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Raalte November 28th 2005 (THE ATTIC CHAMBER)
November is almost over, and it’s cold again… Here I sit reading this piece over and over again (just to make sure most
zpellingh-miztaiks are out of this story) I realize that I didn’t write about the music, their album, artwork or lyrics. I merely try to
write down my findings during some occasions I was near the band some way or the other. I find it’s more a background
story about a sober band from Holland who are eager to play as much as they can. They only have 1 goal, be good, better,
best!! So…..if anyone who reads this feels the sudden urge to listen to the music they make, GO BUY AN ALBUM!!! Or read
the first interview on www.somasomascene.com/lpg.html
Clip presentation October 6th 2005 (PNEUMONIA AND A HERNIA)
I was invited to the video presentation of their second single, Belly Rollercoaster. On October 6th, the only way to get into the
‘club’ was taking a huge barrier, rope jumping! Almost risked a hernia, poor back of mine. My girlfriend, of course feminine,
had no problems at all with this backbreaking entrance. Finally inside the crowd was packed in a small room, with bald walls.
One of the lead singers was hanging around nervously rolling up cigs, trying to look confident to the people he was talking to.
He told me the other singer had pneumonia. It wasn’t possible to do the show as planned originally. The best reason to
show up was the fact that 2 contenders were selected by LPG to make some sort of a video for their latest single. And they
were finally showing their products to the crowd. We were amazed by the results.
Of course in any situation, no clip is the same, therefore the choice was quite simple to me. The first clip was about a woman,
who suffered of severe spasm... She kept crawling around a cubicle with a few cameras in it. At least she had nice white teeth
and she kept flashing them at the audience.
The second clip however looked quite interesting... The band playing in a room with all sorts of couples, mother-daughter,
lovers, old people, they were all in an erupting state of joy. Unfortunately this clip wasn’t finished at the time of the
presentation due to technical difficulties..It was promising though... It also explains why we had to get acrobatic at the
entrance.
The aftershow contained 3 band members, in an attempt to please the crowd with an acoustic set. It was a pity that some
people only seemed to be interested in the cheap beer instead of the beautiful songs performed that night. With mixed
feelings we turned home, enthusiastic about the second clip, less charmed with the crowd who didn’t seem to have the best
interests of the band..
Ukien, October 22 2005 (MOZART WITH DREADLOCKS)
Yay! Finally time for me to see the first real gig live! As always I was accompanied by my girlfriend on a road trip to Kampen.
LPG was to perform live there in some sort of alternative youth club. The audience alone could be a brilliant reason to go
there, I must admit I was a little surprised seeing a dreadlocked rocker playing Mozart on a piano in the bar next to the stage!
After peeking at the first act (Cool Genius), I gave Arend Jan a copy of the last cd of the Presidents of the USA, which he gladly
accepted. I wished them all the luck they could get for their performance...When the show started you could see that the boys
really felt like kicking ass on stage, even though there were only about 80 people to enjoy it. As the show continued, dripping
with sweat, they played their songs with an attitude as if they were conquering the world. Well, at least they were conquering
some of the population of the small city of Kampen, including me. They could easily rock the Royal Albert Hall if they got a
chance to! They ended the show a capella, in the front of the stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar, performing the multi
vocal song 'Speech'. Cheers aloud, they rocked Kampen, filled my head with the songs they played and we promised to meet
sometime soon to have some sort of decent chat.
The Basement, November 12th 2005 (YOUNG, AMBITIOUS AND KICKING)
It was cold, very cold… as we agreed to meet at 2pm. I was there a little bit earlier, ringing their doorbell (like Jack White).
Finally I was noticed (after giving the manager a call if the boys would be so kind to get out of their practice room for just a tiny
moment), Arend Jan picked me up, with the characteristic roll-up in his hand. He led me to the place where all their creativity
bursts out of the North of Holland, the basement. Tall as I am, my physique adjusted to the low ceiling... It could have been so
much better! If only I could sit behind the drum kit, alas, the second tallest person in the basement at that time (Chistiaan)
was already on his spot!
It was a pity that the keyboard player wasn’t able to practice, he had other obligations that day. As I set down on a small couch
the other band members continued practicing for their upcoming tour with a well known singer-songwriter in Holland, called
Spinvis. As I glanced around the basement it was nice to see that all the walls were covered with posters, drawing they band
have made themselves and all sorts of slogans. I noticed a nonstop enthusiastic atmosphere; humor and dedication when
performing and practicing their set list. If only my back would stop hurting....
