Rock4 - Pure
February 18th 2006 - Top, Bemmel
This report is going to be a bit shorter. I promise. The concert was great. Point. The end.
[....]
Eh... no,
sorry, can't do that. I just have to tell you more. Today we saw the Pure show for the very first time.
And it will be the last time as well, because it was the last Pure show ever. Why didn't we visit
Pure before? I think I got asked about that three times tonight... Well... it just never came to it. And
right now I'm regretting that because this show is so beautiful! But, at least we've seen it now.
I really like those spontaneous actions like this concert today is. Normally I wouldn't
go to the same group twice within two weeks. But, this being the last Pure Show just couldn't stop
me. Getting tickets was a funny story. You can read about that in my
blog. Getting
to Bemmel was fun as well. This village is somewhere in the middle of nowhere, but we found it. We
found a nice place in the first row, and were almost as near as the stage as I was in
Raalte.
The theater was really, really small.
I think there was room for 200 people, but the concert wasn't sold out completely. The ceiling was
low, and I guess that makes it harder to sing. The stage was also small. But, this smallness brings
a little coziness and the interaction between audience and singers is easier.
Apart from listening to the beautiful songs tonight, I've learned new things about the four members
of Rock4. Let's start with Nico, the bass singer. Did you know that if Nico is singing under the shower,
the Seismological Institute of Bemmel will be measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale? Amazing, isn't it?
Furthermore, according to his colleagues, Nico seems to be quite popular among women. After a show all
women will go straight to Nico for a chat. They were wondering why this is happening and in Germany they
asked some people for the reason of this phenomenon. I already knew the answer: "Mit einem Bass hat man viel
mehr Spaß." I couldn't ignore the image popping up in my head of Wise Guy Ferenc singing his song
"Probier's mal mit 'nem Bass" :) Unfortunately Nico doesn't have his own song where he can sing a lead.
I'm still hoping he'll get that in their new show. And as the new show still has to be written I'm carefully
emphasizing it here ;) To prove Nico is able to remember texts, he was allowed to introduce the song
I remember you, in Oesch-dialect... Martin said he could understand it, I only understood a few words, haha.
The song I just mentioned is written by Luc Nelissen. More of it please :) This man totally amazes me, every time he opens his mouth to sing. It's seems to me he once swallowed all the drums and percussion instruments he could find. You wouldn't say he did that, because he is rather small. But it's in there! He's the best and most many-sided vocal percussionist I know. But I also love it when he's got a lead in a song, he's got a warm voice.
And what can I tell you about Peter? He seems to me as the calm-element of Rock4. Maybe that's why he's standing next to Luc Devens most of the time. To compensate for Lucs appearance? *wondering* ;) Peter is introducing several songs. For instance he tells us about when he was a little kid and how he wanted to become a famous singer, rich, be able to buy a lot of cars, a lot of pretty women in the dressing room... And then they sing Dreamer. Poor Peter. Well, at least they didn't joke about his hair today ;)
Luc Devens. What can I tell you about him? (I know he's reading this, so I have to be careful, or should
I tell lies, Luc? No, I'll be true). Luc Devens is a bit silly. (A bit?) Tonight he was introduced to the
audience as the man without boundaries, both in vocal range and his personal life... Two weeks ago, Luc Nelissen
described him as a man with a Rolls Royce in his throat. And of course he can be described as the Freddy Mercury
sound-alike (bye bye Paul Rodgers). This is all true (except the fact that I can't judge about his unlimitedness
in his personal life - but, it was Luc Nelissen who said that and I think he's a reliable person - but that
in parenthesis) and tonight I was stunned by his voice several times. With so much ease, it seems, he sings
the highest tones. Changing from a soft voice to a very loud voice in a second. And observing his eyes and his
naughty laughs are addictive. Luc Devens is the one who brings most energy on stage. But he can also have an
innocent begging puppy-look on his face just like Clemens! (sorry for the comparison Luc, but this is just to
make sure my German readers understand what I mean, haha). Really, Luc is terrific. At the moment I'm so captivated
by his voice.
I'm starting to fear this is going to be a long report after all...
The Queenshow and the Pure show are quite different. Personally I give preference to the Pure show, because it has a bigger variety in songs, and I definitely had more laughs during the show. I was very happy to hear Paranoid Android, Uninvited and Mama, personally my three favorite Rock4 songs. Especially Paranoid Android is so great. Only to hear this song live is worth driving to the middle of nowhere. With this song, Rock4 has won the CARA 2003 for best pop/rock cover. The other songs they sang tonight are:
| 1st part: Crazy English Summer Everything she does is magic Into Temptation Dreamer You take my breath away Mr. Blue Sky Fragile Paranoid Android Uninvited |
 |
2nd part: Whole Lotta Love Wild Wood Killer Queen Roxanne Looking out for love I remember you Probably me Mama Play the game Stayin' alive |
This time, I won't write about all the details that come with every song. Sorry, but because this is the very last Pure show it's rather useless doing that. But, a few more details won't hurt, right? One song that also keeps sticking in my memory, is Fragile. This song is very well-known and sung by many choirs, mostly with a similar arrangement. But Rock4's arrangement is really different, and I like it so much. I could say the same thing about Roxanne. And there lies the power of Rock4, to write an arrangement of a song in such a way that it's new and different. I don't hear Queen songs, or a song from Sting/the Police. I hear Rock4, only. And very pure :)
Looking out for love was sung by Luc and Luc, just the two together. Peter
and Nico could have a break, and afterwards Peter said it was his favorite song. The song itself turned out
to be another experimental improvisation and I love to see and hear that. During
Stayin' alive the audience had to sing along, and one woman in the second row had to sing with
Luc Devens personally. He walked towards her and they both sang a very sensitive "aaaah" which was rewarded
with a big applause. By the way, I'm so glad it wasn't me! I wouldn't be able to sing a single line, and
I'm pretty sure the only thing I would do is laugh *g*
After the show we had another drink and chatted with other people and the singers. I made some highly intelligent comments such as "Queen is just Queen" (oh really?), and I ended up with a two square meter Pure poster. I really don't have a clue what to do with that, but it's cool anyway :) It might be worth a lot of money in the future... But if you have an idea what I can do with this poster, you are welcome to leave your message right here (there, you can also read what I lied about *dumtidum*). On our way home we were really crazy and in a terribly good mood. I didn't want to turn on the radio, because I had all these nice sounds and songs spinning in my head. So instead, we sang songs from Queen, Rock4, Wise Guys and Bodo Wartke and we talked in German. Don't ask me why. And I'm glad nobody heard us :P
We had a great night and I'm sure we are going to see and hear Rock4 more often. But not in two weeks again, I guess after sommer irgendwann, irgendwo... ;)