| |
The Seatsniffers
Flavor Saver Live
Sonic Rendezvous
By Marianne Ebertowski
 Most Americans will
associate Belgium with women's tennis and those two other things
hard-hitting Kim and Justine probably avoid most of the time:
chocolates and beer. When it comes to music, the real insiders
might produce three names: Jacques Brel, the uniquely passionate
and influential singer-songwriter who grew up just around the
corner from where I live right now in the borough of Schaerbeek
(Brussels); Toots Tielemans, the fabulous jazz harmonica player
from the Belgian capital and the phenomenal gypsy-guitarist Django
Reinhard who was born in the village of Liverchies in the southern
part of Belgium. Maybe they will also remember that a certain
Adolphe Sax from Dinant invented that very wonderful instrument
named after him: the saxophone. But, that's not all, folks.
Belgium just as neighboring country the Netherlands
has a thriving (American) roots music scene and one of the most
exciting "native" bands is the Seatsniffers from Antwerp.
Their brand-new live album Flavor Savor is a
welcome opportunity to come to know the boys. Guitarist and vocalist
Walter Broes, sax player Roel Jacobs, drummer Piet de Houwer
and bassist Luc Houben have been playing together for eight years.
In that span they recorded four successful studio albums and
built up a very faithful live following in the Low Countries
and the rest of Europe where they shared the bill with the likes
of the Paladins, Bo Diddley, Gatemouth Brown, Nick Lowe, Jason
Ringenberg, Doug Sahm, Guy Foryth, Dave Alvin and Ronnie Dawson
Flavor Saver, featuring live versions from their previous
CDs as well as some new songs, was registered at three
different locations in Belgium during the fall of 2002. It shows
the band and its audience at their best: they are wild and loud
and, hell, they are having fun. The songs, usually written by
front man Walter Broes, are an energetic blend of rock'n'roll,
rockabilly, (rhythm &) blues, surf music, Tex Mex, country
(mostly of the honkytonk variety) and even gospel. If that rings
a bell: yes, you could say without being blasphemous that the
Seatsniffers are to the Low Countries what the Blasters were/are
to the States, simply the best bloody rock'n'roll band you can
go see and rock your socks off to.
The rocking opener "That's It" already shows guitar
hero Walter Broes in top form and when drummer Piet de Houwer
leads over into "Shake It," followed by the man with
the horn(s), Mr. Roel Jacobs, there's no more holding back neither
for the rest of the band nor for the audience. Jacobs growls
and moans like a tiger with his tail trapped, generating enough
heat to get your surf boards out and ride the sound waves of
"She's A Fox."
De Houwer and Broes introduce "Shakedown," a very
punky rockabilly song with Jacobs driving the audience as crazy
as possible, before dipping them into deep country with "This
Must Be the Bottom." The Seatsniffers rattle and shake
themselves through this heartbreak honkytonk with Broes squeezing
solo's out of his instruments with so much ease it should make
lesser guitar gods jealous.
Speaking of God, nothing could fit in better right now than
a George Jones song, and that is exactly what you get. And what
you get is a very ferocious and inspired version of the country
gospel "Taggin' Along" with lots of feedback, maybe
from the Almighty himself, who knows.
Back on secular territory, "Don't Gimme That" and
"Get It" introduce the darker and more aggressive side
of the band, which lands them a place somewhere between Morphine
and the Cramps. From one border music to the next: "Make
My Dream Come True" is a steamy Tex Mex tune that, again,
turns on the heat on the audience. There is more hardcore rockabilly
with grungy guitar riffs and dirty sax and just before the punters
tear the place down, the band cools down with the only song
that could end the party : "Sleep." Then it's all
over and, believe me, you will be tired enough to put on your
pajamas.
Just one more word: if I haven't mentioned the man with the
bass, Luc Houben, for special achievements on this album, it's
only because he's always there keeping the shit together as a
good bass player should and during the show - as all good doghouse
players he's the main man. What else can I say apart
from: game, set and match for the boys from Belgium. Should
the Seatsniffers turn up at SXSW next year (which I know is their
big little boys' dream) don't miss them and don't forget to bring
some Belgian beers with you I'm not sure they can keep
rocking on Buds only.
http://seatsniffers.stormloader.com/
http://www.sonic.nl
Contact Marianne Ebertowski at ebertowski-at-rockzilla.net
|
|
