Dead Belgian

Dead Belgian at The Roomz

If there is one performance from the past that I would have liked to have witnessed it would have been Jacques Brel performing ‘Dans Le Port d’Amsterdam’ writes HOT’s John Knowles.

The grainy black and white film that still exists, is full of trademark Brel, passion, glaring eyes and sweat. I don’t speak a word of French, so it seems a strange piece of world music history to choose, but the sheer energy and loin-churning use of words (even ones I can’t understand) make the hair stand up on the back of my neck every-time. The song has of course been covered by a host of singers: David Bowie, Dresden Dolls, Scott Walker and Marc Almond amongst the many. You can truly tell a great singer songwriter by the fact that their songs have lived well beyond the quick bubble of their own lives and Brel is amongst those few.

In his trademark sharp suit and almost always sporting a cigarette (Gauloise obviously), Brel stalked and lived and died on the stage. With a bitter dark vein of humour that runs through his work he is a suitable figure for the bohemian anti-folk of St Leonards, who on Sunday 27 April will get the chance to enjoy a night of Brel songs from the Liverpool band, Dead Belgian. Dead Belgian have played the Roomz once before and went down a storm and its a small venue so come early is my advice.

The gig is a free to enter, but is being run as a CON£ribute gig (new idea being developed to support small venues and live music, whereby the punters are asked to contribute the price of a pint, or more, towards the musicians, it isn’t compulsory but with many smaller venues struggling to make a profit and pay a decent amount to musicians it is a small way of showing your support).

DEAD BELGIAN will appear at The Roomz, 33–35 Western Road. Sunday 27 April at 7.30pm.

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