If you tell a progressive rock lover in the Netherlands you are going to visit a concert in Zoetermeer they think
right away you are going to Poppodium Boerderij. Not so strange, because they bring the most well know progressive
rock acts to their stage. It is without any doubt the number one place to be if you want to see most of the acts
in our genre. However they are not the only venue in this city who puts progressive rock acts on their stage.
JJ Music House is another household name you have to remember. They have also been around a rather long time and
every weekend and sometimes even during week days have (prog) bands playing on their small but cosy stage. Yes
indeed, a small but cosy stage I can tell you. Because the Background Magazine team visited this wonderful venue
to watch a prog act on their stage for the first time. Namely
Plackband from the Hague, a city not so far
away from Zoetermeer. A band which was resurrected from the grave last year with several comeback shows. For one
of them, the one for Progfrog (see
review), we have already reviewed on our website. But since that time the band
has had to say goodbye to their bass player
Albert de Keijzer due to physical (health) problems. However,
a good replacement was found in
Philip Platt. Of course, we wanted to see how he did his job to replace
good old Albert. Therefore, we were invited by the band to witness one of their concerts with him in the line
up. His second concert with the band. And of course, it is always nice to visit a new venue which is suitable
for prog acts to play on their stage.
Hugo Remmelt
|
| Hugo Remmelt |
Unfortunately, the audience had to wait for a half hour before they could see the five musician on stage because
a support act was booked as well. None other than
Hugo Remmelt. Who? you will say. But the people who saw
Plackband in their early days will remember him most certainly. Most of them who visited in those days the Paap
in their home town, because that's where it all started for the band. Sometimes with a full house for 3 nights
in a row. And with a permanent support act, namely Hugo Remmelt a singer songwriter. The band was most certainly
very happy to restore this tradition by bringing him on stage just before the band showed their musical tricks
themselves. The band told the press they are going to make JJ MusicHouse a second Paap. Not sure if they were
serious about it! However, for people who are into progressive rock, the music of this musician had nothing to
offer them. It didn't mean he was a bad player. Not at all. Most certainly a gifted guitar player with a wonderful
voice. Think of people such as
Ralph McTell. He is known from the singer-songwriter trio
Remmelt, Muus
& Femke, and performed a mix of old self written tunes, covers from the 70s and brand new written compositions
especially for this evening. A great performance I must say but unfortunately not the repertoire I want to hear
to warm up the audience!
Plackband
Soon after Remmelt left the stage the other performers climbed the stage after him. I think it might have been
a few minutes. The large crowd in front of them, mostly a lot older friends and relatives, witnessed them doing
almost the same songs as they did the last couple of times. Meaning little differences in the set list as when
they were at the farewell party of the Amazing ProgFrog team. So, I won´t go into much detail this time around.
Well of course there are still the three members from the original line-up from the 70s. Namely
Tom van der
Meulen (drums),
Ronald Brautigam (guitar and backing vocals) and
Michel van Wassem (keyboards
and backing vocals). Again, with
Koos Sekreve on lead vocals, like on all reunion gigs. He also once again
added some percussion and additional keyboard (Mellotron) parts to the many Plackband classics. Classics which
many of the visitors were singing along with. Songs such as
The Hunchback,
After The Battle and
Sign Of The knife (once again dedicated to their biggest fan who died last year much too early). All tunes
on which new band member
Philip Platt easily could play the sometimes complex bass parts. Too bad that
during the last three songs from the set list his bass pedals did not work as should have been. While watching
him playing, it almost seems as he has been around in the band for a very long time. So two thumbs up for this
excellent musician. But of course, the same thumbs go up for the other four members on stage. What a great job
they all did during their excellent performance. The band was on top of their game once again. Just like in the
old days. Most of all
Blue Flashes (In The Red Light District) was perfectly done and has become one of
my favourites during their concerts. Which I unfortunately can't say about the
Pierre Rapsat cover
L'Enfant Du 92Eme which opened the second set. Well, it's nice how they tried to turn it into a progressive
rock tune with an excellent guitar solo done by Brautigam at the end. But including two
Genesis covers
into their own songs I can approve of more. Because the way he copies the amazing guitar solo of
Firth Of Fifth
during
The Good Earth is out of the ordinary gave me shivers down my spine. This can also be said about
the way they did
Los Endos. Last year Brautigam played only a short part of
Dance On A Volcano at
the end of
See The Dwarf. He explained to me that the last notes of the chord are exactly the same as
the intro of
Dance On A Volcano. In the rehearsal room he sometimes played that as a joke and of course
immediately said that it was a joke but that he wouldn't do that live. But in the end they studied it to perform
it, but then in the form of
Los Endos. Well, they brought it on stage like Genesis did at the time. Just amazing!
What a way to end an incredible performance. I guess they can go on and on for a very long time if they keep doing
these kind of concerts all the time. And what an amazing venue as well with a sound engineer which all
musicians only could wish for while they are on stage. The sound was just perfect just like the whole atmosphere
at the venue. Hopefully more progressive rock acts can climb the stage of this small but cosy stage. Yes, indeed
a small but cosy stage! I guess as a music lover you don't won't anything more but getting to see the musicians
just in front of you with an excellent audio sound to listen to!
Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith)
