93-04-11 P.N.A.T.S.H. – Nessun Dorma – Pilgrims – Vais

‘P.N.A.T.S.H.’ (abbreviation for ‘Paice, Nic And The Stringkilling Homosexual’) were a ‘queercore’ band that played a mix of punk & dub-reggae and were quite original! If I’m not mistaken they were from Berlin… Dudes with dreads, seemingly adhering the Rastafari philosophy… They also had a song entitled Ain’t No Jah… Absolutely the counterpart of the sometimes homophobic Rastafarians though; militant punk.

Henk Loobuyck

‘P.N.A.T.S.H.’ were indeed from Berlin (Kreuzberg, I think). They described their music themselves as “masquerade party-rastafari-punk-core”. A whole bunch of people (on their recordings): Paice (vocals, drums/percussion), Nic (vocals, bass, keyboards), Hilde Hendrix (vocals, guitar, sax), and their horns-section Wolfram Föhse (trombone), Wolfram Segond von Banchet (bariton sax) and Markus Renner (trumpet). Party-music, got everybody skankin’… I know of 2 albums that they did: Fetish (1991) and SmashIt (1994).

The ‘Nessun Dorma’ guys toured the continent quite a bit and this was their 3^rd time here (after 92-05-02 & 92-11-01). I had already gotten them a few gigs earlier during the Smurfpunx days (90-09-02). Hardcore punx from Bristol: Seamus Cummins (bass), Paul (vocals), Phil (drums), and Ju & Tony ‘Tone’ (guitarists). They had a 12” out on Mike Foster’s MCR UK: Chew It Over 12” (recorded in Oct ‘91).

‘Nessun Dorma’ s singer Paul (from Ludovic Hache’s zine Ras l’Bol)

The French ‘Pilgrims’ had been at the V.V. before (92-06-13). They were apparently a straight-edge band but my mate Dirk ‘Scum’ (‘Zero Positives’ vocalist; who organised (a part of) the European tour for the ‘Pilgrims’ in 1992, said they were anything but…) Can’t remember anything about them. I was told the guy singing for them (Ian ‘X Man’ Marquand) used to be in the Parisian HC/punk band ‘Flitox’ and he also ran (the label) Jungle Hop International.

‘Vais’ (from Antwerp) consisted of Ingrid Martens (vocals), David (guitar), Danny Van Honsté (bass, ex ‘Bad Influence’) and Alex Meynen (drums; he replaced first drummer Sacha). They recorded a demo (Forever Roaming) in 1992 with Alex. After ‘Vais’ Ingrid, David & Danny started ‘Kin Without The Blood’; later on Ingrid & David formed ‘Hellsonics’ (a “punky/metal psychobilly” band).

Brob

I remember vaguely seeing ‘P.N.A.T.S.H.’ twice. Only the guitarist was gay; he was a bit timid but very winsome. They played a lot of benefits but also wedding-parties. What I do recall from the gig at the V.V.: they were touring with a hearse. It was a very nice concert, especially because there was an openly gay person present. They had a tape, an LP and a CD…

‘P.N.A.T.S.H.’ (Paice, Nick And The Stringkilling Homosexual) – SmashIt. Hardcore, ska, reggae, dub, techno & punk on one CD, it’s possible. Musical resistance without compromise, it’s possible. From Germany, nothing seems impossible. A CD that everybody has to have in their collection; lyrics you just have to know by heart. Against religion, neonazis, narrow-mindedness and bigotry. For feminism, homosexuality, resistance and fun.

Pat D.

No recollections whatsoever… Could well have been our drummer (Alex) or bassist (Danny) in the guestbook.

David, ‘Vais’guitarist

No, that wasn’t me there. Must’ve been our drummer Alex.

Danny Van Honsté, ‘Vais’ bassist

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

99-06-25&26&27 10 years Vort’n Vis

If my memory serves me right the very first gig at the Vort’n Vis was on 89-07-09. To celebrate this the autonomous centre served it’s audience a mix of touring and local (H8000 and other) bands; plus drinks at the price of 10 years before…

For full posts on the bands that were playing: click below…

25 jun ’99: Standing (Can), 8 Days Of Nothing (Swe), Shank (UK), Hernandez (UK), Lifecycle (Bel)

26 jun ’99: Faroutski (Bel), The Lovehandles (Bel)

27 jun ’99: Shai Hulud (USA), Intensity (Swe), Hebriana (Bel), Clouded (Bel), Alignment (Bel)

For some more history:

Vort’n Vis genesis

20 (+) years Vort’n Vis

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

97-03-01 Seein’Red – Honey Honey – Outrage – Instinct – Resist The Pain – Confrontation

intro: 97-02-28&03-01 VV Doe-Wat dagen

My ‘brothers in arms’ of ‘Seein’Red’ were at it again! That year saw the release of the split-10” with their fellow countrymen ‘Catweazle’ and the split-7” with ‘Öpstand’ (from France).

