So much to tell… I have a happy review, a happy plug-for-upcoming-music, and some sad sad news. Summary: the Black Seeds were great, Fat Freddy’s Drop are coming soon, and Blijburg is closing down.

First the news about Blijburg. They’re closing 11 September, due to the ongoing IJburg developement. I suspect it’s too late to change this sad and sorry state of affairs, but just in case, you can register your support on their website. My considered opinion is, you should do this. Now. Right now. These guys get interesting bands from far-off lands, and (usually) don’t charge entry. They support regular jam sessions, and they feed their musicians (yay!). The food is good, the beer is reasonably priced, they’re dog-friendly, and there’s an open fireplace in the boogie room. Simply put, they rock.

So I’m deeply saddened to hear they’re having to close down. But they still have exciting things happening, before the 11th! Check out the site, if anyone is cruising out that way I’d be keen to come along. (I will definitely be there for the Kiwi films on Sunday, if anyone else is interested.)

Now, why am I suddenly full of enthusiasm for Blijburg? Well, because I’ve just arrived home from seeing the Black Seeds there, of course. Big thanks to Erik, who let me know they were playing. Great gig, enthusiastic and smooth and eminently danceable. Marijn, who I dragged along and who doesn’t respond to Kiwi accents with instant nostalgia, sent his mates a text: “jongens, ik kom wat later. band is te gaaf” (“lads, I’ll be a bit late. the band is too good”). And he wasn’t even getting the Kiwi solidarity vibe! For anyone who’s interested to hear, I bought their CD “On the Sun” (playing right now, it’s damn good). I’m hopeless with tagging musical styles, but I’d call it a dub-funk-reggae mix.

There’s another Kiwi band coming next week with some similar sounds, although further in the reggae direction: Fat Freddy’s Drop. They’re playing at the Melkweg on Thursday, and I promise you it will be a gig worth seeing. Anyone planning on going, let me know.