Nick Cave Studies (3): Studious Summer

The actual start of the academic year is nigh. Over the past eight weeks, I've read two novels by Cave, listened to his music and watched movies he either wrote or soundtracked (or both). When I wasn't doing that, I was reading and listening to his influences: Faulkner, Nabokov, Hank Williams, Elvis, Johnny Cash et cetera. 

Furthermore, I've been digging deep into OOR's archives to uncover a plethora of Cave (and Cave related) articles and interviews. OOR is the eldest of music magazines in the Netherlands, with a reputation similar to that of NME or Rolling Stone. Over the past 35 years Nick Cave became one of their spearhead artists, spending pages on him with every release (album, compilation, movie, bowel movements).

A page from the OOR Archives (1984)

What I haven't done, is put anything resembling coherent ideas on paper. Everything is cooped up inside my brain waiting (impatiently, I might add) to be thrusted upon the page like splashes of paint on a Herman Brood canvas. I've got notebooks, napkins, and airline sick bags full of doodles, squiggly lines and general braindump.

It's a mess. I need some proper reflection. I need my thesis-supervisor! Thank God school's in session in two weeks. While it might sound like I've gone astray a bit and found myself stuck in the academic marshes, my situation isn't as bad as it might sound. I have at this point a number of fairly clearly defined themes for my thesis.

My thesis will consider one or more of the following subjects: "Spaces of Creation", an investigation in the way that Cave recreates his personal environment in his songs and novels; "Nick Cave's Mythical Beasts (and Where to Find Them)", an investigation of Cave's interest in icons, both religious and secular, and the way he fashions himself as an artist-icon; "Familiar Cave Antics", which might become an estimation of family values as both the honest and satirical center of Cave's literature. Not too sure yet about this one, considering Cave's recent family tragedy. But it's something which runs throughout his work, and thus fairly interesting.

In short, excited to REALLY get underway with this thing. Now if you'll excuse me, Lolita is waiting.

Writer's Update #1

Hi Folks!

So, here's the breakdown of all the writings I've forgotten to post on here in te past 2 weeks:

March 7: The BAMM Argument: OK GO

Every so often my editor Chris Davies and I take a punt at cracking a controversial subject by taking oppossites sides in the conflict. I always enjoy writing these pieces, not only for my love of the form (polemics for everybody, hurray!) but also because it seems to really trigger both Chris and me to really give it our best. I guess we're competitive that way, even though I can't really speak for Chris off course.

This week, following pieces on Justice (pro) and Coldplay (con), I had the pleasure of thrashing OK GO. Read it over at the BAMM.tv BLOG

March 7, 8: 5 Days Off for OOR.nl

For the second year in a row I've been dispatched to review one of Amsterdam's finest electronic festivals, 5 Days Off, held annually at Melkweg and Paradiso. I was present for the opening two days, witnessing sets from the likes of Sleigh Bells, The Field, SBTRKT, Koreless, Falty DL, Kutmah, Krampfhaft, The Gaslampkiller, Jameszoo and Dorian Concept. Fun times, and great music for the most part, even if it wasn't quite as exhilirating as the past year.

Read it at OOR.nl: Day 1 (The Field, SBTRKT ao) and Day 2 (Kutmah, GLK ao)

All in Dutch (sorry foreign amigos!)

I co-wrote these pieces with Harm Groustra (@fresh77); pictures by Remco Brinkhuis (@remcobrinkhuis) and Bart Heemskerk (@bart_heemskerk)

The Field - pic by Remco Brinkhuis

March 10, 11: Festival FabrIQ for OOR.nl

There was a lot more happening that week, so over the weekend I attended the third annual Festival FabrIQ. It was my 2nd year in a row covering the festival, again for OOR. I'm getting fond of building these traditions now I've been in the field of music journalism for a while.

In the three years of its existence, a very nice bunch of indie and folk artists have passed through Den Bosch for FabrIQ. Last year was a blast, with surprising performances from Nils Frahm, SUUNS, Sleep Party People and Cloud Nothings. Looking back I feel this edition was slightly more on the folk side than indie, but a great two day event nonetheless.