‘Honey Honey’s second appearance (after 95-07-23) at the Vort’n Vis. These ‘Easterners’ played great melodic HC, which I really liked (see presentation in Tilt! #8 (’95) and set up a gig in Gent, 98-03-15). Wendi Geuens was the singer, later joined by Pat Broux (don’t think she performed here), Gert ‘Gonzo’ Hermans played guitar, Edwin Gielen was the drummer and Sven Cuypers the original bassist (‘Reiziger’s Pascal Hens replaced him on their UK tour during the summer of ’97; later Bart Elen joined.). The latter was on their 7” (released by Dennis’ Tyfus & Phil Merckx (99-05). After the turn of the century Gert & Sven were in ‘Playmobil Assassins’ together…

‘Outrage’ had performed at the V.V. a couple of times the year before (96-03-24 & 96-08-16) and would be back later (98-09-19). It was the band of Nico Peeters (bass) – who ran Day One distribution with (at that time) his partner An Caers, and was in the Newland collective (zine and gigs in the Herentals area). The others were Sigi Loots (drums), Steven Van Goubergen (guitar) and Ringo Van Dingenen (vocals). Their music was powerful emo-metal. Later that year they recorded their 7” To Terrorize Ear And Mind (“a DIY product distributed by a network of friends”). ‘Outrage’ also did a presentation for Tilt! #8…

First of a bunch of shows at the V.V. for ‘Instinct’ (also 97-06-27, 97-07-12, 97-08-15 & 99-08-22), a band from my hometown Tielt (and Deinze). “Positive old-school” HC or “youth-crew mosh” as the were described. Alex Dierickx & Thomas Hauttekeete played guitar (both were also playing in the new school metal band ‘Eulogy’ with Tom of ‘Family Of Dog’), Vincent ‘Pit’ Maes sang (he was also in ‘Hundred Years Of Forgetting’, later ‘The Deal’ & ‘Rise And Fall’), Pedro Tallieu did the bass and the drummer was Tuur Delodder. They had a promo-tape and did a 7” on Marc Decaigny’s label Braveheart recs, entitled Friendship, A Lifetime Commitment (released in 1998).

The last of 3 shows ‘Resist The Pain’ did at the V.V. (also 96-05-12 & 96-08-18). Soon after bassist Steve Noyelle & drummer Jan Volckaert started to play guitar in ‘Lifecycle’, and guitarist Pedro ‘Fifi’ Fioen would go on with ‘Spineless’. Their vocalist Vincent ‘Murph’ Merveillie later sang for ‘Spirit Of Youth’.

‘Confrontation’: Wasn’t that the band with my hometown-fellow Albano Lo Bue (vocals)? They were labeled ‘death-core’… Kurt Vanbrabant was their lead-guitarist (ex ‘Trail Of Sorrow’), Davy Bouvry played the drums and guy nick-named ‘Never Nuchter’ (“never sober”) did the bass…

Brob

I don’t know if ‘Confrontation’ actually played…?

Pedro Fioen, ‘Resist The Pain’ guitarist

Pat Broux was the second vocalist and Edwin’s girlfriend. Bart Elen played bass at a later stage (after Sven had quit). After I stopped (in 2000, I believe), Gert, Pat & Edwin went on under another name. Jimmy Even was the second vocalist and Sven did the bass again.

Wendi Geuens, ‘Honey Honey’ vocalist

I did 3 tours (in France, Germany and the UK) with ‘Honey’ Honey’ as replacing bassist… But never played with them in Belgium! Wendi was my girlfriend at that time so I hung out with them quite a bit…

Pascal Hens

We had to perform that day but honestly: I don’t have a lot of recollections from that day. Stage-stress haha… Playing at the Vort’n was quite something, right ;-)

Albano Lo Bue

Brob – who reminded us strongly of Jopie’s (guitarist van ‘Jesus Cröst’) dad – was eager to hear ‘Seein’Red’ play. Unfortunately he obliged himself to stay outside with his distro. We’ll never forget his face, peering through the tinu window during ‘Seein’Red’s show. Something that was discussed many a times afterwards… [Brob: By doing so I wanted to give expression to my conviction that distros should all be treated alike and that it was unfair that I had to pay entrance because I wasn’t part of the association anymore.] There was another great image on Sunday: the exodus of the punks vs. the entry of the ‘new’ audience. A bigger contrast is hardly imaginable. The ‘Seein’Red’ show was fantastic (sorry Brob!), and was marked by another funny occurrence. The guys’ talks between the songs were identical to tose we heard at a previous gig. And therefore also the shouted reactions (“Feyenoord!”)…

Bowie de Weijer, ‘Bullshit Propaganda’ drummer

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…