REVIEW BY PAUL VAN GORP

Rather unfortunately an illness, which had bothered me for some weeks, took hold of me again right before my jubileum dEUS-show; this would be my 10th dEUS-gig. Afterwards I realised that the band following dEUS would be Sick Of It All, a funny and appropriate coincidence. But there must happen a lot before I would miss a dEUS-show, so I got to see it anyway.

In the following hour, dEUS once again did a great and astonishing performance. Tom announced that this would be the last show for a rather long period of time. He said that there would be a new album out in may of next year. Surprisingly he told us explicitly that this was also the last show for Rudy, who didn't look very fit again: his right wrist was packed in a bandage and a mitella was hanging round his neck. This last announcement puzzled me: did this indicate that Rudy was glad that the tour was over now (which would not surprise, taking into account his behaviour of the last few months, or was there more going on and did he decide to leave the Belgian band? Of course I hope it is the first alternative.

(Later addition: As we all know, one or two days after the festival it got clear that the worst case scenario had taken place and that Rudy had indeed decided to leave the band.)

I did not observe many interesting or special things during the show, partly because I was not very far in front of the audience due to my condition. During the more familiar songs, a big party was going on the pit and there was constant crowdsurfing going on, even at moments when the music was almost quiet.

Let's Get Lost was played in its entirety (probably because of the noise in the filled Alpha-tent), but at a rather natural-sounding break the band continued with Mr. Death Won't Get Me. Apart from this combination, my personal favorites were Worst Case Scenario and Horror Party Jokes.

At the end of the show, Rudy, with his bandaged wrist, seemed to be not that much injured, because he managed to swing his instrument in large circles through the air (no pun intended :) ).

What I missed here and what I enjoy at other dEUS-shows, were the extra things during and between the songs, i.e. the short speeches, experiments and improvisations. Because of this lack, I experienced the show as a bit less charming; but this does not mean that this was not a qualitatively strong show. Unfortunately only one song of My Sister = My Clock was played; the fragile and emotional Little Ghost would have pleased me a lot. I think Jigsaw You is not a very logical last show of a set.

SETLIST
thanks to Jelmer Geluk

Clever White Youth
Hotellounge
Morticiachair
?
Via
W.C.S.
I Suffer Rock
The Horror Partyjokes
Suds & Soda
Supermarketsong
My Wife Jan
Let's Get Lost
Mr. Death Won't Get Me
Jigsaw You