Read about it here: Day 1 (Kim Janssen, Idiot Wind, TRIPPP) Day 2 (Damien Jurado, Cass McCombs, Xiu Xiu, Chad Vangaalen ao)

pics, again by the incredible Remco Brinkhuis (@remcobrinkhuis)

Damien Jurado, pic by Remco

That's all folks!

Le Guess Who? Live Review

Zola Jesus / photograph by Erik Luyten

Le Guess Who? is without doubt one of the finest festivals for (alternative) music discovery in the Netherlands. Held in practically all relevant Utrecht venues (Tivoli Oudegracht, De Helling, Ekko, ACU, RASA, dB's a.o.), Le Guess Who? puts a firm focus on culthero's, underground talent and adventurous audiences.

This year's line-up featured the first ever performance of Panda Bear in the Netherlands, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Bill Callahan, Low, Gang Gang Dance, Zomby, SUUNS, Other Lives, Akron/Family, Okkervil River, Shabazz Palaces, Zola Jesus (see photo) and John Maus to name a few eyecatchers. But the idea is to look for new talent, of which we found plenty.

I was on hand for OOR magazine on Friday and Saturday to witness the underground bliss.

SUUNS was probably my overall favorite. Check out a session with them HERE

Check out the reviews (in Dutch) for Friday and Saturday

De Staat (Live) Review for OOR Magazine

Another review I did for OOR Magazine. This time I paid a visit to the sold out concert at Melkweg The Max (cap. 1400) of one of the greatest rock bands around in The Netherlands: De Staat. It was a very hot and sweaty night.

Here's the interview:
http://oor.nl/#reviews/concerts/1616/de_staat_is_steengoed_maar_nog_niet_groots

Found a nice live vid from the concert. It's their very cool single Sweatshop, with guest vocals from Kelly, singer for electro outfit The Routines. Enjoy!

Dazzled Kid review @ Melkweg for OOR magazine (in Dutch)

Dazzled Kid at Melkweg (photography: Marcel Poelstra)

Hey y'all,

Here's the link to the review I did for OOR magzine (@OOR) of the Dazzled Kid (@dazzledkid) show at Melkweg last week. Thought I'd put it on here. It's in Dutch, though. I was thinking about translating the whole thing, but that requires a level of discipline I know I can't live up to. So I won't.

http://www.oor.nl/#reviews/concerts/1586/dazzled_kid_is_goed_op_weg

Another one, really?

Yes, really. This will be the new place for my personal rants, announcements and a collection of published works for third parties. I will try to give an razor-sharp, honest impression of the music scene and all that it entails, from the perspective of an Amsterdam-based Jack-of-all-trades.

Some of you may remember the blog I kept as De Nachtbrakers. While this was fun to do, it lacked urgency and was way to expansive (or self-indulgent, if you will) for people to actually read. In recent months, following my first experiences in online publishing with Hard//Hoofd, OOR and Bricks And Mortar Media, there were several stimuli that pressed me to start a new blog

1. Collecting my work. Keeping a portfolio is never a bad thing.
2. Focusing my thoughts. With the pace of current events involving yours truly, putting some of my personal thoughts on the whole process in a blog feels right. If nothing else, maybe I can learn from reading my own insights.
3. Sustaining productivity. As a freelancer, the worst thing you can do is muck about if no one is willing to assign you new projects. This way, I can bully myself into writing some articles in periods of drought.
4. Changing my ego-brand. For years I profiled myself as "Jasper P. Nachtbraker", the nightcreature hanging out in bars and clubs for a living. But you can only keep this persona up for so long. Not to mention the lifestyle you're living up to! I feel it's about time a new, slightly less Bertold Brecht-like alter-ego takes the stage. I decided to go with "Jasper van der Put". Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

So with all these things at the back of my mind, here's to the start of something new. My first regular article will be up tomorrow. A sneak (p)review of the new Mindpark album. Watch this space, and let me know what you think!

denachtbrakers@gmail.com

Cheers,

Jasper