The Blog Flamingo

 CYNN' - DAUGHTER Some days music has to give me a kick in the butt to get my day going. Today is a day I need a more gentle approach. Whilst enjoying my morning coffee I'm listening to CYNN' (I already mentioned them in an earlier post about Alps . CYNN' brings me the perfect soundscape to put my mind at ease without getting clingy. They have a great new single out that's called Wide Awake (you can listen to it here ) but since day one it was Daughter that had a great impact on me. The song has a serene built up and the voices sounds so pure but it also has this little menacing twist lurking around the corner and I just love that. Lyrics : It's only love  I know you wouldn't set me free  We'll buy the tears  so you wouldn't feel anything     We'll make it easy  We'll make it easy    If only your love  could once be more then letting go  When all my fire  would end up beneath your waves    When you take me home...

 COLTER WALL - THE DEVIL WEARS A SUIT AND TIE My mind can play crazy tricks on me. The first time I heared this song it was the voice that completely drew me into the song. It's not just a country song. It's loaded with blues and it sounds like it's sung by someone who lived through many life changing events. So in my mind I saw an older man with grey hair (perhaps a beard) who was playing a decrepit old guitar, sitting by a bonfire at his camp and looking out over some wide fields. And now let me introduce you to Colter Wall, a Canadian singer/songwriter who was born in 1995. The Devil Wears A Suit And Tie was released in 2017 which made him 22 years old at that time. Never could I ever have imagined that a singer with a voice that kicks you in the head, brings you solace and wants to take you out for a drink at the same time could be this young. This song proves that country music sure is not dead. Perhaps it is wearing a new jacket, but with artists like Colter Wall it...

GIPSY RUFINA - THE SHACK  In a pure outlaw troubadour spirit, Gipsy Rufina constantly toured from 2005. He rolled and rambled around playing thousands of shows across Europe, Eastern Countries, USA and South America, daring sometimes places where few others did. He tells stories coming from his life and travels, obscure sometimes, simple others but always deep, soaked with grace and far from cheesy songwriting. The Shack is a song that always gives me the chills (in a good way). The almost menacing banjo sound together with Gipsy's penetrating voice is breathtaking. Even though I've been following Gipsy for some years now I've never had the chance to see him perform live. But somewhere next September his travels will bring him to The Black Flamingo and I'm already stoked to see his performance. Lyrics : Did not find any yet.

  CHIP TAYLOR & THE NEW UKRANIANS   FUCK ALL THE PERFECT PEOPLE This song pops up frequently on my playlist and - shame on me - I never knew who Chip Taylor was until I recently did some research.  Anyway this proves my earlier statement about not being a music connoisseur. Chip Taylor (real name James Wesley Voight) is an American singer-songwriter and he's the brother of actor Jon Voight which also makes him Angelina Jolie's uncle. Apart from these famous family ties Chip Taylor is also the author of hits like Wild Thing (The Troggs) and Angel Of The Morning (Evie Sands).  Artists like Janis Joplin, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson and The Hollies also recorded some of his creations. I'm sure I will never forget this any time I hear Fuck All The Perfect People again. And being not perfect I'm glad this song isn't about me.  Lyrics : To be or not to be To free or not to free To crawl or not to crawl Fuck all those perfect people To sleep or not to sleep ...

 THE SONIC REDEMPTION - CITIES OF THE BLACK SUN First I'm taking you back to more than a decade ago I think. It must have been 2012 (or '13) when I attended the small but cosy Rock Stenen festival in Lichtaart.  The band that drew my attention was Southern Voodoo. Straight forward rock'n'roll they played, and I loved it. At that time in my life I organised an annual car show and I booked them to come play at our event. You can watch a video of them (together with Diablo Blvd.) here . Timewarp to now.  Strolling through the land of social media I saw a post from Dominique De Vos (singer/guitarplayer with Southern Voodoo) about a new project he started : The Sonic Redemption. This band is so fresh that they either don't have any content on the socials yet or I suck at searching for them. But they do have an awesome video that came with their first single : Cities Of The Black Sun. And again it's straight forward rock'n'roll. In their own words : Belgian r...

  VAN TASTIK - DRAG ME TO HELL A few weeks ago I visited the amazing blog Downsideup.be (sometimes in English, sometimes in Dutch) where Julie had written some articles about the adventures of Pete Bernhard and The Devil Makes Three.  In this article she also wrote about her encounter with Van Tastik and that got me triggered so I wanted to find out more about him. The first song I listened to was Drag Me To Hell and I got blown away instantly.  Van plays some dark Delta Blues that makes you goosebump where you never goosebumped before.  Reverend Van's music tells the tales of darkness and turmoil and in his music and in his voice you can just hear that he already experienced some really life-changing events. Drag Me To Hell is a dark song with lyrics that chill you to the bone. But it's also god damned beautiful and I am grateful that I got to discover Van's music. Lyrics : Take me by the hand And tell me that you love me Tell me that I'm your man And that you'l...

