K i n d r e d

This interview is done with Jan, after their show at the Vort 'n Vis festival. Totally exhausted, he found the time (and energy) to answer our questions. Here's what he had to say.

Tell us about the tour with Culture. How did it go?

It's been a great experience with hights and lows. There were a lot of problems, for instance the tour wasn't organized very well, 6 or 7 shows were cancelled, financially things weren't taken care of, although we needed to pay for two vans and for the residences during the tour.But there were some great shows, like in Prague, Berlin, and Cologne, the shows in Belgium were very good and the guys of Culture are really great guys, we had a lot of fun together. We got to travel to other countries, like Italy and Austria, end up in other cultures and we got to meet other people, etc. But your biorythm falls apart : little sleep, bad food, travelling. A lot of travelling isn't good. But when I look back on those two weeks, I'm glad that I was a part of it, it was a great experience. At this moment, I'd say : "This is enough!!", but I want to do it again some time for sure.

What were the best shows...?

The shows in Belgium were excellent. Like I said, in Germany were some good shows, and in Italy we played in some sort of a squat. In Rome we also played in a squat, but that wasn't a good show. Prague was great but weird to. All the kids wore straight edge t-shirts, yet they were smoking and drinking. I don't care about that, but it's weird though. But the kids gave themselves 100%, they supported the band. And we've been through a lot of stories.The worst thing that has happened, occured last week in Langehagen where a friend of ours got beaten up. We don't know how it happened. There were 2 men on top of him, and Steve of Culture helped him out. Then there was a short but heavy fight. The cops showed up afterwards but they didn't ask any questions and stuff, it was really weird. For the rest it was very pleasant. In Italy we visited a few things and so on, it was cool.

Didn't it annoy you that everybody was on stage with you today?

I could give myself a little but I didn't have much space. But I think the show was great, and that makes up for it. It's just great when the crowd goes crazy like that.

I thought you were preparing a second guitarplayer for the tour. Didn't that work out?

We're working on that but we had to little time to rehearse, and he has to learn the songs and all. That's something for the next month's. We're working on some new songs right now. I think it is good for the sound, two guitars. Nico of Facedown played a few songs with us live, and it sounded great. He didn't rehearse with us, he just listened to the cd and jumped on stage. But a second guitar is only a matter of time, because we have other things to do too. We have to go to school, jobs, etc.... Besides that we have to put a lot of time in the band. We didn't rehearse for three months, we just jammed a little. We have to take our time to work on some new songs and to come to our senses, but we're just to busy. In september, oktober, november we allready have a lot of shows everywhere. It's too much. After those gig's, we're gonna quit for about two months or so, to get some rest.

x24x couldn't make it this evening?

x24x is with Maarten. You have to ask him. Maarten, you have to tell something about x24x, the legendary band that never plays (laughs). (Maarten joins the interview). M : OK, right now, we have four songs on guitars and drums. After the tour, we'll put vocals and bass on it. Within three months or so we hope to do some gigs, but we couldn't make it on time for the Vort 'n Vis festival.

That's it. I'm out of questions. Is there anything left you wanna say?

I thank Joris (to the guy who sits next to him and laughs) No, no, I wanna say that the scene is really great for the moment. The people here in Belgium support the bands, there are a lot of zines. It's worthwhile to work on. Sometimes I think :"What an old bag of shit am I"? (Joris laughs), but when I see what happens around me and that cheers me up. and it gives me the courage to continue. I'm being very melancholic right now, but that's the truth. (Joris laughs again, Jan to Joris : "If you're here to laugh at me than bugger off", Joris keeps on laughing) And you thanks for the interview. I also wanna say, support the local bands : Stroke of Grace, Strike, Distract, Plughole... That's all I wanted to say... (Tom joines us), oh, I also wanna thank Tom for helping us out with the merchandize and administring the finances, and that's an annoying job. And I also wanna thank all the people who supported us, it's been great.

Thanx

Jan shakes hands, "fresh prince ..." style or something. Put that in your zine too. You have to translate that by "knip" or something. (laughter).