The Blog Flamingo

 ZIELERUST - JESUS Flip Van Canegem and Tom Leën played in Dead Souls, Lighthousekeeper, Amber, Zen for Birds, and Thun. As a duo, they continued with beats, analog synths, and dirty guitars. In early 2023, Kathleen Decuyper joined as a drummer. Now, they form a trio driven by noisy pop and shoegaze. Imagine Yo La Tengo dropping by The Velvet Underground's place with a touch of Sonic Youth. Feel-good music, straight from life itself. Tom, Flip, and Kathleen, through their jobs in the social, mental, and health sectors, increasingly encounter the complex and polarized times we live in. The collective quest in dealing with fears, love, anger, and hope translates into a raw sound with warm melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and chaotic noise. TOGETHER, they build with fans, other musicians, and diverse bands, creating an ever-expanding community of people, crossing all boundaries and categories. Love is everything! I could have picked any of their songs (I like them all) but since it's ...

  BRIDGE CITY SINNERS - HEAVY No strangers to pushing boundaries and defying expectations, the Bridge City Sinners have once again unleashed their signature blend of musical prowess and rebellious spirit with their latest single, "Heavy." Hailing from the misty, pine-covered hills of the Pacific Northwest, the Bridge City Sinners have carved out a niche all their own, traversing the sonic landscape from prohibition-era jazz to Appalachian death folk with effortless finesse. For those unacquainted with their legendary status, the Bridge City Sinners need no introduction. This ragtag group of musicians has captivated audiences far and wide, from the sidewalks of bustling city streets to the stages of renowned festivals like Punk Rock Bowling, Muddy Roots, and Oregon’s Bluegrass String Summit. What began as humble busking sessions across the country has blossomed into a full-blown national tour circuit sensation, firmly establishing the Bridge City Sinners as a force to be reck...

 THE AX EFFECT - GET WASTED Dutch band The Ax Effect is back, and they're hitting harder than ever with their latest single, "Get Wasted," straight off their newest album, "Made For This." Hailing from Brabant, these guys are no strangers to blending genres, and "Get Wasted" is a prime example of their unique concoction of hard rock, metal, punk, and just a dash of blues, all fused together to create what they proudly dub as Lumberjack Rock. At the helm of this sonic onslaught is Mathijs Ansems, who not only commands the drums with thunderous precision but also takes on the role of lead vocalist, his gravelly voice serving as the perfect conduit for the band's gritty sound. Alongside him, Bart Kruijssen's guitar work cuts through the air like a buzzsaw, while his backing vocals add layers of intensity to the mix. And holding down the low end with authority is Harrie Van Erp on bass, his driving rhythms forming the backbone of The Ax Effect...

 JERRY MOTOR - MARY Jerry Motor's latest single, "Mary," plunges listeners into a captivating musical experience that resonates with haunting melodies and pulsating rhythms. With a vocal delivery reminiscent of a crossover between Skunk Anansie and Kate Bush, the band delivers a performance that is both powerful and evocative. From the moment the drums kick in, the song establishes a relentless momentum that drives the narrative forward. The pounding and thriving percussion sets the pace, adding layers of intensity to the composition. Each beat feels purposeful, contributing to the overall dynamic of the track. The guitar work in "Mary" is nothing short of mesmerizing. While maintaining a clean tone, it weaves intricate melodies that linger in the listener's mind long after the song has ended. The haunting quality of the guitar adds depth to the music, creating an atmosphere that is both eerie and enchanting. However, it's the bass that truly sh...

 DAARK - OUT OF MIND Dark, darker, DAARK. Some time ago I came across the music of DAARK. Their music immediately brought me back to the 80's, a time when I was still young and beautiful. Now that I'm not that young anymore it brings back memories to some underground parties I attended in those days. There is an air of mystery surrounding this band and there is not much information to be found. What I did find is that DAARK is a Belgian duo (Peter and Jan) and what's more, they should be situated in my area but I can neither confirm nor deny that lats bit yet. DAARK describes themselves as a duo playing with all things dark 80's wave, deathrock, goth, ebm, injected with some psych and they really are reviving all of this in this era of dark inflation and new cold war times. Out Of Mind is a song from the album Nothing Doesn't Exist and can be found on all major streaming services. But I think that you can only experience the real DAARK when you go see them live (it...

  ALASKO - JUDY GIRL Last September I had the privilege to see this band live twice in one day. One time at the amazing Bearded Punk Acoustic festival and one time at my humble shack. I had been listening to their music for a while but when you hear it live it really hits you. On top of that they are all beautiful people which is increasingly becoming an exception unfortunately. All her life Hanne (Alasko's frontlady) has been singing and writing songs accompanied by her acoustic guitar. Inspired by her personal experiences and blessed with a vivid imagination a lot of musical stories were born. A decade ago she came out with the hard & blues rock outlets Gipsy On The Rocks and Redding. The passed years she gathered a band around her that arranges, shaves and kneads the songs to a mixture of indie pop and americana. Alasko is unpolished, honest and without frills. But watch it !! Their songs are fragile. Judy Girl is a song about being lost in a superficial world. It's goo...

OFF THE GRID FESTIVAL Normally I write about a song that caught my attention or that has a special meaning to me but this article is a tribute to this small festival that I had the honor in attending in Croatia's capital Zagreb at the Vintage Industrial Bar This story actually starts in June 2022. While I was watching the amazing band L.H.D.  at the Trash'n'Burn festival in Croatia, I met some great people who were also in a band called Melewai . We started talking, drank some beers and after the festival we stayed in touch. From time to time they released a new song on Bandcamp and I just loved their songs. I promised them that whenever they would play their first live gig I would do my best to be there. And then the news came that Melewai was going to play at the Off The Grid festival, organised by L.H.D. and together with Sumski  and Psycho Mutants . So, keeping my promise, I was there on the 27th of December. Melewai opened the festival and a lot of people did not reall...