Music > Live Reviews

DE STAAT & 45ACIDBABIES

The Adrian Flux Waterfront

07/02/19

Tonight, we see two Dutch bands invade the fine city. It has to be said that a fair proportion of the audience that I speak to are Dutch or Belgian, some of whom have followed the bands over here for the show which shows serious dedication. The nationalities of those in the audience would not normally warrant a mention but this must be one of the politest audiences I have been in. Hells, there is even a queue for the bar rather than the usual scrimmage. 

First up are Utrecht’s self-styled cartoonpunks 45ACIDBABIES. Between them, Sophia (vox, guitar, keys), Daniel (bass, vox), Giorgio (drums) and Sam (guitar, vox) make a sound that is a thoroughly contemporary take on the indie-dance that went before Britpop – think Carter USM, Pop Will Eat Itself or Bis – given a hefty dose of the lurching time signatures of Membranes and Cardiacs and all wrapped up Rezillos dayglo pop-punk. Given that I have mentioned three of my favourite bands there, it is no surprise that I blooming love 45acidbabies. Come back soon please.

Having been around for over a decade, Nijmegen’s DE STAAT have built up a big following on the continent, have reached the upper reaches of the charts in their homeland and even played Glastonbury. If it is a disappointment that they are playing to a Waterfront Studio that is less than half full, they certainly don’t show it.

I’ll be honest, before tonight I have never heard anything by De Staat (or 45acidbabies for that matter). I am here out of pure curiosity. To say that De Staat have a diverse sound taking in a wide range of genres is, if anything, understating it. The opening number could be Cardiacs (them again) jamming with the Beastie Boys. The second is more Muse meets Red Hot Chili Peppers. Torre Florim (vox and guitar) makes an engaging frontman.  Rocco Hueting (synths, guitar and some co-lead vocals) is an entertaining presence. Jop van Summeren (bass, keys) doesn’t stop moving all night. Lead guitarist Vedran Mircetic is hidden away at the back of the stage – perhaps because of the lack of space up here in the studio – but plays some scintillating leads. Tim van Delft is from the John Bonham school of drumming.

So far, so good. But then, mid set, things wander into 70s prog and 80s heavy rock territory. It is far from terrible but just not that exciting or interesting when compared with what has come before. De Staat bring the excitement levels up again by bringing rave, post-punk, krautrock and, in Pikachu, even a touch of Eurovision worthy europop to the mix. Given the disparate sounds, it can get a bit messy but is, mid-set lull aside, all good fun. They save the best for the last song of the main set. Witch Doctor is a mighty, mighty mash up of rap-rock with 70s glam stomp. 

This may not be the best gig I have been to in recent times but it has been damned good fun. The only let down really is that there weren’t more people here to enjoy it.