VU in Rotterdam, June 9

From E.J.Hoogendoorn@pobox.ruu.nl Fri Jun 11 08:10:16 1993
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 93 00:42:56 CET
From: "E.J. Hoogendoorn" <E.J.Hoogendoorn@pobox.ruu.nl>
To: loureed@cvi.hahnemann.edu
Subject: VU in Rotterdam, June 9

Hi all,

I'm not a member of this mailing list, but someone asked me to post a review of the VU concert yesterday.

The Velvet Underground played two shows in Holland. The first was June the 8th, in Paradiso, Amsterdam. This is a small venue (about 800 people), and the ticket price was enormous (150 guilders, which is about 85 dollars. I didn't have so much (and didn't want to spend it) so I went to the second show. It was in Ahoy, Rotterdam. Tickets were 3 times (!) cheaper, but the venue is much larger. This show wasn't sold out, about 25 percent was empty, which left about 6 or 7000 people.

The stage was very sober, and before they started, the PA played cover versions of VU songs. Strange.

The band got enormous response, from the first tone to the last. John Cale played piano, bass, and violin.

I tried to write down the set list, here it is:

We're gonna have a real good time together (Cale on bass)
Venus in Furs
Guess I'm Falling in Love (from here Cale on piano)
After Hours (vocals: Mo)
All Tomorrow's Parties (vocals: Cale)
Some Kinda Love (great Reed solo)
Beginning to See the Light (Cale on bass again)
I'll be your Mirror
The Gift (vocals Cale)
I Heard Her Call My Name
Femme Fatale (vocals Cale)
Hey Mr Rain (long instrumental with snippets of He mr Rain, Cale on violin, great interaction between Cale and Reed!)
Sweet Jane (Lou Reed in good action on vocals. He stressed: "I never worked. THIS IS NO WORK", I guess he meant the reunion.
Funny little song about the Velvet Underground, about 28 years ago etc.
I'm not sure of this one. Chorus line: "I'm sticking with you", or so.
White Light/White Heat
The Black Angel's Death Song (violin)
Rock 'n Roll

I'm Waiting for the Man (piano and vocals(!) by Cale)
Pale Blue Eyes (Cale on violin)

Heroin (Cale on violin) I was surprised by this!!
Coyotes (A new song! Line: "Wild Dogs Can Never Stop". Music more like Harry's Circumcision)

The show lasted 2.5 hours, and it seemed that they enjoyed themselves. The songs didn't start very fluently, but who cares. It happened two times that John Cale tested his violin before a song, and that he got a big applause, joined by Lou Reed. He answered by kissing his violin. Not much to say about Sterling. He just stood there and played a few chords. (Did you know he is very tall?) Mo Tucker played simple but it was very good for the songs. I really liked the kettledrums.

The sound was changed though. Not as chaotic as it used to be sometimes. And of course Lou Reed's voice has changed a bit over the years. I was very impressed by the show. I was afraid that they could break the myth, but they didn't, at least not in my (humble) opinion. I hadn't seen the VU before (I'm only 23), and I am very very glad I had the chance.

I'm not sure if above are all songs they played, and in the exact right order, but I am very close.

I hope this helps to give you a little impression of the show.

If you have the chance, don't try not to go!

Evert
-
E.J. Hoogendoorn

email:

ejhoogen@cs.ruu.nl

E.J.Hoogendoorn@PObox.ruu.nl

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