I've seen hundreds of bands in the last decade, so it was a difficult task to extract 10 special gigs, but remembering those nights ...
1. The Kids @ Lintfabriek, Kontich, Belgium in 1999
The best Belgian band ever! After all those years of silence the seminal punk band reunited (with a new bass player) and they blew us all away: Rock Over Belgium. And thanks to us fans who were singing along each and every song they decided to keep going on. The filth & the fury we were drenched with that night could never ever really be washed off. We cherish that unclean feeling.
LINTFABRIEK: Not a real surprise to see that the two best gigs were at the best Belgian club of the last decade. With the right peoole at front it's a heaven on earth for each band to play there. Thanks Peter.
2. Andre Williams @ Lintfabriek, Kontich, Belgium in 1999
A real dirty old man who is 100% pure sex on stage. Just watch him smile when the itch is too much. Mr Rhythm said this crowd that night was the best he played for in that year. He still can't understand that even 16-year olds were singing along with Jailbait, Bacon Fat and Shake A Tail Feather. Is he 60+? No he's 21...
KONTICH: A small town between Antwerpen and Mechelen in Belgium. Nothing is happening there expect for the 10 gigs and festivals each month in thee club of Belgium... and there people are not afraid to get their feet moving on the beats of pleasure.
3. The Cramps @ Noorderligt, Tilburg, Netherlands in 1995
The best rock 'n' roll band after Elvis' death; no doubt about it. That particular Dutch concert had something special. Ivy was smiling (and later almost crying because she accidentally damaged her Gretsch), Lux was over the top and the crowd was really dancing (and not pogoing or pushing all the time); it was at the beginning of their 1995 tour and everyone at the gig looked sexy, sweaty and happy.
HOLLAND: I never had real fun at gigs in Holland; as if they don't know how to party (maybe that's why so many are coming to Belgium to have a real cool time). But this gig was thee exception. I was surrounded by a dozen Betty Pages who were constantly shakin' & twistin' on their high heels and cleavage galore.
4. Fifty Foot Combo @ Rockardinaal festival, Jette, Belgium in 2001
I must have seen this band about fifty times and on one occasion they left me breathless: a perfect performance on a sunny afternoon by a band that just woke up and were hiding from the dreamy sun beams. No comments, no remarks, nothing whatsoever to break it down. I was so glad to be able to watch a new Belgian band play at such high level.
5. King Khan & His Sensational Shrines @ Wild Weekend 3 festival, Benidorm, Spain in 2001
Perhaps it was because it was my first time, but that performance was mind blowing. That Canadian man has soul in each and every vein and muscle of his tall slim body. His voice invites you to move your body while his eyes mesmerize the willing crowd. A Tarzan and Tura Satana's granddaughter completed the sultry set of savage soul power.
WILD WEEKEND: this third edition was inside a Casino Ball Room, a perfect place for this out-of-time yearly festival Austin Powers would have loved to open.
6. Thee Headcoats & Thee Headcoatees @ Ancienne Belgique Club, Brussel, Belgium in 1998
Especially Thee Headcoatees who were more loved than Thee Headcoats despite Billy Childish' answer that both bands are the same. Fact is that girls are more appealing on stage and certainly this threesome (the fourth had already left the band) who could give an extra dimension to the Headcoats' songs. This gig in the club chique in the heart of Brussels was their most inspiring with a very relaxed Billy.
7. Dutronic @ Soir�e Gainsbourg, Kaaiman, Antwerpen, Belgium in 2001
Most fun people had at this yearly French event in Antwerp was in April 2001 when it was being opened by this local band: 40 years of French pop & rock action packed in one hour of joy. Hundreds of people inside the venue and over a 100 still outside in the rain waiting to get in and see the band Jacques Dutronc would have dreamed of to be his backing band in the late 60s.
Soir�e Gainsbourg: Following the death of Serge Gainsbourg the Antwerp dj Pierre Elitair organized a party to honour his hero. In 2001 it was the 10th edition already.
8. The Men From S.P.E.C.T.R.E. @ Wild Weekend 2 festival, Camber Sands, UK in 2000
The revelation on WW2! Very powerful instrumental Hammond grooviness by these Swiss guys who should do the background score of Austin Powers 3. Thanks to them I dug up my James Taylor Quartet albums and thus also rediscovered Jimmy McGriff, Brother Jack McDuff and even Andre Brasseur.
WILD WEEKEND 2: My first encounter with the frat shack craze and now I am even more addicted to the mad mix of Tiki-culture, popsyke pulp fiction and go-go girls.
9. Atari Teenage Riot @ Botanique, Brussels, Belgium in 2000
Or Alec Empire and his friends from Digital Hardcore Records. Something completely different but I've never seen (or heard) something as wild as these electronic digi-nuts. The live dj mixed 60s punk samples with thunderous attacks of the drum machines while the screeching fuzz & distortion tortured our ears. If you thought that Dead Kennedys or GBH were heavy and wild (and that's more than 10 years ago), that night in Brusssels was hell!
10. Sin Alley @ Halles de Schaerbeek, Brussel, Belgium in 1995
Yeah, four Belgian bands in this list, so don't say Belgium sucks. Sin Alley are no more, but that 1995 gig was as support for The Cramps and they never sounded better before or after. Tiny Martine yelled like Wanda Jackson (Lux was drooling) and Ivy said two years later during an interview I had with them it was the best support band they had since years.