  BIT BY BARRACUDA - A SAILOR WITHOUT A SHIP Bit By Barracuda is a (in their own words) poetrybluesinyourface-rock'n'rollband. Their songs are about women, booze, adultery, treason (just life as it is).  They already built themselves quite a reputation with their liveshows, always able to establish a great interaction with the audience. I already had the honor of having them on stage at The Black Flamingo and they will be back somewhere later this summer.  About a week ago they released their first single : A Sailor Without A Ship.  A song about being in trouble but never giving up. Also a song in two parts. The first half has more funky tunes as the second one leans more toward rock'n'roll. Anyhow, a song that I like very much and I hope you do too. Lyrics : A sailor, without a ship  A drunk  Born in a whorehouse  And raised by a junk    Well l'm still standing  Proud on my own two feet  And no demanding,  Means no defeat...

  THE GARBAGE GANG - WE ARE THE ONLY ONES Garage rock has always been a good road-companion for me, especially on the longer trips it keeps me going.  This gang started somewhere in the 80's and after more than 30 years they are still going strong. They obtained the nickname "Dinosaurs of Garagerock" and they wear it with pride. We Are The Only Ones is a rocksong like a rocksong should be.  Guitars, drums and vocals are all there where they should be. The perfect fuel for a roadtrip ! But (and there is a but) as good as they may sound on any streaming platform, you really should find the opportunity to go see them live because that's where they go loud !! So find them, see them and enjoy them. Lyrics : Didn't find any yet.

 THE PRICEDUIFKES - SEND IT The Priceduifkes (PDS for those who can't pronounce it) is a regional band that we all can be proud of. They already toured Europe, North America and Japan and either if they play at a large festival or in an old worn-out barn (hopefully, someday) they only have one gear : full throttle !! I must confess though, I'm not the fan that can sing along all their lyrics but I really like their sound.  A few days ago they released a new single : Send It.  And if I would not like it I would not be writing this.  It was an instant add to my Spotify playlist. I was wondering why I did not write about Sent It yet but today they also released an awesome video. Perhaps I was just waiting to share this with you. Send It is a harbinger for a new album : Full Send.  Can't wait to listen to that one ! Lyrics : In my thirties writing break up songs  Can someone tell me what I keep doing wrong?    I got this letter I wanna send her  ...

 PAPAFORMIGAS - SECRET THINGS If there is a thing like love at first sight, would there also be a thing like fan at first hearing ? For me there sure is ! I only found out about this band a few days ago and they got my at the first notes.  Papaformigas is a balkan, ska, reggae, pop, polka, klezmer, gypsypunk band from the north of the Netherlands. They will play at the amazing Muddy Roots Europe festival in Waardamme, Belgium next weekend (which I can not attend because I suck at planning) and according to some video's I saw this will sure be a blast. I picked Secret Things because it's the first song I heared from them and what makes it even better : this video is full of flamingo's. Enjoy !! Lyrics : Haven't found any yet.

 ELECTRIC PURGE - INSANE When I get out of bed I always need my morning coffee to help me wake up.  But some days the coffee just doesn't kick in and it drives me insane.  That's where Electric Purge comes in.  This Croatian duo based in Varazdin gives me enough energy to get me going. Insane might be a dark song about pain and suffering but the drive and the energy behind it makes it powerful.  Perhaps Electric Purge are just painters that paint me the world I want to see.  In any case they made it to my whishlists of bands that I really want to see live. Lyrics : Painter, paint me the world I want to see  Savior, save me from reality  Preacher, tell me where do we belong  There is no clear line  Now hate is, what once was love    Get close to me, pour that drink into my cup  Fill me with emptiness  I don't wanna feel anything right now  Just lay back, There's no side to chose between  This is the the hung...

 ALPS. - WANT YOU NOW Life is full of surprises.  Sometimes it gives you lemons, sometimes it gives you Alps..  At The Black Flamingo we really are blessed with the people that come visit us.  No matter how big or small the audience, they give the artists all the attention they deserve.  One day Jesse came over to watch a show here.  I didn't knew who he was but someone pointed out to me that he also was a musician and a songwriter.  After a little research (hurrah for socials) I came across two of his projects, Alps. and CYNN' (more about CYNN' later, I'm sure). For me Alps. is more than songs.  When I close my eyes while listening to them I can almost feel the scenery passing by.  Want You Now in particular makes me feel like being somewhere on a mountain pasture (Alps.?) and it's my perfect waking up song after a stressy week or a heavy night. I already had the privilege to see them perfom live and what a show that was ! Go check them out...

