The latest concerts in the Rotterdam Kuip: TI-rect gives a show of looking back and gas

Bob Dylan’s cold, rainy concert on his black Fender Stratocaster with mother -of -pearl, for the first time in the Rotterdam Kuip in 1978, with Special Guest Eric Clapton. The three evenings of the Rolling Stones in June 1982, the third of which had to start much later because Hells Angels were still fighting outside. The intimate atmosphere of Simon & Garfunkel. Madonna dancing on a treadmill. The impressive visual production of pop star Michael Jackson.

How stadium De Kuip, at home of football club Feyenoord in Rotterdam-Zuid, could vibrate at concerts, how overwhelming the sound was, with basses and a pounding kick drum down to your chest. How a singing crowd on the field and made an evening on both rings. The beer and fries for whom a field card (45 guilders) obtained at the presale addresses and stood on wooden decking that had to save the turf.

But also: the challenging acoustics in an open -air stadium. How sound could leak away and it could echo, which influenced the intelligibility. The small dolls on stage when there were no video screens yet. The fainting people in front (before barriers The audience distributed more safely), how the water with bins came from heaven at Prince in 1990 (and lightning put his piano under power) or the rather sizzling heat on the field. And listening in without a card outside on the stairs.

The stadium shows of large American and British artists such as David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen and Prince were unforgettable

De Kuip – official Stadium Feijenoord, the second largest football stadium in the Netherlands – was 47 years (also) a legendary concert location. The stadium shows of large American and British artists such as David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Prince, U2, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Rolling Stones and the Eagles were unforgettable. In recent years, especially Dutch artists such as Kane, Doe Maar and Marco Borsato de Kuip has filled.

End of an era

And now di-rect. The Hague band celebrates its 25th anniversary with three evenings in this stadium – around 50,000 visitors per evening. They are the last, blowing an ERA of memorable stadium concerts with their rock and light show. There will be thousands of homes around the stadium and concerts give a lot of noise pollution. De Kuip has sold the concert rights for millions, thereby resolving the dire financial status of the stadium.

Nobody is surprised that money goes hard above sentiment. But the beautiful opening touches: an ode to the music that sounded in De Kuip, in a black -and -white film with old concert images on the sounds of Dylans ‘Like a Rolling Stone’. The audience is silent.

Then it’s time for Di-Rect, the five-member band with his expressive singer Marcel Veenendaal. Initially, as a flamboyant Hippie from 2009, he came somewhat awkwardly new between the no-nonsense rockers in The Hague, who wrote the first di-rect song in their teenage time. But Veenendaal offered a clear future with his beautiful, agile voice after saying goodbye to their first singer. There was a more interesting sound that Rock broadened to funk and soul with blazers.

DI-RECTS entrance is great and not without effect: they walk into the stadium from outside through a red carpet. ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ sounds – how could it be otherwise here – but in the beautiful original version of Gerry & The Pacemakers. The sold -out stadium knows what to do and roars along: « Walk Oooon« While the tire visibly moved through the masses with the singer, dressed in a red robe.

25 years di-rect. That ranges from soft rock ballads such as ‘Times Are Change’, which opens all the hearts, to from energy-splashing rock ‘nan’ soul bangers. The rock band is now used to major performances. And with Bandjubilea, marketing technology always made a stunt to tie. But it is amazing what a particularly high -quality, internationally -looking production has now been put in De Kuip: a solid stage, in which the left and right -high video screens form a head and a raised hand. The catwalk cleaves the entire midfield. And then there is the orchestra that literally one Wall of Sound Behind the tire forms in a high black light wall with a large balcony. There are cameras everywhere and a drone flies.

Looking back and giving

It will be a concert of looking back and gas. And it has to be said, in the latter, Di-Rect has started to enrich himself more and more musically. The jazz blazers that have been part of the band for years send to a different level, but also the rockers have started to season their sound more smooth. The energy is smartly builds this concert. In De Kuip it goes from festive (early spraying the confetti at ‘Omg It’s Happening’) to emotionally in ‘Soldier on’ in which Veenendaal recalls his deceased brother into a stronger, organic rootsy rock, with loaded orchestral moments.

‘Snakebite’ is a highlight in which the band rises above itself, glowed by guitarist Spike with trumpet player Jan van Duikeren. The singer who appears in other wizard outfits again and again is here an outlaw with pointed hat that it brings from the depth to cinematic strings. ‘Walk with me’ also drips from rockbombasm, while the fireballs with sharp bumps shoot into the air.

Then it becomes more densable. In ‘Devil Don’t Care’ Van Veenendaal lets his hefty green cape dance on air grilles. Di-rect shoots towards something like ‘Dancerock’ with electronic songs such as ‘Hibernation’ and ‘Sphinx’-the lasers shoot along the ring.

Until everything gets quiet again. A microphone in the middle of the field. A semi-undinpted moment between singer and guitarist in dark. The unadorned ‘All in Vain’ is the decorative stone that is lifted by tire and orchestra. And if that emotion is out, it’s time for the final for the final blow: Tabee Kuip. If DI-rect has proven something this evening, it is that the farewell to De Kuip as a concert location is a big loss. « Let’s jump as high as possible. Let this tent move and vibrate the roof, » Spike shouts at ‘Young Ones’. Under Golden Fireworks Spetters, De Kuip sits on music for the last time.

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