I’m an old fart. And a volunteer at Vera for over 25 years. Do you want to write a short piece for Vera Downstage?

Sure. Here it comes.

There are bands that just seemed to be able to play on and on, in the positive sense of the word. Dead Moon was such an example. I saw them for the first time in Vera in 2001. I was a late bloomer indeed. Legendary concerts, but unfortunately that has come to a definitive end. No more new tours with our Vera as the start of it all.

For Timesbold (they called Vera their favourite venue in the world) it suddenly seemed to be over and done with the gigs. I saw them for the first time in Vera in 2003. Did I already mention that I’m an old fart? After 2009, it became eerily quiet around Timesbold and Jason Merritt. However, after 15 years of absence (literally and figuratively), there was suddenly (a partly) Timesbold on stage again in 2024. With Jason as the fragile, beautiful centerpiece. The first concert of the tour was in Vera (of course) and it felt like old times again.

The moment Fred and Toody walked away together in 2017 after their last gig in Vera, hugging each other, we all knew that this was the last time we would see them together like that. This moment will always stay with me. A beautiful but heavy sight.

With Timesbold, the most impressive thing for me was the moment when Jason Merritt told us on stage (2024), that this was the first time since he was fourteen years old, that he had been on stage sober. And then he played again, somewhat fragile, what we had all missed for so long. They could have kept playing on and on that evening.

Yes, music is beautiful, intense, hopeful, a lot of fun or a lot of misery and/or just something you only miss when it’s not there (or something like that…).

And with this long introduction we finally have arrived at a band that I had always wanted te be able to play on (for example) my 25th Vera volunteer anniversary, if the chance arose. I first saw them in 2008 (again a late bloomer here…) as the opening act for The Long Blondes. I really can’t remember anything about this band, but the energy and enthusiasm of the opening act on the other hand… WHAT A BAND! They flew from left to right and then through the rest of the air. Sam and Andy made an immediate impression. It rattled and not every note was perfect and no, there were no lovely backing vocals, sensitive strings, rehearsed dance moves and managers who came to spoil the fun. This was pure, chaotic, hilarious, uncontrolled and a joy for me to watch.

In 2009 they came to Vera again, but then to the place where I think they really belong. DOWNSTAGE! Just as pure, chaotic, hilarious and uncontrolled as Sam and Andy. And yes, the Downstage staff from then (and those of now) were and are of course also a joy to watch. With a few exceptions… of course. I filmed the 2008 and 2009 performances in crappy quality, but the most memorable moment can be seen in the 2009 video, around 7:20 minutes. Andy is exhausted and can no longer play the drums. He asks if there is someone in the audience who could take over. I think it is Joost Dijkema who takes over the sticks (I’m not entirely sure, because he has a head full of curls. But that’s something for another story). Joost gives a little fantastic roll and you hear Andy saying: “He is even better than me!” That moment remains brilliant.

On top of that, I took a photo of Sam playing the guitar and meanwhile also kinda crowdsurfing Downstage. In 2012, Vera made a huge banner from this photo to use it as promotion at festivals and other parties. I didn’t know about the existence of this banner until I had to go on stage during their concert in the Grote Zaal in 2012 to give that enormous thing to Sam. As a thank you I got a few records on which Sam had written: “To the best photographer” and Andy had written a little less enthusiastically: “Where is my picture?”

But… the concert in 2012 was far from over! Recently, during a dinner at an Indian restaurant to celebrate my 25 years at Vera (this old fart thanks the Downstage crew!), a crewmember asked me what my best Downstage concert was. As an old fart, you start thinking of all the names that have come up in those years, such as TVOD, Zig Zags, Trash Templars, Loud Squirt, Stiff Richards, the Jagersonics, but it was mainly the performances of Digger & the Pussycats (did I mention that name already?) in 2009 and 2012.

“2012?!”, the still attentive reader now wonders. But that was in the Grote Zaal, wasn’t it? That’s right. That night it did indeed start on stage like in 2008, but after a whole series of songs about beer, women and something with cars, Andy made a huge leap of death from the stage and the concert continued on the floor of de Grote Zaal among the audience, of course. And as if that wasn’t enough, the concert continued after that! As it should, in the place where you can still stand close to the band and where you can feel the sweat dripping. A mixture of your sweat, the sweat dripping from the medieval ceiling and the sweat from the artist in front of you. And at the same time, you can also get a beer at the bar with a little effort. As in the old days, like in 2009. LEGENDARY.

After 2012 it became eerily quiet around this duo. Had they stopped? No idea. Sometimes there was some activity far away on another continent, then nothing for a long time. Long story short: I had lost hope that I would ever be able to see Digger & the Pussycats again, let alone at my most favourite location in Vera.

Then suddenly the news came that there would be another tour. And you know, I can write a whole piece about how great a performance by Sam and Andy is (especially Downstage), but you just have to experience it yourself! With their sweat on your forehead and a cold beer in your hand.

Oh Yeah! I’m definitely at the front, because I still have to take a picture of Andy, I think.

I hope it lasts forever this time. Catch them if you can. Thanks a lot. | Marc de Krosse

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Besides the fact that an older generation can’t wait for Digger and the Pussycats to come back to the basement from down under, I am also just as enthusiastic as the ‘new’ generation (how ‘new’ can you really be if you’ve been around here for 6 years) about everything that has to do with garage.

It’s no coincidence that a local cult band, the Keefmen from Klazienaveen (Drenthe) is dragging along on this nostalgic ride and is more than happy to play along on this evening. They are certainly garage, but instead of playing 00s garage rock, the Keefmen are more inspired by the inspiration of this genre: 60s garage rock. Think of The Troggs and Cuby + the Blizzards. I didn’t get to experience either the 60s or the 00s with live bands because I’m still too young, so this is a great opportunity to travel through time!

Expect dragging rhythms, soul that SCREAMS and rock ’n roll that rolls like a dolmen. Come out of your own hole, enter the dark cave of the basement bar and unleash your inner caveman! | HILLE

Digger & The Pussycats join us live on VERA Weekly tonight! Tune in from 19:00 via our Instagram Live feed or catch the stream on the VERA Twitch channel.

Digger and the Pussycats

De Keefmen | Bandcamp

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