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Rory
Burney
I was really sick night before departure but finally I caught the Eurolines's Budapest - Rotterdam bus service. From Amsterdam Amstel station 1 hour train journey to Beverwijk and a short bus trip and after exactly 24 hours I was standing in Wijk aan Zee.
Originally 10th Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival would have been taken in near Heemskerk as last year in March and November but when all posters and flyers were ready and printed the new owner of the pub changed his mind. Fortunately organisers managed to find a new and excellent place.
Wijk aan Zee is one of Europe's Cultural Village situated almost in the sea. When I arrived there was very strong wind. Hotels built in dunes just like in a sci-fi film. Pubs, cafés, terraces everywhere, horses in peace in the centre of the village. It must be a very pleasent place in summer also. The only negative thing I found a very close factory with some chimney throwing out thick white smoke. Horrifying contrast.
The Café de Zon seemed to be an ideal place from the first minute. Girl staff welcomed me at the door. Some stamp and the last tribute dvd into my hand. Wooowww, I thought of my horoscope with a big smile which had promised that 1st of March was one of my best day of the year. While we were talking organisers put everything on the right place. Sound and lights were excellent during the show. Rory was smiling on the wellknown painting of the middle of the stage. Thanks for Jan van Bodegraven for lending it every year from his bar in Beverwijk.
For my great pleasure a Hungarian band also got an invitation to play on 10th Rory Tribute Festival. Cserga - Peter Varga - and his Friends have playing from more than 20 years sometimes with succes sometimes just for fun. Paul - one of the organisers - asked me before the soundcheck if the band was good otherwise I've gambling with my life. As you can see I'm still in life ... so Grateful Memorial Band (they use this name when they play their Rory programme) gave a great show just like in December when I saw them last time in the local Irish pub at Szombathely where they live.
I was very proud hearing the clap of the Dutch and international audience. They accepted GMB well who chose mostly Rory's bluesy songs. After "Messin' with the Kid" some technical problems with the amps they were thrown back a bit but then show was going on right way. Tenor - bass and Tamas - drums were good as usual, Gergo on piano was uniqe among the trios. Cserga played with passion and for my great joy he took his sharp singing style off - his voice was rather rough. They played more tracks in new version so I had also some good surprise. GMB left their harp player at home but I told them before - no matter - Frank van Pardo should be here - and they was jamming with Frankie well. Band got beers on the stage from the audience and after the show I just was looking surprised that Cserga - who is as a shy person as Rory was - talking to easily to other musicians and some Irishmen - inspite of language difficulties. Million thanks to the organisers for inviting the band and open the world for them which gave the faith and power to go on playing Rory's music as the only Hungarian Rory tribute band.
The second band arrived from Germany so 20$ Bill and Joachim Matz also were there who are the greatest Rory fans. Peter Knott and Remember Rory have playing Rory's music from ages. I saw them 2 years ago in Leeuwarden . It is said Remember Rory is the spirit of Rory. That's true. But this night with them was a bit disappointing for me. They played hard and loud - sometimes too loud but spirit was missing a bit. Maybe they wanted to show their other face. I also missed Peter Knott acoustic show that I like very much. No matter - I'll check them this year again in Ballyshannon.
It was only one beer time between the concerts. In Holland organisers never plays with audience nerves - everything goes on in the right rhythm.
Secret Agent was waited strongly because news had said that the singer's voice very similair as Rory's voice. Yessss, Tony Edwards from East of England is a perfect reincarnation. Awesome. Not only his voice which comes out from him so naturally but all of his moves bring us Rory perfectly. Secret Agent plays without any manners - simply but great into your face. Where was this fine band so far? Paul Handgraaf answered my question: Danny Vlaspoel the guitarist of Laundromat called the attention up. Danny also jumped in 2 tracks - "Laundromat" and "Shadow Play". Incredible.
It was so hot in the crowded pub that I went out to the fresh air and phoned my friends in Budapest that I had so great time that I hardly could express with words.
I had not too much time to telephone because last attraction was on the stage soon. Dave McHugh came from Dublin. I didn't know too much about him just that he's big Rory fan and he's keeping Rory's spirit alive since Rory passed away. Dave a good guitarist as well. His guitar style rather agressive but bluesy. Sometimes he turned his guitars neck towards the audience as a gun. "He's a music animal" - mumbled Burney - my Dutch music soulmate. Dave got exellent Dutch rhyhtm section and Frankie Pardo also came again and they jamming on the ground. What a pair! In "Shadow Play" was unbelievable again and first I thought that Dave reproduced Rory's Montreaux show - when he had been revivining his lying guitar with a towel - but Dave simply covered his guitar with the Irish flag. Chickenskin!
