Asrai, The Wounded and Nemesea in the Willemeen

On arriving at the Willemeen several people were waiting outside already. When the backdoors opened to let everybody in all of them wanted to be first. However in the hall itself there was plenty of room for everybody to see the bands performance. We got ourselves a place at the front.

Nemesea was opening the evening and the crowd was getting impatient, when the first sounds of the intro sounded the crowd restlessly waited for the bands appearance. A group of teenage girls standing in front went completely crazy as the band entered the stage. They all knew the lyrics perfectly and sang so loud everyone could enjoy it. At the first song the microphone’s volume was set too low but Manda just sang a bit louder. Whether you like the music or not she has a very good voice. After the first song was over the settings were much better overall and the bands enthusiasm grew with the crowd. Manda made a lot of contact with people in the crowd which they thoroughly enjoyed. After Emperor and Angel Evanescence cover `Going Under` was on the set list. The song was done well and although usually a cover is the sign of not enough material the crowd did not care and sang along happily. After this a musical intermezzo in which the crowd lost it’s attention for the band but as soon as Manda reappeared the crowds’ attention was regained. Violet lady was a good sing along song and Lucifer was a well chosen finish as the crowd really loved this song. Maybe partially because this is the heaviest song performed. All in all a very good show and a band with lots of potential.

Up next was the wounded, it took a while to set all the equipment and the band itself did a sound check while on stage. The crowd had changed the screaming teenagers had left the front part of the crowd and the audience was a bit more relaxed. All were there to enjoy the music. Suddenly the band started to perform without prior warning, the crowd went silent as “Hollow World” sounded trough the speakers, and this song set the tone for the rest of the performance. The songs’ feeling really was transferred to the audience. Goose pimples are not uncommon when hearing the bands voice. Also here a cover was performed but in contrast to Nemesea they really changed everything about this song, it could have been one of their own songs. The band itself seemed to be in another world during their performance but this only added to the atmosphere. The lack of interaction with the crowd was made up by very well spoken `thank you` words. The keyboard player moved the keyboard in all directions only barely keeping it upright at times. The last song was a perfect ending as ` Atlantic   Monument ` ends with a part with only vocals. Hereby the put the accent on what a voice alone can create. After it ended the crowd took a while to come back to reality and wait for Asrai.

It was a pity that the Willemeen seemed to have emptied a bit, probably caused by the late start of Asrai. Probably people had to catch the last train. This time the add/on guitarist Mario who sometimes covers for Rik during his parental duties was not there. After the usual intro `Whisper` was the first song. The crowd sang and danced along enthusiastically. Magriet really shows of her strong voice during these songs, even when the microphone is some 20 cm away from her mouth the lyrics can be well heard trough the music. `In front of me` was sang along by the crowd and after `Touch in the dark`, clearly the crowds favourite a new song `Sour Ground` made its appearance. A typical Asrai sound was still in the song, and as the band is recording their new album it’s good to hear some new songs once in a while. This was already the half of the show as it turned out. Time flies when you’re having fun. `Garden`, `Dream`, `Child` and as a final song `Shadows` passed by. The crowd danced to the music and everybody left enough space for each other to do so. One song Magriet tripped and ruined her skirt but as a real artiest she did not shows anything and sang on. Shadows should have been the last song, although there was an encore on the play list this was the last regular song. It seems that the band doesn’t know yet how to react on this. Manon the keyboard player was starting to leave the stage as the others stayed in their positions. Since the rest stayed put they started `Pale Light` another song appreciated very well by the crowd and a new song `Eyes in the light` and then the band really left the stage, when the DJ did not start his music some of the crowd started to shout for more and after a few minutes the band returned for a replay of Touch in the dark, a song which the crowd really loves and is a good ending song with a real Asrai sound. Tonight Asrai showed that that encores are not really their thing as the crowd does not expect it and the band does not show it clear enough that they might return. It could not ruin the mood of course and again a decent show was finished.

After this there was a DJ who finished the evening, looking at the merchandise after the shows was however impossible since it was already removed, a slight remark for the organisation. And time to go home.