November 24nd - Nighttown Rotterdam, NL

Huray, after Cologne the second gig of this tour we're doing. 

5 PM 

My friend Roel and I are leaving for Rotterdam, armed with two bottles of water, chips and a route map. (yes, we learn :D) The time we put ahead to arrive in Rotterdam was 7PM, so we would be right on time when the doors opened. But then well...the wheather was quite bad, raining the whole way, lots of traffic and as we seem to make it a habit: we got lost :D. We always manage to get the correct exit off the highway, but then for some reason we always mess up the route planner info so we always have to ask for the venue anyway. Fortunately Dutch people are not like Belgians: showing the total wrong direction to foreigners :D. It was the first time we went to Rotterdam and I must say I was really impressed. The harbour looks stunning at night. Wonderful light scenery, very modern and aestetic. After driving around in Rotterdam for about 30 min. we arrived at 'Nighttown'. My first impression: a dark, criminal-like club as seen in the maffia movies. (don't feel offended this was just my first impression from the outside, please continue reading about how beautiful the inside was :D) 

Anyway, we parked our car close to the venue, but one thing I hate about the Netherlands is their way of parking fees. You have to pay with chips (which is quite impossible for a foreigner as we don't have those chips) So Roel and I decided to go and ask the people of Nighttown whether there was another sollution or whether we could risk it leaving our car in the street near the venue without paying. But then: We didn't even get out of the car properly or we got harrassed by a street drug dealer. Accusing us of being racist (as he was black) -> two remarks: first: if there's one thing you CAN NOT call us it's 'racists', second: we didn't even say a word, we didn't even get out of the car with our entire body. Anyway, the guy kept talking to us about his jail history for fighting etc, about his poor little sister and the fact he wanted some money from us in change for coke or weed. Even our comment: we don't use coke and we have weedplants at home didn't back the guy off. 30 min we've been trying to get rid of him. Finally he realised we were 'lost cases' so he went on to the next 'victim'.  

Once in Tivoli the people told us there was a huge underground parking where we could pay with cash money. Huray!! everything seemed to work out well after all. The parking lot was 500 meters away from the venue but somehow I managed to trash a border that was (according to me) placed in the middle of the street. Off went our hub cap. After we got back from the parking we grabbed off the street and placed it next to a wall so we'd pick it up after the gig. 

9PM 

Right on time to catch Keller Williams for the first time. Great musician, very nice technique and brilliant guitar player. Interesting to see him work with the sticks to make rhythm! Ah yes I promise to say something nice about the venue: well the inside looked pretty cool. A little balcony at the back on top. Further at the back steps to the bar, very cool spot to do a gig that's for sure. 

10PM

Michael Franti & Spearhead enter the stage. There isn't much to say about the set cause it was almost the same as Cologne. So I'm not complaining: some of my favourites were there: Listener supported, love is da shit, war, Family affair, ... One thing that I NEED to mention: the song 'this change' is really a beauty. It's the first time I heard it live and I must say, it's wonderful. Although the set was pretty good I had the feeling the band was a bit tired. Michael's vocals weren't that firm towards the end and the band didn't rock as massive as in Cologne. Nevertheless it was a party for the whole crowd. From front to back to top, everyone was shaking. I saw it and approved :D. And as I said Dave rocked Cologne, for me it was Radio who rocked Rotterdam, his beatboxing was sooooper and even massively better than in Cologne!!!

01AM

Picking up our hub cap and straight back home for a two hour drive back to Antwerp!! This time without getting lost! See ya tomorrow!  

Funny detail:

Michael said it was Carl's birthday today. Nothing strange about that you'd say, but he said exactly the same thing as in Cologne. Only this time Carl was laughing and nodding his head when Michael said it. 

SETLIST

01. Listener Supported

02. What I be

03. Pray for grace

04. Yes I will

05. Love is da shit

06. Positive

07. We don't mind

08. Oh my god

09. RadioActive solo > Day Oh > Billy Jean > Radio Solo

10. Rock the nation > Seven nation army > Rock the nation

11. People in tha middle (reggae style)

12. Love why did you have to go away?

13. This change

14. Everyone deserves music

15. Soulshine

16. Every single soul

17. Stay Human > family affair > Stay human

_________________________________

18. We don't stop

19. War

20. Bomb the world

21. Sometimes > Smells like teen spirit

22. Sleng Teng

23. Taxi Radio

24. Never too late

Playing time: From 10 PM till 0.30AM

Johan