Text and photo's by: Milou de Zwart

Corvus Corax, 20-12-06

After a long day you just need to rest, but a concert once a while is no bad replacement, that was what we were thinking (Sanja and me). We just had to see Corvus Corax live, no matter what. After a long day we met at Amsterdam Central Station. Sanja didn't even had time to get some food before se left home what meant that we had to buy some greasy but very good eatable food. Well let's go to "de Melkweg", our venue for tonight. After a 20 min. walk we finally ended up at the doors of the Melkweg. Waiting to get in, we slowly moved towards the entrance.
When we got in we expected to stand somewhere in the middle of it but we could just walk right through to the front and found us a nice place to spend the evening. Then the waiting started. So looking around we discoverd a beautiful stage, packed with beautiful props. 21.00 it should begin now... but we were still listening at the cd and NOT Corvus Corax live. After 10 minutes finally the light went down and drums started. The band entered in line all with bagpipes as the first in line followed by the percussion in fantastic self-made clothing. It did finally began.



Bagpipes and Shawms sounded trough the venue. Great percussion entered the melodies and the band went crazy. So did the audiance. The medieval songs brought a medieval atmosphere in the old factory. The band doesn't only play there music, they play with the audiance as well. The guys want you to feel it and be with the music and the have a realy good time on stage. But after one our the lights went down and they left the stage. Already finished? No Way! No, they had a break and came back after half an our. But it felt they had never left when they returned. Jumping and dancing and turning around and still producing an incredible sound. Amazing! They make fun with each other, make a fool of each other and the audiance and just having great fun up there. Playing around, teasing and sticking the shawn into the other so he can't produce any sound anymore. They play incredible difficult rithms and still people try to jump or clap, which really makes me laugh out loud, it just looks stupid. Just don't try if you have rythm of a f*cking potato!

They came back 3 times after saying goodbye. The last encore started. Ardor (A Jack Sparrow Look-a-Like) took off his jacket and kneeled. The minstrels played a pretty heavy song. The kneeled guy took a whip (called a Cat O' Nine Tails). And started to hurt himself. (You can do a lot with red paint these day's). A heavy ending, but a beautiful song. It was a great evening and worth the haste and tiredness (which I really feel right now) of the day.

They played a lot from their latest CD Venus Viva Musica, but fortunately didn't forget the old ones. It's one of the greatest concerts I've seen in my entire life! A fantastic band with an amazing stage performance. So, if you are in the possibility to see them live, just do it, you won't regret it!

Setlist (Not for 100% sure):

Corvus Corax Setlist:

intro --> Tertio
2. Tuska
3. Urmawi
4. Totus Floreo
5. Cheiron
6. Scotus
7. Feralis Saltare
outro --> Tertio
*break*
8. Bibit Aleum
9. Skudrinka 1
10. Ballade de Mercy
11. Venus Viva Musica
12. Nominalto
13. Titenka
14. ?
15. In Taberna
16. Sanyogita
17. ?
18. Platerspiel
19. Saltarello
20. ?
21. Drumsolo's by Patrick, Hatz & Harmann
22. Admissio
*encore*
23. Suam Elle Ires
24. Filii Neidhardi
25. Chou Chou Sheng
26. Lamentatio Coelibatus