Review by Erwin van Dijk - Date of Event: 19.04.2008

Anneke:  A Legend

Anneke van Giersbergen is probably the most important female singer in the gothic metal scene. She recorded one legendary album called Mandilion that started the whole female fronted gothic metal business in the world. There were female singers before her in the world of metal, like Lee Aaron, Doro and Sabina Classen from Holy Moses but Anneke has something extra that makes every live performance an unforgettable experience.

The news that she had decided to leave The Gathering came as a shock to a lot of people. And when they learned that Anneke’s new band 'Agua de Annique' would be a lot but not metal people started to worry.

In fact, there is not really much difference between The Gathering’s latest album (called Home) and Agua de Annique’s first one (Air) More important, the live versions of the Air songs are played more up tempo than on the album. And The Gathering has never been the fastest band on Earth anyway.

The Show: theNAME

The Escape is a nice little venue in the city of Veenendaal, in a remote part of Holland. For a small venue like this the Escape has a tight security. But since they only check people for weapons and alcohol normal fans & visitors have nothing to worry.

Opener theNAME has a complete different sound than Agua de Annique. For some reason they have done a lot of gigs with gothic bands but 'gothic' is the last thing I would use to describe their music. The band describes their music as 'groovy rock & metal' but the metal dominates. And singer Hadassa has clearly watched Simone from Epica a lot for inspiration although her voice is more rock oriented and less opera.

For some reason it was very quiet. There were less than a 100 persons inside venue (and a handfull smoking outside) The reason? I’ve got no idea. I have visited The Escape before (with Heidevolk and Autumn as headliners) and then the venue was full with metal heads. Besides, most people seem to be from outside the city (although ‘city’ is a big word for Veenendaal) Maybe the local population had something better to do that night. (I was at a theNAME gig the week after Veenendaal – at the Stairway in the city of Utrecht to be precise and there were a lot more people to watch the show.)

Comments from Hadassa

Hadassa, could you tell us something about theNAME’s gig here in Veenendaal?

After doing some cool support acts for great bands as Epica, Autumn, Xandria and Kingfisher Sky the past year, at April 19 we finally got the chance to do the support act of Agua de Annique. We never played or went to Escape before so we didn’t know what to aspect. Escape seemed to be a nice little venue with a great staff and a great sound.

I really had been looking forward to this show since we opened before Agua the Annique and I really love Anneke van Giersbergen. I also had been looking forward to this gig because it was the first time we would play two songs of us semi-acoustic. We we’re a bit nervous about that but everything went fine and the audience loved it. There was actually a sweet girl that filmed us during playing the first semi-acoustic song: No Retractation. If you want to get to know another side of us, check it at Youtube:

We played the two semi-acoustic songs in the middle of our set and I got really relaxed by singing them. I had to spice up my energy again when I had to sing the heaviest song of us right after the two semi-acoustic songs. I loved playing them, but I realized at this point I would be bored soon if I had a band that only played songs like that. It’s great to show and experience some variation but in the end; I just really want to rock!

So check out our websites and come to our gigs! Hope to see you there!

The Show: Agua de Annique

After theNAME it was time for Agua de Annique. I’ve seen Agua de Annique last year at De Boerderij and that was one of the better gigs for me last year. Today is not much different. Except for the boys in the band who are not wearing pilot uniforms this time.(The whole Air album is written around the world of the stewardess)

About a quarter of the songs are based around Anneke and her Yamaha (the synthesizer, not the motorcycle) Because she is sitting very close to the audience the synth doesn’t act as a wall. Most synth players have to do their thing at the darkest corner of the stage and are completely invisible. Anneke is the centre tonight and there is no doubt about that. Anneke does what she has done since 1995, being Holland’s most sympathic front woman and the show is flawless. With other words, it is more fun to write about a god awfull bad gig than a smooth one like this. Agua de Annique is just good. No more, no less. However, you will have to come to Holland to see an Agua de Annique gig because they don’t do gigs abroad. (one of the reasons Anneke left The Gathering was because she was tired of touring)

And everyone who was wondering why Anneke was the ‘heart’ symbol on Ayreons new album 01011001 should take a look at the tattoo on her left and right arm.

theNAME

Line up:

• Hadassa – Vocals (who also sings in Von Tease)
• Melvin Silas – Guitars (who also plays in KISS this and Black Knight)
• Salvador – Drums
• Mike – Bass

Setlist:

• Recognition
• Delightful Assault
• Endless Remorse
• The Moment
• No Retractation
• Real Love
• It’s Time
• Hurt
• Lies
• Mirror

Official Website

Agua de Annique

Line up:

• Anneke van Giersbergen – Vocals / Keys
• Joris Dirks – Gitars
• Rob Snijders – Drums
• Jacques de Haard – Bass

Setlist:

• Lost and Found
• Ice Water
• Day After Yesterday
• Maybe Tomorrow
• My Town
• Come Wander
• Make It All New
• Beautiful One
• Alone (from The Gathering)
• Trail of Grief
• Digging the Grave
• Sunken Soldiers
• You are Nice!
  
  Official Website