in the room at ‘the voice in my head’ tour

There was a subtle hum of anticipation in the air when we arrived at 35 Buitengracht Street on a humid but gloomy Wednesday. 

As we walked through the front door, we were met with the patent susurration of conversation & clinking glasses - & a wonderfully warm welcome from the hostess who was kind enough to point us into the direction of the Jazz Bar. 

The dimly lit space was already at capacity & one could feel the eagerness from the audience. We situated ourselves into a surprisingly comfortable corner at the bar, right behind the drum set & watched as the space began to fill up. 

As I was eagerly waiting for the band to take the stage, I decided to meander to the Green Room & have a little chinwag with the guys. 

Upon entering the Green Room - the energy was composed, completely unruffled. Each of them sat reclined on the leather couches, limbs loose, shoulders slack - carrying the calm of musicians who had already rehearsed the storm. 

The spirit of the space was familial & dare I say - easy. Pianist - Winston, Bass Guitarist - Charlton & Percussionist - Elton were calmer than spring itself, emanating nothing but positive energy. The Tony Stark of the operation, Cellz was not pacing but rather circling the room with quiet purpose. I had been catching up with Kila G who is a long time friend when he introduced me to Crunchy Sweater - who struck me as the group’s resident mischief-maker. 

As he only had one retort upon telling him that I was going to be covering the show for Verve - 

“Tell them that we all have big [redacted]” 

Which was almost immediately contrasted by the deputy’s (Kila G) call for a team prayer before the group took to the stage. Their quick assembly was a strong signpost of their camaraderie. It was at that moment that I knew that we were about to experience a tight, harmonious band that was about to play like a single organism & I was greatly overjoyed when they proved me right. 

The spirit of collaboration emanates off the band like an unapologetically fragrant scent. It is also wonderful to watch how beautifully curated the show is - giving each of the solo artists an opportunity to perform their own songs but as a band. 

With memorable moments like Cellz taking us back to Deutschland with a song like Baden Gehen, Crunchy Sweater providing gravel-esque croons & Kila G taking it home with Cellz - you’re bound to leave the show a fan of each of the band members & itching to be enraptured by their infectious stage presence again.