchestra has entered the stage at Tivoli. Their music is had to capture in words because it's a mix of so many different styles. Most noticeable are the lyrics, apart from a small group of Norwegians who would happen to live in their home city nobody, not even other Norwegians, is able to understand anything of those most probably beautiful lyrics written in that strange Norwegian dialect. It really doesn't matter because singer Janove Ottesen is in good shape, managing to show his emotions only through his voice for those few who don't understand the lyrics. He does a great job because he grabs the attention from the start of each song and doesn't let go till he's finished. This is not only due to the voice of Janove but also because of the very diverse music; more or less all a mix of different styles with as main ingredients humpa and rock. Apart from the traditional instruments the band claims to use things they find along the road to make music. The oil drums and wheel rims which are frantically beaten look just a bit too new to be found on the way, but who cares; it sounds good. The sound during the show was good, not too loud and the vocals were clear in the mix so at least the emotion would and could be felt by the audience.
Drums, guitars, some pretty powerful vocals a contra bass and the Maestro behind keys, Kaizers Orchestra has entered the stage at Tivoli. Their music is had to capture in words because it's a mix of so many different styles. Most noticeable are the lyrics, apart from a small group of Norwegians who would happen to live in their home city nobody, not even other Norwegians, is able to understand anything of those most probably beautiful lyrics written in that strange Norwegian dialect. It really doesn't matter because singer Janove Ottesen is in good shape, managing to show his emotions only through his voice for those few who don't understand the lyrics. He does a great job because he grabs the attention from the start of each song and doesn't let go till he's finished. This is not only due to the voice of Janove but also because of the very diverse music; more or less all a mix of different styles with as main ingredients humpa and rock. Apart from the traditional instruments the band claims to use things they find along the road to make music. The oil drums and wheel rims which are frantically beaten look just a bit too new to be found on the way, but who cares; it sounds good. The sound during the show was good, not too loud and the vocals were clear in the mix so at least the emotion would and could be felt by the audience.
Performance
In the back of the stage there is a circular backdrop surrounded by lights, just in front of it the drummer. To the left of the stage an old piano, equipped with modern electronic parts and a nice old table light on top of it. The members of Kaizers Orchestra at least start the concert impeccably smart dressed in suits and ties, this however changes during the show when jackets are spun around about the audience like Janove is a professional stripper. Behind the keys is the band's leader, easily recognizable by his gasmask. Although part of the band's logo seeing the master himself wearing this uncomfortable piece of military outfit is weird, he should have delegated to another band member for his better comfort. It has to be warm on stage because for short periods Maestro takes the gasmask of so we can see who's behind the music. The band is depending on their music and the interaction with the audience. Talking about the audience, most looked like upper-class alternative people, their clothes just too carefully picked. Exceptions are those who are waving around with a Norwegian flag or the few around who actually can sing along most of the lyrics. The band clearly enjoys the show, banging on the oil drums, jumping on stage or even jumping into the crowd for a bit. In between songs Janove tries to cheer up the crowd, with quite a bit of success really. Kaizers just keeps on going till they and the audience are dead: Ompa til du dør (Humpa till you die)
In the back of the stage there is a circular backdrop surrounded by lights, just in front of it the drummer. To the left of the stage an old piano, equipped with modern electronic parts and a nice old table light on top of it. The members of Kaizers Orchestra at least start the concert impeccably smart dressed in suits and ties, this however changes during the show when jackets are spun around about the audience like Janove is a professional stripper. Behind the keys is the band's leader, easily recognizable by his gasmask. Although part of the band's logo seeing the master himself wearing this uncomfortable piece of military outfit is weird, he should have delegated to another band member for his better comfort. It has to be warm on stage because for short periods Maestro takes the gasmask of so we can see who's behind the music. The band is depending on their music and the interaction with the audience. Talking about the audience, most looked like upper-class alternative people, their clothes just too carefully picked. Exceptions are those who are waving around with a Norwegian flag or the few around who actually can sing along most of the lyrics. The band clearly enjoys the show, banging on the oil drums, jumping on stage or even jumping into the crowd for a bit. In between songs Janove tries to cheer up the crowd, with quite a bit of success really. Kaizers just keeps on going till they and the audience are dead: Ompa til du dør (Humpa till you die)
Setlist
01. KGB
02. Delikatessen
03. Knekker Deg Til Sist
04. Hevnervals
05. Container
06. Señor Flamingos Adieu
07. Blitzkrieg Baby
08. Bon Fra Helvete
09. Di Grind
10. Kontroll Pa Kontinentet
11. Christiania
12. Pa Ditt Skift
13. Auksjon
14. Dr. Mowinckel
15. Mann Mot Mann
16. Dieter Meyers Institution
17. Evig Pint
18. Ompa Til Du Dor
19. Maestro
----------
20. Mr. K. H. C. & Mag
21. Sigoynerblod
22. Bak et Helleluja
23. Resistancen
24. 170
----------
25 Die Polizei
02. Delikatessen
03. Knekker Deg Til Sist
04. Hevnervals
05. Container
06. Señor Flamingos Adieu
07. Blitzkrieg Baby
08. Bon Fra Helvete
09. Di Grind
10. Kontroll Pa Kontinentet
11. Christiania
12. Pa Ditt Skift
13. Auksjon
14. Dr. Mowinckel
15. Mann Mot Mann
16. Dieter Meyers Institution
17. Evig Pint
18. Ompa Til Du Dor
19. Maestro
----------
20. Mr. K. H. C. & Mag
21. Sigoynerblod
22. Bak et Helleluja
23. Resistancen
24. 170
----------
25 Die Polizei
Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 8
Sound: 8
Light: 8
Total: 8
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