Rock4 - A Night at the Opera
February 4th 2006 - Muzenhof Leiderdorp
I saw the Queenshow for the very first time in October 2005 in Raalte, but because Martin couldn't come along that day, I had to buy tickets for another Queenshow. I didn't regret at all because I loved the show and I was so happy to see it again. We stayed over at my parents house for the weekend, because they live pretty close to Leiderdorp. I was really hoping this a cappella concert would just take place, and that no weird things would happen like last weekend.
But of course, everything went just as planned. The theater was easy to find (thank you map24) and of course we were way too early, as usual. We sat in the third row, pretty good seats, only a bit to the side. When we walked inside, the air was filled with smoke. Behind us, two women were chatting, and I had to laugh about them. "It's a bit smokey here, don't you think?" "Yes, I think they let a smokebomb go off" "Maybe it's part of the act" "Yes, but it might just get worse!" Later, one of them said: "I didn't know this was going to be a cappella" "No? I knew. It's just like Montezuma's Revenge." I almost broke into laughter, cause the fact that Rock4 and Montezuma's Revenge both sing a cappella is probably the only similarity hahaha. "It's pretty clever, they don't need to put their instruments ready". Again, I had to withhold myself from laughing, like the voice doesn't need a cound check ;)
Ok, time to get the show started. If you want to read about every song in detail, you can check my report from October 2005 (inlcuding pretty pictures), because it was practically the same. I'll try to stay a little bit shorter here.... (ok, I admit, that's hard for me...)
After the beautiful intro with Innuendo and It's a beautiful day
Rock4 gets a polite applause from the audience and they continue singing Killer Queen.
After that Peter welcomes us to this show. He tells us they are happy to be back in this theater, where they
once performed their first "Pure" show. During You take my breath away and
Under Pressure I notice the audience is getting more and more enthusiastic. Luc
Devens is teasing his collegues by waiting quite a long time before starting singing the final sentence during
Under Pressure. Luc Nellison, Peter and Nico stay frozen on stage, waiting and
waiting. The audience is laughing and finally Luc Devens sings the final sentence. Big applause and laughter :D
The questions "Why do we sing Queen" and "Why do we wear these outfits" have to be answered again. I have to admit I like these proper suits, but I'd love to see the outfits with leather shorts, glitter and glamour, big wigs, guitars and chest hair one day ;) Next, they sing Save me and Another one bites the dust. Luc and Nico end the song competing again. Luc is showing us his best vocal percussion part and Nico his deepest tones. They move from the left to the right side of the stage and back again, depending of who is most impressing. I love this part, for it brings some humor in the show.
Three more songs to go before the break starts. Good old fashioned loverboy, Play the game and finally Somebody to love. The audience has to help with the choir-part and Luc Devens divides the audience in three groups. He forgets the few people on the balcony, and Luc Nelisson is pointing at them. "Oh, are they allowed to join as well?" Luc Devens says. Luc Nelisson is standing in front of us, and he's going to let us hear our part. "You will do this", he says, and he shows us a vocal percussion which I will _never_ be able to do. The audience has to laugh. Ok, he was only joking (*relief*), and we sing our "Find me somebody to love". After all three groups are singing this line in different tones, the four men look at each other and say "coffee?" and they walk off the stage ;)
During the break it's very crowded in the hall, and I'm glad to be back in my chair to enjoy the second part of the show. It's a wonderful night, the audience is cool, Rock4 is great, we both love it and the chair in front of me is empty which makes it easier to make pictures. What more do I want? Well, I'd like some more changes in choreography. Luc Devens, for instance, is always standing or sitting on the left side of the stage. It's almost impossible to get him on a picture. Most of the time the four men just stand in a line, from left to right it's Luc Devens, Peter, Luc Nelisson, Nico. Sometimes two of them are sitting on the bench in the back, sometimes they are all sitting there (again from left to right Luc D, Peter, Luc N, Nico). So actually, it's quite static. I've gave it some thoughts, and I guess Queen songs don't suit pretty, vary choreo's much. But.... I don't know. It could be better. But, apart from the 'static' choreo there's often a lot of interaction between the singers. Their eyecontact and especially Luc Devens smiles to his collegues are worth a lot. It's obvious they are having a lot of fun and are really enjoying to be on stage.
The second part of the show is the Night at the Opera. They begin with three songs, Death on two legs, Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon and I'm in love with my car. Of course, there are a lot of well-known Queen songs, but there are also a lot of less known Queen songs. But, there are also very well-known Queen songs which are almost unrecognisable when Rock4 makes the arrangement. A good example is You're my best friend. It's Queen, but totally Rock4 style.
Next is '39. Luc Nelisson is singing the lead, and I notice he's got a beatiful voice. He's mostly doing the vocal percussion, but I'm glad he's got a lead here as well. Just like Peter had got the lead in Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon. I think it's good they vary this from time to time. I'd love Nico to sing a lead as well, maybe in the next show?
Queen has got some very hard rock songs. The problem is, Rock4 only consists of four people. So how can they sing such a song? Well, by letting Luc and Luc sing it together. Peter and Nico leave the stage, it's time for Sweet Lady. Apart from the strophes and choruses this songs seems to me as one big improvisation. It's great, it goes on and on and it's so excited because you can feel the tension of "what are they going to do?". Luc Devons suddenly mixes a little part of Papa was a rolling stone in it and later something which sounds like opera. Luc Nelisson keeps drumming on, it's just so perfect. They deserve (and get) a big applause.
Peter introduces Nico to the audience. Nico is the bass singer of the group, but he's actually a very
emotional, romantic and sensitive person. They will let him introduce the next song. I have to smile, because
I know exactly what's coming. After Nico's "Goedenavond" (good evening), people already begin to laugh.
His soft, whispering voice, together with his southern accent, sounds so sensual and funny at the same time.
He tells us about his idea of romance, it's the talk about the see and the water filling the footsteps
he made in the sand. It's about a Seaside Rendezvous.
The Prophet's song is again brilliant. The echoing voices give me goosebumps, as if there are five Peters, five Nico's, and ten Lucs singing in this theater. Wooaaaaoow. After the song, Luc Nelisson tells us about the history of Rock4, and how they started singing as a "shu-wa-di-wap" band.
Peter is introduced as a talented computer hacker. For a short time, it wasn't clear if he would sing
with Rock4 or continue his career as a hairdresser model. Luckely he has chosen wisely :) Nico, the
Barry White voice-alike, Luc Devens, the sexiest man on Rock4, and the one and only captain of the ship,
Luc Nelisson.
They sing Love of my life and Good company and the
end of the show is coming close... But it can't end without Bohemian Rhapsody.
And after this great song, they get a huge applause. Oh what a night. There's one extra song,
Show must go on, and it actually should go on. I love it! If you're not a
Queen lover yet, you'll become one during this show. And if you love a cappella, you'll just love Rock4.
After the show we wait for the men and have a chat. We talk about the Queenshow, about their next show, and about their previous show, called "Pure". We've never seen "Pure", which I regret so much. It just never happenend somehow. Nico tells us we only have got one chance left, for their next "Pure" is the final one! There's something tickling inside of me, I really want to go there! I'm going to try to gather tickets and if I succeed, you'll be able to read another Rock4 concert report here very soon! :D The Rock4-Virus has really stroke me, I'm having a Rock4 fever. Feels good, to be honoust :)