It’s June 10th, 2012. I am standing on the pitch of Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, Italy, surrounded by some fifty-thousand Italians. The Boss is about halfway through his main set, and he has just pulled some kid up on the stage to help him out with the chorus when it hits me: if the… Read more »
Monthly Archives: June 2012
First Lines: The Mists of Avalon
Marian Bradley Zimmer’s The Mists of Avalon re-imagines the legendary tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Only, it doesn’t focus on Arthur and his knights. No, in this version, it’s the womenfolk who play the lead. While in most versions of the Arthurian lore women like Gwenhwyfar, Morgaine/Morgan le Fey… Read more »
First Lines: Hier / Seen Live: Bløf
Why, yes! Since the book I finished last week is the biography of the band I saw last friday, there no reason not to wrap both up in a double feature. This year BLØF, one of the most popular bands in The Netherlands, celebrates their twentieth anniversary. Hier: 20 jaar Bløf, the band’s new biography… Read more »
Seen Live: Wende bespeelt de maan
Not so long ago, on a thursday about a week ago, Wende Snijders played a one-off show in Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. Wende bespeelt de maan, Wende plays with the moon, it was called, as the moon was in its first quarter, which, of course, is a symbol for a new start. During the show… Read more »
Eerste zinnen: Het boek van alle dingen
Guus Kuijers Het boek van alle dingen (bekroond met een Zilveren Griffel in 2005) is gebaseerd op het schriftje waarin de negenjarige Thomas begin jaren ’50 een soortement van dagboek bijhield. Het is vrij oneerbiedig. Dat komt omdat Thomas een ongelukkige jeugd heeft gehad: dat krijg je als je een oliedomme zus hebt, en een… Read more »