After observing them for about 2 hours we went to the kitchen for a decent cup of coffee, along with some Drentse
Kruidenkoek (dutch cake). The guys were filled with dreams about the tour, about their new CD, and also about their record
label Excelsior. Gerald and Anne told me they found it a soothing idea for not being with a major record label. Yet. They feel
they have the time and chance to work one step at a time. Their label also keeps their foot on the brakes They appreciate that,
they want to grow as a band, want their fame to rise, but certainly not at all costs and with the Speed of Sound. They don’t
make music to become instant celebrities. They just like to make music and it’s fun if you can get something else out of it.
I was also wondering about something I read on the internet concerning another Dutch Band called Gem. The story is as
follows: They have a big hit in Holland. The song is also heard with a commercial of a well known Job Agency. It turned out
that that particular song wasn’t written by Gem at all, but by an advertising agency. Someone asked AJ his opinion about that
issue. AJ told the reporter that he wasn’t fond of not writing your own songs. He was a little misunderstood. They (press) let it
seem as if LPG were a little rancorous.
During my interview he spoke of no envy at all, he was quite happy for them: “They make the kind of music that instantly
buzzes between your ears, we don’t. We’d love to do a song for a commercial, except we would like to see it is one of our own
songs. Then again, if we had chance like Gem, we’d have a go to!” As the matter of fact, during my presence, AJ called with
the lead singer of Gem to ask where they get their shirts printed. Talking about envy…What’s all the fuss about?!?
We also talked about the second video of the presentation, I was wondering when we could see it on national television. I
was surprised when I heard it wasn’t ready at all. As the matter of fact, they had to re-record some scenes, because it was
technically impossible to finish it in a short while. We’ll just see how it’ll turn out to be. If it’s ready it might just be put on SSS.
So you can judge for yourself.
All though they do have a few new songs for a new album (2 left on contract) they are concentrating more on the upcoming
tour with Spinvis. Before their first album set foot in Holland, they did about 15 shows. Small gigs not included. After the
album was released they were asked to go on tour with Zita Zwoon. Up till now they have done about 80 shows this year.
They also believe that touring makes them better, calmer and more self-confident. We can only hope that they will come to
London sometime to kick out the jam for SSS. See how cool, relaxed and self assured they will be. With Spinvis as their
support act maybe?
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETERR
November is almost over, and it’s cold again… Here I sit reading this piece over and over again (just to make sure most
zpellingh-miztaiks are out of this story) I realize that I didn’t write about the music, their album, artwork or lyrics. I merely try to
write down my findings during some occasions I was near the band some way or the other. I find it’s more a background
story about a sober band from Holland who are eager to play as much as they can. They only have 1 goal, be good, better,
best!! So…..if anyone who reads this feels the sudden urge to listen to the music they make, GO BUY AN ALBUM!!! Or read
the first interview on www.somasomascene.com/lpg.html
Clip presentation October 6th 2005 (PNEUMONIA AND A HERNIA)
I was invited to the video presentation of their second single, Belly Rollercoaster. On October 6th, the only way to get into the
‘club’ was taking a huge barrier, rope jumping! Almost risked a hernia, poor back of mine. My girlfriend, of course feminine,
had no problems at all with this backbreaking entrance. Finally inside the crowd was packed in a small room, with bald walls.
One of the lead singers was hanging around nervously rolling up cigs, trying to look confident to the people he was talking to.
He told me the other singer had pneumonia. It wasn’t possible to do the show as planned originally. The best reason to
show up was the fact that 2 contenders were selected by LPG to make some sort of a video for their latest single. And they
were finally showing their products to the crowd. We were amazed by the results.
Of course in any situation, no clip is the same, therefore the choice was quite simple to me. The first clip was about a woman,
who suffered of severe spasm... She kept crawling around a cubicle with a few cameras in it. At least she had nice white teeth
and she kept flashing them at the audience.
The second clip however looked quite interesting... The band playing in a room with all sorts of couples, mother-daughter,
lovers, old people, they were all in an erupting state of joy. Unfortunately this clip wasn’t finished at the time of the
presentation due to technical difficulties..It was promising though... It also explains why we had to get acrobatic at the
entrance.
The aftershow contained 3 band members, in an attempt to please the crowd with an acoustic set. It was a pity that some
people only seemed to be interested in the cheap beer instead of the beautiful songs performed that night. With mixed
feelings we turned home, enthusiastic about the second clip, less charmed with the crowd who didn’t seem to have the best
interests of the band..
Ukien, October 22 2005 (MOZART WITH DREADLOCKS)
Yay! Finally time for me to see the first real gig live! As always I was accompanied by my girlfriend on a road trip to Kampen.
