Cross your boundaries

What I'm trying to say is, cross your music boundaries. Don't be stuck in only metal, only punk or hardcore. There's so much worth a listen out there. For the most of us there will always be a 'genre' that you love more than others. But as I always say: I only have two genres: Good music and bad music. Or maybe better said: Music I like/love and music and don't like. I probably have written this before, but there is a difference between musicians that put their heart and soul in it and musicians that only wanted to make music for the money. I won't say you can't combine those things, but there is a difference. 
I, myself started as a metalkid, then after I was totally into hardcore for a long while and into punkrock as well. And rock was a favourite for a good while as well. Now I just listen to everything and it differs from day to day or even hour to hour. As you might have seen, I visit quite some concerts and that can be one day Red Fang, the next Bodyjar and then I just go to Six Feet Under or Satyricon the day after. As you see, I'm not stuck to one 'genre', simply because good music doesn't limits itself to a genre or language for that matter.

I hope you can take some time to listen to all or a few of the bands that I'm going to tell you about today. 

First off some great metal from Sweden from these guys that I found a few years back on twitter. That band is called Another Hell and they can make some brutal metal I can tell you that! they catched my attention and I liked their metal and attitude from the start.
Listen to the pre-releases from their upcoming album: "Trade of the apocalypse" on Soundcloud now.
https://soundcloud.com/info-1639-1
https://www.facebook.com/anotherhellswe


I just got to know this band a few days ago, but I honestly can't stop listening to this debut-EP of the band called 'The Night'. It's kind of horrorpunkrock as you can say, I think (I don't know so much about them yet), but I'm almost sure that you won't be disappointed listening to this if you're into punkrock. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qX2gXl6Ey2E


If you live outside Brazil (or Portugal) and language doesn't matter when you listen to music, than you should give this awesome punkrock'n'roll band called Anzol from Brazil a listen. They sing in Portuguese yes, but oh they have so much cool songs that stick in your head. I can play this over and over and still never get bored with it, because it's well written and you feel the raw passion.
So far there's only one EP out, but I heard from them that they're working on new stuff. 
Here on bandcamp you can listen to it and find a link to buy the album:
anzol.bandcamp.com


It's a long time back and unfortunately they don't exist anymore: Satanic Surfers. My ultimate punkrock love from Sweden. Sweden is really a country with an ashtonishing amount of good bands. From metal to punkrock, you can all find it. Here a concert from them: http://youtu.be/dL6130uJdKU
If you want to enjoy Rodrigo's beautiful voice these days, you can buy the album ofcourse, but I advise you also to visit a show of the band where he's singing for now and that is: Atlas Losing Grip. They are amazing and their new album is about to be released soon. I honestly can't wait to hear it, Because their other albums are great too. Here you can hear their latest one: 
http://youtu.be/jNpXYIswzxo
Find them on FB: www.facebook.com/atlaslosinggrip


Besides listening to music I also updated the concerts as much as I could, added more festivals (even for 2015) to the 'Festivals'-tab and also some things to the tab 'Contribute to bands and projects'. Check it out regurlarly, because there are a few things worth your donation or pledge (bands making new albums, t-shirts/merch and good causes). 

Enjoy.

New albums out & more

In this post I wanted to bring some bands to your attention that had a album released recently (or a little bit longer) and also some longer existing bands that are simply worth your attention.

First Statues On Fire from Brazil: They released their album 'Phoenix' (English) a little while ago. They make great punkrock in mostly short and strong songs (Here you can get an idea how they sound:  http://youtu.be/M6gsdt4M2ZY). 

And you can get their album on black or red vinyl at: 
http://www.rookierecords.de and check their FB-site as well https://www.facebook.com/statuesonfire

A band that  I had the pleasure to see many years ago, with the Satanic Surfers, is back together to play liveshows again. They're called The Almighty Trigger Happy and they're from Canada and I couldn't be more happier that they play together again. That tour from them with the Satanic Surfers brings back many good memories and I simply missed the guys that gave me such a great time and great music together with the Satanic Surfers ofcourse. Still two of my (many) favourite bands. Check the albums out on Soundcloud http://m.soundcloud.com/thealmightytriggerhappy or read more about them on their FB-page: 
https://www.facebook.com/TheAlmightyTriggerHappy
They also have a campaign now to support the widow and son of their guitarist, Mark Gibson, that has unfortunately passed away. You can buy an awesome Trigger Happy t-shirt and at the same time help those people out.
http://teespring.com/thealmightytriggerhappy

Water Rats (from Brazil), released their (digital) EP already a long time ago but now they finally released a whole album, 'Ugly by nature' (English), with their old digital EP-songs included on it. They even have a 2-week USA-tour planned this month. So if you live in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas or near these cities be sure to check them out live. They are touring together with the band Lo-Fi. 