  TEJON STREET CORNER THIEVES - WHISKEY Tejon Street Corner Thieves is a band that frequently shows up on my Spotify-playlist.  I can't recall when I first heared of the band but I know it was this song that introduced me to them. This band, based in Colorado, brings bluegrass music in a very accessible way.  The subjects they sing about are sometimes dark and their lyrics can be very profound but still humor isn't far away. Whiskey is a song about someone who needs the liquor to ease the inner pain. But it's also about running away from things.  Perhaps it was the liquor that caused the inner pain... but that's only my interpretation. Just enjoy the song.  Lyrics : Well, whiskey come and take my pain Numb my heart and ease my brain Oh whiskey, don't you let me go!! Whiskey won't you help me hide This pain I have inside Oh whiskey, don't you let me go!! Don't let me go!! Well this life that I've been living ain't too easy on the soul Sometimes y...

  FOUR FIFTY EIGHT - 458 - MAKING STORIES Four Fifty Eight is a five piece punkrock band from the Kempen (Belgium) with former members of The Headshots and Dead Zero. For me Making Stories is an easy going happy song.  It gives me a message of hope and a happy feeling every time I hear it (Don't know if the band intended it this way).  The chorus is very accessible and it's an instant sing-a-long from the first time you listen to it. If you want to check out some other songs of them, be sure to use the letter version of their bandname (FOUR FIFTY EIGHT) because with 458 a lot of Ferrari's will pop up on your screen. (which is also nice when you're a car freak) Lyrics : In the video.

  LONEWOLVES IN PARADISE - SPIRIT DINOSAUR For me Lonewolves In Paradise is great.  One moment they bring a rock/postpunk sound and the other they throw you back to the eighties new wave vibes.  Either way they just give you the urge to party to their music.  I read once in an online review that they weren't very original in what they do but then again so are online reviews. Spirit Dinosaur is a song that wants me to party from the first notes.  Perhaps not the wild/crazy/over-the-top kind of party but that's ok for me, because I'm not a wild/crazy/over-the-top kind of party guy.  And the dinosaur could be my spirit animal.  They say that birds are the closest descendants to dinosaurs - and a flamingo is a bird - so case closed ! A little tip : check out their other songs and check them out live. Perhaps somewhere in a Black Flamingo near you at the end of this year. Lyrics : It's been a long time ago Have I felt this way before? When I walked out tha...

 STATIC - ONE TRICK PONIES If anybody remembers a post I made some days ago about Braca (that's if anybody ever reads these posts anyway), this is in some way the sequel of that post.  A few days after their shows, Lander (one of the Braca-brothers) told me that he also had another band, called Static.  He wasn't sure if their music was something I would like so he send me the link to their SoundCloud account. The first song I heared there was One Trick Ponies and I immediately digged it.  Straight forward grunge that was made just around the corner.  In the intro drum and bass already warn you for what's coming and when the guitars kick in the song really explodes.  So damn hard to keep standing still when all this energy hits your eardrums. One Trick Ponies is not an autobiographical song, you will find out if you also check their other songs.  Go check them out when they play in your neighbourhood and judge yourself. Lyrics : Unfortunately didn't f...

TYGER LAMB - SUGAR  As mentioned in my previous post : Tyger Lamb.  When I discovered this band I was happy and sad at the same time.  Happy because I could really dig their music and sad because they had stopped and I won't have a chance to ever see them live. This song gives me a dark, mysterious vibe and the videoclip that comes with it is completely rad.  The landscapes are just made to match the music (or was it the other way around).  There are also other songs that I like a lot on the album Born Into This, but this is by far my favorite one. Lyrics :  My heart is colder than silver My promises are made of gold You’ve been sleeping in a bed of diamonds baby But diamonds are made of coal Love is as sweet as any sugar But tears are made of salt Some people just waste your time But they’re keeping you involved I’m your sugargirl I’m your sugargirl Don’t leave me alone in the rain Sugarman They say I got a bad name I heard them blind dogs ba...

  MELEWAI - NOW IS FOREVER Last year, at the wonderful Trash'n'Burn festival in Croatia (which I can't visit this year and that's really a bummer), my son and I got to meet two beautiful people : Martina and Antonelo.  We got talking and it turned out that they had been in a band called Tyger Lamb (more about them later) but this band had stopped.  Now they started a new band called Melewai. In this new band they mix surf rock, garage rock and psychedelic rock and they call it "the songs of water".  Once in a while they tease me with a new song on Bandcamp - you won't find them on any streaming platforms before their album is finished - and their latest addition is called Now Is Forever. The song has a nice "surfy" build-up with a bass and a guitar that drags you into the story.  Somewhere in the middle it gives you a psychedelic punch in the face and moves on with a soothing voice to bring you to the end of the song.  For me it was like a compl...

