Crude Pictures

PICTURES

PICTORIAL REPORT MINI-TOUR DECEMBER 2002
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Crude like Holland. They have been celebrating holidays in Amsterdam a couple times before and fortunately I found out by accident and decided to check if they were up to some gigs. Although communication wasn't too easy, I managed to get them 6 gigs in total. Eventually they wished they would have done more which I am working on right now.

11 December 2002. Makiladoras + Fleas And Lice + Crude (JAP) – OCCII, Amsterdam NL
The first gig of the mini-tour. We pick them up from the Flying Pig hostal and they are very much into doing those series of gigs. Communication is limited to mainly basic words and a lot of sign-language and drawing. Lots of people show up, and especially the foreigners go crazy during the Crude set. Even without Shou on 2^nd guitar, this is an amazingly convincing performance. Hidekazu screaming his guts out, Benkei like a true guitar virtuoso and Hidetoshi, painted in full warcolors by the Groningen posse, punishing the drums with his preposturous thick Yamaha drumsticks. Too bad he forgot to bring his own cymbals….

Hidekazu

Hidetoshi fighting

Shinya (Mustang) reinforces

Benkei's

12 December 2002. Fleas And Lice + Born Suspicious + Crude – Platformtheater, Groningen NL
It is fucking cold and everything is frozen but nevertheless we have a good time on the ice. Tonite is the final gig for Oene (bassplayer) with Fleas And Lice. Since Crude is practically unknown in Holland, a lot of people somehow associate Japanese hardcore with bands such as SOB, Warhead and the likes. Obviously there’s many that are rather shocked (or better read: disappointed) by the high rock standard including leads, black leather and sunglasses.

Holiday on ice

13 December 2002. Y + Shikari + Crude - Wehrschloss, Bremen GER
We pick up Otto from the trainstation and he gets welcomed japanese style. From now on communication is a lot easier. I’ve been tons of times to Bremen but this is my first time in the Wehrschloss venue and it is most impressive. Excellent organization and full house. Hidekazu, Yuhei and Hidetoshi cooperate in a Shikari video and Otto does a hazardous yet hilarious speech introducing Crude first time on a German stage. Unforgettable!

Nice choking welcome

Crowdshot

Shinya taking the stage

KOKORO!

14 December 2002. Y + Crude – AJZ, Bielefeld GER
Guess what, someone from Tokyo flew in to catch 2 of the Crude concerts! We already have people travelled from Skandinavia, France, England to see them but this tops everything. To make it even better, Crude play their best ever concert (as they state themselves) in Bielefeld tonite. Although it’s not a full house, the crowd goes crazy and get them to do another 3 encores. You can see our japanese friends are completely overwhelmed by the verbal and physical appraisal. They just cannot leave the stage.

Otto declaring this the best Crude gig ever

15 December 2002. Makiladoras + SAF + Crude – ACU, Utrecht NL
Last gig of the mini-tour. Compared to yesterday, this is kind of a letdown. It seems most dutchies aren’t into good intense traditional japanese hardcorethrash. Especially the wanking is too much for most. Too bad coz Crude is consistently brilliant and give every gig the maximum. Raging!

Makiladoras get the thumbs up

My cymbals survived (so far)

21 December 2002. Absorbed + PCP + Larm + Humus + BBK + Destructica + Crude – Parkhof, Alkmaar NL
After a five days break, and thus more holidaytime in Amsterdam, it’s time for the final gig on the annual Christmas Parkhof festival in Alkmaar. It’s crowded as usual with a lot of familiar faces from everywhere. Crude finish the fest and play a great and long set. Afterwards we go to an afterparty in a squat nearby, see more bands and continue till everyone’s completely wasted. A perfect ending of a very memorable time.