RoD header

Translate

Ekko, Utrecht, the Netherlands
March 17th 2006
Code 64 & Trauma Pet

Where in other countries cybergothic seems to be quite a big scene, the Netherlands is still slowly but surely getting into it. Monthly dance party Cyberia sometimes has concerts before the real dancing begins. Today they hosted two bands who could prove themselves. To keep an eye on Cyberia's parties check out: www.cybergothic.nl

Trauma Pet

This UK bases trio has just released their debut album called 'You cannot feel this' which they presented at tonight’s party. Trauma Pet was formed in 2003 by Ellie and Tara who in 2005 invited Pete to join the band. Relatively new, but after over 30 shows all over Europe it's time for the new album to see the light of day live in Utrecht.

Music
The band kicks off with their dark electro music when it's still very early for a club night. This for sure doesn't bother them and they are giving their best on stage anyway. It may look a bit odd to hear so much electro in the music when all you see on stage is Tara on Bass, Pete on guitars and then Elie grabbing your attention with her nice and warm vocals. This all however doesn't seem to bother, it's the music they have written and when you combine the live instruments with the harddisk tracks and include the live vocals the music sounds really good. Surprising perhaps to those who just happened to bump into this band by chance, a miss for those who didn't. Keep an eye out on this band, who manages to combine quite a few influences into their own sound. Definitely recommended for your future agenda, check out samples on their website if you have to trial our thoughts on this band. The sound of tonight wasn't really balanced too well, the live instruments were at times totally gone but all in all the melody lines, vocals and bass came across well enough to get the essence of their music.



Performance
Now this is something were respect is what they deserve. This band started their gig with a staggering 10 people in the venue and ended with a whooping 20 at max. And did this stop them from trying to give their best? Not at all, they just tried to do their best. Of course most attention went out to singer Elie, who was for most of the time in the spots, her outfit being very lady like as were her moves. Her gracious moves and distinguished looks were only accentuated by her taking her shoes off somewhere down the gig, continuing on stocking feet. Interaction within the band was good with Elie visiting Pete quite a few times, just interaction with the audience was almost not there. They tried hard of course, but with so little people inside and those close to the stage dancing the band getting in touch with the audience was close to a mission impossible. Too bad, this band deserves another chance for a bigger audience, they can do it! The lights during the gig were rather colourful with lots of smoke leaving your focal point at their singer.



Setlist
01. Affinity
02. Rain
03. Puppet
04. Sick
05. Fragile
06. The Darkness Inside
07. You Cannot Feel This
08. Skein
09. Controlled Hysteria
10. Breaking

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 7
Sound: 7
Light: 7
Total: 7



Code 64

And yet another band on stage that releases their new album in April 2006. Swedish synthpop band Code 64 did their European album release in the small Dutch venue 'Ekko' just before the dance party could begin. The show is ready for 'Departure', here we go.

Music
Power and melody are the words that come to mind when you listen to this three piece band from Lysekil, Sweden. Two computer wizards make sure the beats and melodies are played well during this rather short gig, while the vocals are adding the required emotion. A good piece of music for the audience to warm them up for tonight's party. It's just too bad they did only about 6 or 7 songs and could hardly be persuaded to do an encore. Sound in the venue was decent, all components of the music were clear in the mix and the volume wasn't too loud as well.


Performance
Lot's of movement on stage, lots of flashing lights and two guys behind their laptop looking at the screen in ultra-concentration mode. At the same time their singer is ferociously walking from left to right trying to get the audience along. It seems however the audience doesn't know their music and is reluctant which seems to somehow annoy the singer. Maybe this is the reason why they played such a short set, rather disappointing for a band that has come all the way to the Netherlands for this. To summarize there was a lot of dynamics in the show, but they lacked contact within the band and with the audience. Too bad because their music has potential, they just should work a bit on interaction it seems to get ready for bigger shows.

Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 6
Sound: 7
Light: 7
Total: 7





More photos in page 2
{jos_sb_discuss:17}

Comments powered by CComment