  JAMES HUNNICUTT - RAVEN SONG The past few days I was fortunate to pass some great days with great friends.  Not only did James Hunnicutt and the boys from Whiskey Dick come over to play an epic show at The Black Flamingo. We also had the time to chill together and enjoy the outside life with full support of the weather.  While having some conversations about the little (and bigger) things in life at one point we heared a magpie making some noise in a tree. The talk went from magpies to crows to ravens and even to cats (all animals that didn't give a shit about anything but still were adored by humans).  And suddenly I started thinking about this song.  A reminder that our life is just a little dot on an immense timeline.  And that made me just more grateful about the quality time I got in these past few days. Lyrics : Burn black your wings Fly oh, so high Break open this heart To set free the light Then just like the Raven Who stole back the sun You'll g...

  TOXIC FROGS - GO While on the socials, you often get suggestions or "things you might like".  Sometimes I click on them, sometimes I don't.  In this case I was very glad that I did want to find out more.  This five-piece all female band from France play Celtic punk/rock ? (correct me if I'm wrong).  The energy that emerges from their songs is amazing and you can almost feel the joy they have in playing their songs. "Go" is one of my favorite songs but in fact it was pretty hard to choose because they have some other great songs.  The first time you hear the song it sounds happy untill the lyrics kick in.  It's a wake up call, a denouncement against the greedy and messed up society we are living in. This song gives me an energy-boost and every time it's played, their message is spread.  So "Go" Toxic Frogs !! Lyrics : I Have a new smartphone  I drive a stunning car  Please follow my world  Through Insta  I share some very dee...

  MARK SULTAN - COFFIN NAILS It was only about one year ago since I first heared this song.  For a while I was certain that I had discovered a sixties garage-rock gem that for some reason didn't cross my path yet.  A little research on the subject gave me a complete other story.  Coffin Nails is a song on Mark Sultan's album Let Me Out which was released in 2018.  Not from the sixties, but still a gem to me. The word is out that this great Canadian performer is starting a US-tour in January.  I don't know if he will be headed to Europe.  But if he does, remember the name, and go check him out for yourself. Lyrics : Didn't find them yet

  ITCHES - LEVEL 25 I was thinking about this one but I don't really recall who made me discover this Itches song.  There are the usual suspects  but I could not point out who did it.  Perhaps a problem with booze (or the lack of it) or just the age that is kicking in. One thing I remember is that this song gave me a big throwback to the sixties.  It was like hearing the old psychadelic garage rock again but there was something different about it.  Something new, something punky.  Anyhow it's a track to party on.  And if you get the chance to see them perform live they will let you party for sure !!       Lyrics :  In the lightning nature fighting creatures creeping insects seeking Contradiction fastfood fiction we will feed the night's addiction plastic mountain in the distance worth the climb to reach the kingdom

  THE BONNEVILLES - THE BELGIANS ARE COMING The year was 2019 I guess (don't kill me if I'm wrong).  Together with two friends I went on a roadtrip to Slovenia and Croatia.  After a few days in the magnificent mountains near lake Bled we moved on to Sveti Martin na Muri in Croatia to attend the amazing car meeting/festival Trash'n'Burn .  On Thursday there was a pre-show, the day before the event officially opened.  On stage, two Irish guys, drums and guitar.  From the first notes I was blown away.  The energy that emerged from this duo was unseen.  Was it blues? rock? punk? No, it was just The Bonnevilles doing their thing. After the show we had a few beers (or a few too many) with Andy and Chris and we found out that they would also play at the Trash'n'Burn festival the next day.  We were already stoked by that.  Then they told us that they had a song that was called The Belgians Are Coming.  It had been a long time since they ha...

 PETE BERNHARD - MR. MUDD AND MR. GOLD I've always loved this Townes Van Zandt song.  So why do I write about Pete's version of it ? (yes, I could hear you thinking out loud).  Well, there's a story about it. Somewhere in February I got asked if I was interested in hosting Pete Bernhard (of The Devil Makes Three) for a show in The Black Flamingo.  I had to crawl back up from the ground (because I had fallen of my chair) before I could say yes.  The Devil Makes Three is a big thing and Pete wanted to play at my little venue ?  For a while I thought I was dreaming.  In fact it felt like I was dreaming until I got to pick up Pete and his fiance at the train station. They always warn you about meeting your heroes but in Pete's case it was great.  He's one of the most charming and friendly people I've met. During the shows I always try to film one full song of every artist that comes here.  The moment I started filming Pete started playing Mr. Mu...