For the finale everybody came on the stage and played "Bullfrog Blues monstre version". It's always a happening than music art but always good and give us a good feeling. Audience rolling with the musicians and people from different countries comes together never forgetting that this great feeling is due to the Irish guitar hero - Rory Gallagher.
After the show I'd rather stayed in the pub (it is said that Dave was playing till the morning) but I joined Cserga's band. I hope as a temporary roadie I managed to thank for accommodation and breakfast. Next morning we was walking around the seaside. Sea was beautiful and terrifying in the same time. I was thinking of the Irish Tour's first screens and felt unlimited freedom. The GMB's musicians had to drive back to Hungary and I took a train to Zaandam to hear Dave McHugh again.
Gig was adertised by 4 pm in Fishline which is a small but good pub but they didn't start before half past 5. I was talking to Frankie Pardo about his Suriname and Chinese roots. What an interesting people. Then we celebrate Rory's birthday with a concert film. Dave and the band spelled on me again. It's a pity that the members of Remember Rory who were in the audience didn't jumped in the jam. I had a great time but after one and half hour I left because I didn't want to miss only one minute from Secret Agent's programme. (Dave McHugh gave a 3 hours excellent show).
So I took a train to Beverwijk. I arrived exactly at 8 pm and band started in the same minute. From the start to the end lasted 4 hours. What a 4 hours! Tony Edwards - guitar/vocal, Mark Whisler - bass, Tim Mason - drums was playing 4 hours without stopping. Jan van Bodegraven's bar called The Rose isn't too big just like a living room but ideal if you want to feel yourself good. There could be no more than 40 - 50 people altough entry was free but feeling was great. I admire Dutch people who are able to welcome each other with joy like they haven't met for ages while only a half an hour lasted.
Secret Agent got the cream of the audience and they just was playing and playing on their natural way half a meter from us. Tony Edwards was incredibly good mood and flouded us tremendous Rory songs. As the bottle of Jameson was getting empty he brought new shows: sometimes used whiskey glass as a slide ring sometimes he played in the audience sometimes he played lying on the floor while he didn't make a mistake. I almost exploded during "Kid Gloves". Sensationel. Danny Vlaspoel, Joeke Wouda and Rob Spijker - almost the full not existing Laundromat was in the audience and Dave McHugh and Frankie Pardo also arrived. I can't tell you what I felt when I was standing between Danny and Dave. They were jamming with Secret Agent and I was very proud that I could lend to Dave his own plectrum which Burney asked for me last night. Anyway Dave not only a good guitarist - he's such a nice and friendly guy.
Rory's 60th birthday farewell celebration at midnight was so hot that I expected that he suddenly appeared from the heaven. It's a pity that he couldn't been with us. Believe or not this 2 days were one the best in my whole life. Paul mentioned that Tony Edwards also said that he loved his first gig in Holland and it was the best weekend since many years.
All my respect to Paul and Linda Handgraaf, Theo and Anja van Baar, Rob Spijker, Jan van Bodegraven and all people who made my days. Their names is a gurantee that you feel yourself perfect if you are a musician or a member of the audience.
I spent the night in Paul's and Linda's house then a short sleep Paul took me and two member of Secret Agent to the Schipol. The last photo and the wonderful weekend was over. The queue at Sky Europe's checkin desk was as slow as usual. I landed in Vienna then took a train back to Budapest while I was planning my next journeys. I have no idea how I could get inside tremendous experiences waiting for me during 4 days in Ballyshannon but first I'll go back in May to Holland to my number one place to visit Kwadendamme Blues Festival where by the chance Marcel Scherpenzeel give another Rory tribute.
Sorry for my bad English and weak quality of the pics but I hope they can give you a bit of my happiness.
VIDEOS MADE BY 20$ BILL AND SABINE. MILLION THANKS.
10th Rory Gallagher Tribute Holland 2008 (TGM-Band Hungary)
20$Bill & Sabine | MySpace Video
10th Rory Gallagher Tribute Holland 2008 (Secret Agent UK)
20$Bill & Sabine | MySpace Video
10th Rory Gallagher Tribute Holland 2008 (Dave McHugh Ire)
20$Bill & Sabine | MySpace Video
Session-Bullfrog-Blues by the 10.Rory Gallagher tribute NL/2008
20$Bill & Sabine | MySpace Video
Photos:
DAVE McHUGH AND FRIENDS - Fishline
SECRET AGENT - The Rose
