PBII 40th Anniversary June 11, 2017 - Cultuurpodium Boerderij, Zoetermeer (NL)
It's time for a celebration, or you could also say it's party time. Why? Well the core members of the Dutch progressive
rock act PBII, who are Ronald Brautigam (electric guitars), Tom van der Meulen (drums) and
Michel van Wassem (keyboards), are forty years in the music business. In 1977 they started with lead singer
Kees Bik and bassist Albert de Keijzer the amazing act Plackband. A band which in those days
many times was compared to Genesis. Since those days a lot has happened. Line-up changes, break ups, comebacks
and new progressive rock acts were formed such as November and the earlier mentioned PBII. So time to
look at all those events in the musicians careers during the 'PBII 40th Anniversary Surprise Party'. But also
a great way to launch the new PBII album ROCKET - The Dreams Of Wubbo Ockels (see review). How things would
turn out on a hot Sunday afternoon at Cultuurpodium Boerderij in Zoetermeer was a real surprise for fans, friends,
acquaintances and lovers of progressive rock in general.
PBII
Previous text by Henri Strik Following text by Erik Neuteboom
After the impressive presentation of ROCKET by PBII, there was a break and then we could enjoy a trip down memory lane (1977-2017): first the early years when the band was called Plackband, then November and eventually PBII, in different line-ups. The storytelling on stage was by number one fan Jan Vrolijk, in fluent The Hague accent (made famous in The Netherlands by the duo Jacobse & Van Es), what a joy! Plackband When the Plackband started to play, I was carried away, to the second half of the seventies (around 1977). Because in those days a school friend named Paul De Keijzer invited me to join a concert by Plackband, his brother Albert
November Then the November line-up teamed up, on the two screens appeared a salute to the late singer Karel Messemaker ('November- Plackband Memory, Karel Messemaker: 1951-2014'). The members were clearly moved during the November songs Africa Where Are You, Memory and With You, all featuring original drummer Edwin Wernke (known for his work in For Absent Friends). Michel van Wassem replaced the vocals which Karel Messemaker provided on the studio recordings!PBII (Plastic Soup & 1000 Wishes)
Halfway through the time machine trip the PBII line-up entered the stage again. This time with the line-up which released Plastic Soup (see review) in 2010. The album featured the very talented Harry den Hartog on bass. Next to his bass guitar he teamed up with a Roland bass synthesizer ('my magic box' as he explained later to me). PBII performed very inspired and professional the tracks Plastic Soup and Fata Morgana. During Fata Morgana Harry was backed by current PBII member Alex Van Elswijk on bass. After that the ROCKET line-up again entered the stage. First up was Perfect Day taken from the critically acclaimed 1000 Wishes album (2013, see review) with again singer Ruud Slakhorst behind the microphone. The final song Happy Energy featured again classically trained singer Nathalie Mees. Again taken from the brand new ROCKET album. In the end you could tell the crowd and the band members enjoyed the very pleasant atmosphere of the whole event. Text by Erik Neuteboom |
Setlist PBII: Introduction Jan Hendrik Ockels Rocket Part 1 Gravity Life In The Clouds Trapped Rocket Part 2 Blue Marble (video trailer FUTURE | Wubbo Ockels) On My Own Again Pure Destruction (video Plastic Soup Foundation Mother’s day) Mother Rocket Part 3 |
Pictures
PBII by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge. |
Line Up PBII (Rocket) |
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Setlist Plackband: With Kees Bik: See The Dwarf Shadows Of The Sun Seventy Warriors With Koos Sekrève: L’enfant Du 92eme Siegle |
Pictures
Plackband by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge. |
Line Up Plackband |
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Setlist November: Africa Where Are You Memory With You |
Pictures
November by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge. |
Line Up November |
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Setlist PBII (Plastic Soup & 1000 Wishes): Plastic Soup (album 'Plasic Soup') Fata Morgana (album 'Plasic Soup') Perfect Day (album '1000 Wishes Finale: Happy Energy (album 'Rocket') |
Pictures
PBII (Plastic Soup & 1000 Wishes) Click on the picture to enlarge. |
Line Up PBII (Plastic Soup & 1000 Wishes) |
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After party |
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