Over the years our taste evolved. We started discovering new sounds and left the so-called 'goth'-scene behind us. However, we kept a few favorites. Deutsch Nepal and Sophia still find the way to our speakers very often. So when both appeared on the line-up of Porta Nigra, we didn't hesitate. After all, it had been a long time since we've seen these bands and their new albums are very promising..
Now, before I go into the performances of the bands, I have to tell you that we were unable to see Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio and we only witnessed a little bit of Rome. Why? Because we have no other means of transportation than the public version and the Belgian railway company isn't too friendly towards people who go out late at night. So our last train was around eleven. I decided not to complain to the conductress since she was the nicest, most friendly railway worker I have ever met.

I don't know exactly what it is or what it does. It looks like a man who got anally struck by lightning. According to the box, which I threw away in a local bar, it's a letter opener & pen holder. To me, it's Chinese junk, good for a laugh. Frankly, it was all we could get for 800 points, apart from bad headphones, toys and 16 lighters.

Even the merchandise booths looked exactly the same as ten years ago, with the same artists coming back time and time again. Is that bad? Not really, because I finally got my hands of a copy of 'Palpita Corazon Palpita' by Calva Y Nada. Hurray. I bought some other stuff too, The KVB, Imminent and a beautiful 5-CD box by Klaus Schulze & Pete Namlook. So yeah, it was all worth it.

Outside, the carnival trucks were gearing up to travel through the city of Aarschot. Carnival is a strange tradition in our country. Originally a Catholic thing, carnival is now an orgy of alcohol consumption, throwing candy at people and blasting the most mind numbing music out of enormous speakers. Everywhere I looked, there were people dressed as pirates, barbies, tigers, goths. Somehow it all fitted perfectly, even with what was going on inside the Klinker venue.

The gig itself sounded a bit hesitant, as if the trio were not completely attuned yet. Here and there, I heard a little error, a glitch in the co-act. Harmless, obviously. This was an excellent gig because Sophia's music is simply brilliant. I loved every second of it and I wasn't the only one. I've always thought that 'Spite' is one of the best albums in their genre, but judging from this concert, maybe 'Unclean' might surpass that, because for the first time I liked the new songs better than the old ones. Honestly.

Deutsch Nepal climbed on stage and thanked everyone for coming. Someone yelled 'for you' and he answered, in a pretty hilarious, and a bit gay manner 'I know'. It set the tone for a brilliant performance. The music started playing and Lina Baby Doll started singing. At first, it looked a bit arduous but gradually he was getting into his act, resulting in an epic version or 'Erosion' by the end. And as we're used from Deutsch Nepal, he left stage when the can of beer was empty. It was a classic Deutsch Nepal gig and everyone, except those two rockers, loved the hell out of it.

I did see Rome starting their set and it sounded like Rome always sounds. For a moment, I thought that Jerome added some post rock influences to his strong and emotional music, making me regret that we had to go. When I saw the faces of the people in attendance, I know this was about to become a classic Rome gig, one which passed me by. We started walking and collected some candy from the carnival trucks on the way to the station. The last time we did that, was also about ten years ago.
It's funny how some things change and others stay exactly the same...
Serge