Amsterdam, Holland, Heineken Music Hall
Jim Morrison didn't move to Paris, he moved to Amsterdam
Every one of us has at least one dream, the one we think that will never
become true. You know, when your eye-lash drops, you make a wish, blow and
throw it in your shirt. I don't even know how many times I wished to see and
hear live Ian Astbury and the remaining active Doors guys - Manzarek and
Krieger. They play for 4 years now, under the name Riders On The Storm
(before it was The Doors of 21st century). I had a huge luck to make my
dream come true, although I'm still not aware of that entire priceless r'n'r
experience. It looks I'll have to do it again, soon, to become certain...
(I'm not kidding)!
Under good circumstances and even better people, one week of unforgettable
time in Amsterdam was crowned with the concert held on april 14th in the
Heineken Music Hall, a venue situated just by the Ajax stadium (Amsterdam
Arena). The place is actually pretty new, with great acoustics, lights and
everything else which such place has to have, and the capacity of about
8,000 people was full that night. Even though there weren't any posters in
Amsterdam, the Riders attracted huge number of The Doors (and The Cult)
fans.
This year Amsterdam is one of just 9 European cities in 6 countries where
Riders On The Storm perform. Knowing that, the concert was really rare
experience to see, especially for a small & pretty (four-numbered) Zagreb
'delegation' who found themselves there, me included.
Somewhere around 8:45 pm the lights turn down and the dramatic intro to the
concert starts. "Carmina Burana" - ideally painful and dark, also as strong
to be OK for the opening of these rock-grandmasters. Ray Manzarek, Ian
Astbury, Robbie Krieger and the rhythm section - Ty Dennis (drums) and Phil
Chen (bass) - appear on the stage.
Euphoria starts with Roadhouse Blues, and I'm screaming and jumping so
intensly (and lighting my cigarette and holding Heineken) that I don't
notice the reaction of the audience. One of those moments you remember for
the rest of your life.
By the next Break On Through I was in a total trans, focused on the vibe
that was coming from the stage. Man, this bearded Ian Astbury is incredibly
charismatic and has some Morrison-aura going around him, and under dark
lights, when you see just his silhouette, inevitably you identify him and
Jim. But the poses and the singing are the same as in The Cult (if you
understand The Cult, you know what I'm talking about!).
Ray Manzarek is still that old, talkable, opened positive guy, a keyboardist
who still finds it very amusing to play live and to interact with the
audience and everybody who is on stage with him. No matter his oldness, he's
still vital as in the young days.
They go on with Love Me Two Times, apocalyptic When The Music's Over,
bluesy Alabama Song/Backdoor Man, and before Five To One Manzarek tells
us about totally wrong US politics against the world, about making love not
war and that kind of stuff. Nothing's changed since the Vietnam war (the
time when the song was written) until today. We meet some loosed-up women
form Holland and they can't believe we came all the way from Croatia to see
this show.
Then Manzarek talks about Robbie Krieger being the best guitar player he
ever played with, and the only one in rock music who can play a flamenco
guitar. Robbie smiles to that, Ian applauds in the back, and then that
flamenco knowledge comes out of Robbie on a new instrumental song which he
plays alone. After that, he immediately goes to Spanish Caravan when all
the others come back to the stage.
Somewhere here Ian starts to get pissed-off about having the worst
microphone in 10 years. Of course, he got a new one. One of the humoristic
moments was the commentary about Jim - that he, when he moved to Paris, actually
moved to Amsterdam. That was in
the series of Ray's and Ian's commentaries about the freedom of drugs in
Amsterdam, about the people here being stoned all the time (including people
who take care of microphones, so because of that they accidently gave him
the first one he didn't like). The crowd liked that flirting and jokes about
marihuana, LSD and all the other thingies.
Right before the "...Mr. Mojo Risin'" part on the energetic LA Woman Ian
shouted: "This is for Jim Morrison! This is for Jiiim!!!". That energised
all the people, made my skin swirl and I let go myself totally. As I
remember, in that first part they also played Touch Me, Moonlight Drive,
Peace Frog and Wild Child.
Then goes the first encore. It starts with thunders and reveals that they
will play Riders On The Storm. It was unforgettable, psychodelic, long -
just how it's supposed to be to 'make' your own trip and to really live
through the words and music. Really great live moments, I couldn't believe
that these guys (Robbie and Ray) made this 35 years ago with Jim Morrison,
and that I'm listening them in 2006. on a stage in Amsterdam.
Ian was just 9 years when Jim died in Paris, but his spirit definitely lives
in him. Besides the fact that he's The Cult frontman, here he's the only
logical vocal, and I wish to thank him, Manzarek and Krieger to letting us
hear The Doors music live. Morrison's poetry and lyrics come out of Ian's
mouth and lungs truly sincere & passionate & without false acting.
After a quick break, they return once again and start to play the closing
Light My Fire which sets on fire all the people in the venue (if there was
anybody who didn't get electrified, I have to say he must have missed the
concert, the kind of music and whole lot of other things which I don't want
to write about...). Then follows the introduction of the band, hugging, and
bowing to the audience, and we respond with applausing, cheering, and tears
in our eyes.
The concert with it's 120+ minutes ended after 11:00 pm and it was so good
that it went too fast, I could stand there for double of that time, no
problem. The next thing for me was going out to the Amsterdam night life,
and The Doors songs still ring in my head, even now. Jim and Riders On The
Storm '06, sincerely thank you for that!
Boris Sokolic
Setlist
Roadhouse Blues
Break On Through
Love Me Two Times
When The Music's Over
Alabama Song
Back Door Man
Five To One
Spanish Caravan
Peace Frog
Wild Child
Moonlight Drive
Touch Me
LA Woman
Encore 1:
Riders On The Storm
Encore 2:
Light My Fire