If you like them than you should consider buying the vinyl album and help them with touring this way as well. You can listen to the music here: http://waterrats.com.br/ and if you live outside Brazil than you can easily order the album with an e-mail to shows.sk@gmail.com

Not so long ago a great Dutch 3-piece band, also released a new album. That band is Bambix. They've been around for years and they're still going strong. They make quality punkrocksongs and it's a joy to watch them on the stage as well. The new album is called 'The Storytailor' and if you like them you should give that album a listen. You can see them here: http://youtu.be/RwxSKNpPEwQ
More Bambix-info here: http://www.bambix.org/joomla/ and here:
https://www.facebook.com/Bambixtheband

I think these bands are great and you should check them out, because they're all worth at least a listen. If you like it that's up to your own taste ofcourse..

I've also uploaded a lot of new videos on my channel on YouTube that's also called: hollandgirlie. Lots of cool and amazing metal, rock and punkbands to see live on there.

More bands and news to come soon.
And remember buying an album is supporting the band (in many ways)!

Concertreviews too, from now on

Is it unprofessional to write a blog and have a bandcrush (or several bandcrushes)?
Who cares, I'm not here especially to be objective, since this blog (and other pages) is to help the bands that I can and want to help and therefore my whole blog & co is my taste/opinion. You may like the same bands that I like or maybe not. But I like so many bands that you probably can find something of your taste as well. Maybe after a while I get more objective, since it's better to be honest and let the band learn and grow from your well-intentioned critisism than that they make the same 'mistake' again or delivering albums that all sound the same (although maybe a few bands can get away with that..).

But anyway, as you can see I started with an extra tab with concertreviews, since I thought that would be a nice extra for my site and since I visit lots if shows as a showaholic/concertaholic. 
And the first band I start with is Nuclear from Chile!


Nuclear at The Cave in Amsterdam, NL, 24/07/2014
I got to know this thrashmetalband from Chile through Twitter already quite a while ago and I did like their music from the start. So when this time they played at some reachable cities for me here in Europe, I definitely needed to go and see them live. Past thursday was the day. I went to Amsterdam to see Nuclear. This was also the first time I met the guys and it felt good that they had noticed and appreciated my support on twitter. You know that I help the bands that I like whenever I can, but this makes it really better, just the appreciation.
But okay back to the concert, unfortunately I missed the 2 supportbands, but I was on time to see the whole Nuclear-show from the start. 
The band started with the song 'Inner Hate,' that was released last year,

and from the first song the crowd went crazy. I think it was pretty full for the small bar that The Cave is. It's too small for a real circlepit or something but they sure had something going there in the front. 

Maybe they were already tired because these were the last few dates of the tour, but they didn't show it on stage. Small or big stage, it doesn't matter for these guys, they went fully for it and were eager to play more. I already knew I had to see more of this than one show and I already regretted that I couldn't make it earlier this year when they were also here in Europe. 

Sadistic method for crime, also a great song that had a good response, but in fact all songs did. Then near the end it was Asphyxia and Apatrida, that's officially one of my favourites now, what a song, already that start...after this you want an encore for sure. And yes there was a little 'encore', even if the place is too small to get off the stage and return, it was the cover 'Chaos is my life' from The Exploited. Great choice. That's also a big plus, loving metal and punk. No better thing than an open-minded musician that has great taste in music with no limitations to the 'genre' (as we like to call it). Well, that was the end of the show, damn, this left me only craving for more...

Setlist:

Inner hate

Criminal solicitation

Sadistic method for crime

Eleventh block

Architects of war

Againsthem

E-faith

Asphyxia

Apatrida

Chaos is my life

Here already one video with Asphyxia/Apatrida, more to follow:

http://youtu.be/faquVYdMfN8?list=UUbMGUAGR6zkPFzE_5-Q7YVA

Check my YouTube for more videos:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbMGUAGR6zkPFzE_5-Q7YVA/videos

Concerts, merch & streaming

Have you ever thought about the reason why you see more and more bands asking the bands to help them out with pledging/donating? For example they ask money to make a new album, to tour (so you can see them live), for a new van and that kind of things.

It seems like I repeat myself and probably I do yes, but just think about it.

You see more and more bands doing this because making music cost money (buy or maintain their instruments, hire a studio, record their music ideas), touring around the world to entertain you (and ofcourse themselves) well then you need a bus or car, gas, food, a sleeping place and ofcourse the planeticket if your touring country isn't near your country. 

