Friday, December 17th, 11 pm. DJ Lady Godiva kicks off what should be the start of a northern noul scene in Amsterdam, to my pleasant surprise with "Chasing my dreams all over town" by Jenny Wren. The place: a legalized squat, a cultural centre run by people who consider themselves "the movement". More of encircled A's than the upright fist, but that will do too...
11.05: the first guest appears, a man, alone. "I will probably be too early".
11.10: part-English couple arrives, he is a former Wigan Casino punter. She is eager to dance. They were at our matinee earlier in the month.
12.00 Hans D. takes over. Puts up the volume at request "of the floor". About six people in...
12.30 As a guest of honour D. arrives. The floor is still frighteningly empty. Projected on the wall the video: "The strange world of northen soul". For me, sitting at the door waitng for people to enter, the volume may be turned down - getting headache. Still: my time will come, at 2.40 am.
1.00 The twelfth visitor, tenth paying person present, arrives. Some people have left already.
1.20 Mark Fisher takes over. The floor is empty. All females have left already, apart from DJ Lady Godiva and a barmaid - so there is hardly a chance of getting it filled again. Prospects of people arriving in this part of town at this time are very small.
1.40 White rasta barman says he wants to get it over with. Can we tell the deejay to stop within five minutes? A stunned Mark breaks off immediately and calls for a taxi.
While he is waiting we discuss what would have made our "three before". That should
have been my privilege. I am not going to mention them now.
I should have known that squatters especially in Amsterdam do not like "black" music, unless when it is about intercourse with mothers or ganja. Still, such rude behaviour is beyond my imagination. As is the poor attendance - we could hardly have done more about it.
Eight of the twelve people mentioned were from a scooter club, open-minded and ready and willing to have a good time until the official end. Wrong place, wrong time.
But it takes a lot of faith to keep the faith for Amsterdam. I am in serious doubt about any further gigs in a bigger venue than the club where we do our matinees.
So please: spend something more than a prayer for our faith (the KTF-type).
Friday, December 17th, 11 pm. DJ Lady Godiva kicks off what should be the start of a northern noul scene in Amsterdam, to my pleasant surprise with "Chasing my dreams all over town" by Jenny Wren. The place: a legalized squat, a cultural centre run by people who consider themselves "the movement". More of encircled A's than the upright fist, but that will do too...
11.05: the first guest appears, a man, alone. "I will probably be too early".
11.10: part-English couple arrives, he is a former Wigan Casino punter. She is eager to dance. They were at our matinee earlier in the month.
12.00 Hans D. takes over. Puts up the volume at request "of the floor". About six people in...
12.30 As a guest of honour D. arrives. The floor is still frighteningly empty. Projected on the wall the video: "The strange world of northen soul". For me, sitting at the door waitng for people to enter, the volume may be turned down - getting headache. Still: my time will come, at 2.40 am.
1.00 The twelfth visitor, tenth paying person present, arrives. Some people have left already.
1.20 Mark Fisher takes over. The floor is empty. All females have left already, apart from DJ Lady Godiva and a barmaid - so there is hardly a chance of getting it filled again. Prospects of people arriving in this part of town at this time are very small.
1.40 White rasta barman says he wants to get it over with. Can we tell the deejay to stop within five minutes? A stunned Mark breaks off immediately and calls for a taxi.
While he is waiting we discuss what would have made our "three before". That should
have been my privilege. I am not going to mention them now.
I should have known that squatters especially in Amsterdam do not like "black" music, unless when it is about intercourse with mothers or ganja. Still, such rude behaviour is beyond my imagination. As is the poor attendance - we could hardly have done more about it.
Eight of the twelve people mentioned were from a scooter club, open-minded and ready and willing to have a good time until the official end. Wrong place, wrong time.
But it takes a lot of faith to keep the faith for Amsterdam. I am in serious doubt about any further gigs in a bigger venue than the club where we do our matinees.
So please: spend something more than a prayer for our faith (the KTF-type).