Agnostic Front + Convict | Baroeg, Rotterdam (concert review)

July 7, 2015 | Baroeg, Rotterdam – Alright, time for a legendary non-Dutch band this time. Agnostic Front, one of the founding bands of hardcore, isn’t unfamiliar in Holland. Multiple times they came to our country to give us a taste of the oldschool New York hardcore. After two years they returned to Rotterdam to play in Baroeg, together with Belgian hardcore band Convict. Tessa was there to write a review about it and took some pics.

Convict
The evening starts with Convict. This Belgian band are back after an 8-year break with their new album ‘Brun The Flags’. The describtion of the band on Facebook is hardcore/punk, but I would describe it more as punk than hardcore. With a big smile the guys start the show and this smile’ll not disappear the whole show. The public however doesn’t really know for sure what to think about the band as support of Agnostic Front, but that doesn’t bother Convict to make a show with a lot of energy. Songs of their new album come along with some old songs. Even though not everyone of the public was amused of the band, it was a good show and definitely a good support for Agnostic Front.

Agnostic Front
After a small break it was time for Agnostic Front, one of the founding bands of hardcore. After over 30 years of playing and touring, the band has a new album, called ‘The American Dream Died’. Even though they need to present their new music to the crowd, the band plays a lot of old stuff. The crowd loved it and from the beginning a moshpit starts. The old songs, like ‘Gotta Go’ and ‘For My Family’ are perfectly mixed with the new material. Singer Roger Miret can’t stand still the whole show and is jumping and running on the stage. One disadvantage: his voice wasn’t as strong as the vocals of Convict. There’s a lot of interaction between Miret, Stigma and the hall. Agnostic Front even had a surprise for the crowd: Stigma grabs the mic and starts singing. It’s pretty clear that the band has nothing to prove to the crowd. They’re relaxed and the guys make jokes in the stage. With Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bob they ended the show.

A neat show, with a lot of oldschool hardcore, but also way too loud… Satisfied, the crowd leaves the Baroeg.