That's why I put concerts on here too of so many bands as possible that I like and on my twitter too. That's also why I show songs of bands that I saw live on YouTube. Because I want to make them more known around the world, since they are good bands and nice people that deserve to have their dream(s) realized. 

So the bands/artist/musicians gain nothing if you stream it for free  or if you download illegally. Spotify or Deezer or something like that is already a big improvement since you pay a little for that (mostly) and you can get to know a lot new bands that you never even heard of (for a very low price). 

But the best way to make sure your bands keep on making music is:

buying the albums, t-shirts and other merchandise on bandcamp or iTunes (and similar sites where you can buy albums), the stores of the bands themselves online and at shows/concerts.

So I think I said enough times for a while that (making) music isn't for free, but think about it and you'll come to the conclusion that you are partially responsible if you expect new music and more shows of the bands and artists you want to see!

Crowdfunding

These days more and more bands need the help of their fans to make a new cd, buy a new van to tour or multiple other things.

Maybe you don't like it, but this is the future. Why? Because they hardly make money with their music anymore, since still a lot of people rather download music illegal than pay for the hard work the bands put in it.

Why do you think bands come with things like beer, wines and all other crazy merch/sidestuff? Because they need to make money first before they can make more music again for YOU! I don't say to go support bands and buy merch when you can for nothing..I know that making music and especially touring isn't cheap.

A lot of bands do a little tour in their vacation (if they can get the days off from their normal work that they do to make money for their families), and they are lucky to make it even. 

What keeps all these bands going? Why do they still keep making music? Because of their passion, their drive, the feeling that this thing called music gives us. 

So, realize that the surviving of the bands you like will (when you don't count fights and passing away of bandmembers in the whole thing) rely for a big part on you, the fan, too! 

Show your support!!

Reunions

Reunions of bands can be so awesome. Some are good, some are bad, but still we want to see them that one more time. Just to see if the feeling is still there that they gave you with their music or because you remembered that the shows were always so great. 
I just saw Prong (prongmusic) a few months ago. I don't know if he ever really stopped with the band (Mr. Victor I mean), but it felt like a reunion, but I knew when I saw them again it was more like a resurrection. And no not like the Walking dead or something, but more like a phoenix, all revived and like new. Because wow they were awesome live, truly awesome. When I think back of the show that I saw at the Patronaat in Haarlem, NL...oh I still smile, what a show. 
The Police too by the way, that is some years ago too. They were pretty good. Not that I like big arenas, smaller venues give a better feeling musicwise. It feels like you're more part of it, like it's you and the band and not you, thousands of others and oh yeah..the band too. If you like the Police, Sting's old band but you miss the vibe and the feeling of old times or want to get the idea how a Police-show would have been when they were younger..then I recommend a show of Fiction Plane (fictionplane), so good. Just like how the Police would have been and they made so many great songs already.
Just was in London last week, but I got just back in time to see one reunion show of The Travoltas (therealtravoltas), oh my, I have missed these guys so much, unbelievable. This feelgood surfpunk is so addictive. And I totally remember again why I always followed them to see so many concerts as possible.
One band I would really like to see again is Pulley (pulleymatters). They already did some shows again, but mostly in the USA. If I remember correctly they were here in Europe last year and I unfortunately had to miss them, since I was not in Europe and I felt quite bad about it. Well you know, because I love them, like I love so many bands but okay I love music, it's my true passion, I can't help it. At least this year Ten Foot Pole (tenfootpole) is coming to Europe and that makes me superhappy too, since Ten Foot Pole/Pulley are like twins, not because they look too much alike, but still they belong together, one way or the other. 
I can not forget the band that toured with a band I love very much, the Satanic Surfers, and they are called: The Almighty Trigger Happy (The-Almighty-Trigger-Happy). They play awesome punkrock and they have tunes and give shows you won't forget. They just started again with playing this year and I really hope that I can see them playing live, even if that means that I have to visit Canada for that.
Whoa the rest of the year my ears are going to hate me so much...so many good bands (not all are reunions) coming this way: Only Crime (officialonlycrime), Prong again, Ten Foot Pole, Richie Kotzen (richiekotzen), Ignite, OFF! (offband), Kataklysm again, Havok again too, Hatebreed, Chimaira (chimaira) and I can go on. And comeback albums are not all bad, they're not doomed to fail on beforehand and they are not all done for the money. When music is in your blood it's often what you HAVE to do, simply because you need to. It's a feeling inside that musicians will know.

Friendship

Cherish your friends, because one day they just dislike you for no good reason. No matter if you were a good friend or not, they just don't want to see it. Their heads so filled with other stuff that they don't even care about a friend that genuinely cares about them, annoying or not. I hope this person finds the way back to the amazing friendship that we had, before it's too late. I miss you.