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Tivoli de Helling, Utrecht, The Netherlands
March 3rd 2006
Rapalje

A night of folk in Utrecht… what was the opening act again, nothing? So just Rapalje? Yes, just Rapalje all night long. And what a night it was, full of dance, song, beer and laughter. This pickpocket, gigolo, beggar and their guest sure know how to show their audience a good night.

At the entrance everyone who came in received a playing card with a member of Rapalje on it. There was a long row of people waiting to hang up their coats. Laughter and music filled the air, there was a great atmosphere hanging in the air that night. The band members were walking around and the merchandise had a great evening.

Music
With their special guest David Myles there were four men on stage this evening. One band member started and then one by one the rest joined in on violin, bag pipe, drum, banjo and harmonica (the latter both by one man). Vocals were done by all, in different combinations for each song, no matter which combination their voices are all tuned in to each other well. Their second song ‘You couldn’t have come at a better time’ was sung especially for the audience, since they couldn’t have played here unless we would all be there. The third song ‘Spel Zonder Regels’ (Game Without Rules) was one they also play in their theatre show, it is a quiet song, they play it there because there are so many rules in the theatre; the audience can’t smoke, dance or drink during their performance. They play a cover of Manowar, it may be the hardest band they cover but it was the softest song. After this they grunted their way into ‘The Drunken Sailor’ which the audience sang along to.

Performance
From the start of the show there was a buzz of excitement in the air, this just had to become a great evening, no doubt about it. The stage was lit with warm coloured lights, it was a bit dark at the sides though, sometimes a band member was not that well lit, but it didn’t matter. The audience was at ease. Once the songs got more danceable the audience loosened up and started to dance, more and more until there were sweaty people everywhere. During the second half of the concert there were even people crowd surfing. Besides just playing their songs, they act on stage, you can see what they are singing about. The songs a brought as if they were real troubadours telling the stories they have learned on their journey. The band always keeps in touch with the audience. During some songs more than others, while singing the lyrics “eerst wil ik vrijen” (first I want to make love) of ‘Wat Zullen We Drinken’ (What Shall We Drink) one of the band members stepped of the stage towards our photographer and brought her a kiss on the hand. At the end of the show we were shown that the band wore their kilts as they were meant to be worn… 4 full moons in a row.

Rating
Music 8
Performance 9
Sound 7
Light 7
Total 8 (8.1)

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