LPG was to perform live there in some sort of alternative youth club. The audience alone could be a brilliant reason to go
there, I must admit I was a little surprised seeing a dreadlocked rocker playing Mozart on a piano in the bar next to the stage!
After peeking at the first act (Cool Genius), I gave Arend Jan a copy of the last cd of the Presidents of the USA, which he gladly
accepted. I wished them all the luck they could get for their performance...When the show started you could see that the boys
really felt like kicking ass on stage, even though there were only about 80 people to enjoy it. As the show continued, dripping
with sweat, they played their songs with an attitude as if they were conquering the world. Well, at least they were conquering
some of the population of the small city of Kampen, including me. They could easily rock the Royal Albert Hall if they got a
chance to! They ended the show a capella, in the front of the stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar, performing the multi
vocal song 'Speech'. Cheers aloud, they rocked Kampen, filled my head with the songs they played and we promised to meet
sometime soon to have some sort of decent chat.
The Basement, November 12th 2005 (YOUNG, AMBITIOUS AND KICKING)
It was cold, very cold… as we agreed to meet at 2pm. I was there a little bit earlier, ringing their doorbell (like Jack White).
Finally I was noticed (after giving the manager a call if the boys would be so kind to get out of their practice room for just a tiny
moment), Arend Jan picked me up, with the characteristic roll-up in his hand. He led me to the place where all their creativity
bursts out of the North of Holland, the basement. Tall as I am, my physique adjusted to the low ceiling... It could have been so
much better! If only I could sit behind the drum kit, alas, the second tallest person in the basement at that time (Chistiaan)
was already on his spot!
It was a pity that the keyboard player wasn’t able to practice, he had other obligations that day. As I set down on a small couch
the other band members continued practicing for their upcoming tour with a well known singer-songwriter in Holland, called
Spinvis. As I glanced around the basement it was nice to see that all the walls were covered with posters, drawing they band
have made themselves and all sorts of slogans. I noticed a nonstop enthusiastic atmosphere; humor and dedication when
performing and practicing their set list. If only my back would stop hurting....
After observing them for about 2 hours we went to the kitchen for a decent cup of coffee, along with some Drentse
Kruidenkoek (dutch cake). The guys were filled with dreams about the tour, about their new CD, and also about their record
label Excelsior. Gerald and Anne told me they found it a soothing idea for not being with a major record label. Yet. They feel
they have the time and chance to work one step at a time. Their label also keeps their foot on the brakes They appreciate that,
they want to grow as a band, want their fame to rise, but certainly not at all costs and with the Speed of Sound. They don’t
make music to become instant celebrities. They just like to make music and it’s fun if you can get something else out of it.
I was also wondering about something I read on the internet concerning another Dutch Band called Gem. The story is as
follows: They have a big hit in Holland. The song is also heard with a commercial of a well known Job Agency. It turned out
that that particular song wasn’t written by Gem at all, but by an advertising agency. Someone asked AJ his opinion about that
issue. AJ told the reporter that he wasn’t fond of not writing your own songs. He was a little misunderstood. They (press) let it
seem as if LPG were a little rancorous.
During my interview he spoke of no envy at all, he was quite happy for them: “They make the kind of music that instantly
buzzes between your ears, we don’t. We’d love to do a song for a commercial, except we would like to see it is one of our own
songs. Then again, if we had chance like Gem, we’d have a go to!” As the matter of fact, during my presence, AJ called with
the lead singer of Gem to ask where they get their shirts printed. Talking about envy…What’s all the fuss about?!?
We also talked about the second video of the presentation, I was wondering when we could see it on national television. I
was surprised when I heard it wasn’t ready at all. As the matter of fact, they had to re-record some scenes, because it was
technically impossible to finish it in a short while. We’ll just see how it’ll turn out to be. If it’s ready it might just be put on SSS.
So you can judge for yourself.
All though they do have a few new songs for a new album (2 left on contract) they are concentrating more on the upcoming
tour with Spinvis. Before their first album set foot in Holland, they did about 15 shows. Small gigs not included. After the
album was released they were asked to go on tour with Zita Zwoon. Up till now they have done about 80 shows this year.
They also believe that touring makes them better, calmer and more self-confident. We can only hope that they will come to
London sometime to kick out the jam for SSS. See how cool, relaxed and self assured they will be. With Spinvis as their
support act maybe?
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETERR
| All images, words, site design Copyright © Soma Soma Scene 2005 unless otherwise stated All Rights Reserved |
WE WANT MORE LPG!
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INTERVIEW BELOW.
READ PART 2 OF THE
INTERVIEW BELOW.