From the V.I.P Seats - Full House
Tonight we had something extra on the cards.. A presenter! Our good friend, songwriter, poet and guildmember Alex Franken, asked if he could use his presentation skills to improve on our format, in exchange for a few drinks and a lot of respect. He will be doing so for the entire month of December. It went really well this first time. It was obvious that he had done his homework, and had lots to say about each artist.
We began with Orfeo. I was a bit late (5 past 9) and most of the gear was already set up. The microphones and cables were assembled but not yet working. After I got the monitors etc sorted, the first 20 minutes of the night were wasted sorting out broken equipment. We found a broken microphone and a broken cable? But that's not what you want to hear about, on to Orfeo.
This Amsterdam-based artist hasn't performed in over a year. His gig in Lokaal Vredebreuk was the first in a long time. Accompanied by Frans Molenaar on guitar, he sang his songs with a beautiful, sensitive, sultry voice. Orfeo falls in the category "polished voice". Rarely have I heard such a smooth voice. Although Orfeo wrote several famous Dutch popsongs, including "Sacrifice” which was a hit from the Dutch singer Anouk, he performed several covers. He completed his set with a few fantastic original compositions. He had bought quite a lot of people with him to Den Haag (or his fans were from Den Haag, I’m not sure), but these guests stuck around, along with Orfeo himself, and we had a good chat. Orfeo is interested in performing more often for the songwriter’s guild, so you will have the opportunity to see him perform again soon, in Café Murphy’s Law.
Following Orfeo was Danielle Liebeskind. Danielle presented a unique set. With her acoustic nylon string guitar amplified with a vocal microphone, it was not easy for this amateur (purely out of depuration) soundman. I had to balance a fine line between feedback and getting the guitar loud enough. I managed to get something in the right area? She had a solitary candle beside her, and the intimacy drew the public physically closer. I got some really good photos. I would suggest that next time Danielle brings a feedback buster, or a guitar with a pickup. I’m not here to criticize, but the choice of guitar did not do her justice. It's a shame, because her songs are really good. The public enjoyed it, and Alex gave his compliments too.
Chris and Abigail began around 11pm. With Chris was on guitar and Abigail with vocals as stable as a rock, it seemed that the night was complete already. They played a few covers but mostly soul-tinged, own material. A cosy set with beautiful guitar playing and vocals as good as the guitar. A gig to remember. The audience, especially the other gigging artists of the night were full of respect about Chris and Abigail.
As a cherry on the cake, we had quite an extraordinary gig to finish the night off around midnight by Troost & Drost. With a cello and an accordion, these guys out of Can of Be played a solid set built out of purely instrumental songs. It was fun, and something different, for a change. The guys managed to keep the audience where they were, still in the café. This in contradiction of what often happens around midnight on a Sunday night. These members out of Can of Be knew to make the audience curious enough to stay and check out what is going to happen next. Sadly, Orfeo left already, but Chris, Abigail and Daniëlle were totally enjoying the performance. Even their lead singer, Julie Scott was there to support these two artists.
All together, it was definitely a successful night. It did get a little late for me, as it was far past two a clock before I even left the café, but it was worth it. Afterwards I had some social talk with the artists, and with Dries, the barman off course. Next week we got another flashy line-up, this time with Ramon, Gaya (from Amsterdam, out of Girls ‘n’ Strings, and the Amsterdam Songwritersguild, off course) and Eva Louise Williams, a newbie in the scène, with a lot of promising stories going around about her. I will put a link online to the pictures for the people who missed the gig this night
Jaap (Den Haag Songwritersguild)
We began with Orfeo. I was a bit late (5 past 9) and most of the gear was already set up. The microphones and cables were assembled but not yet working. After I got the monitors etc sorted, the first 20 minutes of the night were wasted sorting out broken equipment. We found a broken microphone and a broken cable? But that's not what you want to hear about, on to Orfeo.
This Amsterdam-based artist hasn't performed in over a year. His gig in Lokaal Vredebreuk was the first in a long time. Accompanied by Frans Molenaar on guitar, he sang his songs with a beautiful, sensitive, sultry voice. Orfeo falls in the category "polished voice". Rarely have I heard such a smooth voice. Although Orfeo wrote several famous Dutch popsongs, including "Sacrifice” which was a hit from the Dutch singer Anouk, he performed several covers. He completed his set with a few fantastic original compositions. He had bought quite a lot of people with him to Den Haag (or his fans were from Den Haag, I’m not sure), but these guests stuck around, along with Orfeo himself, and we had a good chat. Orfeo is interested in performing more often for the songwriter’s guild, so you will have the opportunity to see him perform again soon, in Café Murphy’s Law.
Following Orfeo was Danielle Liebeskind. Danielle presented a unique set. With her acoustic nylon string guitar amplified with a vocal microphone, it was not easy for this amateur (purely out of depuration) soundman. I had to balance a fine line between feedback and getting the guitar loud enough. I managed to get something in the right area? She had a solitary candle beside her, and the intimacy drew the public physically closer. I got some really good photos. I would suggest that next time Danielle brings a feedback buster, or a guitar with a pickup. I’m not here to criticize, but the choice of guitar did not do her justice. It's a shame, because her songs are really good. The public enjoyed it, and Alex gave his compliments too.
Chris and Abigail began around 11pm. With Chris was on guitar and Abigail with vocals as stable as a rock, it seemed that the night was complete already. They played a few covers but mostly soul-tinged, own material. A cosy set with beautiful guitar playing and vocals as good as the guitar. A gig to remember. The audience, especially the other gigging artists of the night were full of respect about Chris and Abigail.
As a cherry on the cake, we had quite an extraordinary gig to finish the night off around midnight by Troost & Drost. With a cello and an accordion, these guys out of Can of Be played a solid set built out of purely instrumental songs. It was fun, and something different, for a change. The guys managed to keep the audience where they were, still in the café. This in contradiction of what often happens around midnight on a Sunday night. These members out of Can of Be knew to make the audience curious enough to stay and check out what is going to happen next. Sadly, Orfeo left already, but Chris, Abigail and Daniëlle were totally enjoying the performance. Even their lead singer, Julie Scott was there to support these two artists.
All together, it was definitely a successful night. It did get a little late for me, as it was far past two a clock before I even left the café, but it was worth it. Afterwards I had some social talk with the artists, and with Dries, the barman off course. Next week we got another flashy line-up, this time with Ramon, Gaya (from Amsterdam, out of Girls ‘n’ Strings, and the Amsterdam Songwritersguild, off course) and Eva Louise Williams, a newbie in the scène, with a lot of promising stories going around about her. I will put a link online to the pictures for the people who missed the gig this night
Jaap (Den Haag Songwritersguild)
Labels: den haag, den haag songwriters guild, live music, musicians, songwriters
posted by dhsg at 9:49 PM
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