{image1}If you really love music you know that the relationship to venue size and gig enjoyment is inextricably linked. It's almost always the case that seeing a band you like in a smaller, more intimate setting means a more memorable experience.
Things get no more intimate than Bettie Serveert's short set at Atomic Records, 1813 E. Locust St., on Sunday. Due to either scheduling or short-sightedness on the part of most booking agents here (or a contractual clause preventing a show too close to Madison), the Dutch band had planned on driving straight through to Sunday's Madison show from Saturday's Chicago gig without stopping.
Luckily, Atomic stepped into the breach and nabbed the band for the acoustic set on a warm summer afternoon. Alas, singer Carol van Dyk's voice was stricken by a cold, which prompted her and guitarist Peter Visser to keep their set short. Although the entire band was in attendance, for obvious reasons a full band gig was an improbable proposition.
Despite van Dyk's self-consciousness about her restricted vocal abilities Sunday, it was her youthful, girlish sound that infused the four songs performed with personality. And she sounded pretty good to these ears, prompting the question, "just how good is she when in top form?"
Longtime fans of the group know that it is THAT voice of van Dyk's that makes Bettie Serveert instantly recognizable. Well, that and their penchant for lovely, understated melodies and often expansive, airily sparse arrangements.
Much of that is gone on the band's latest disc, "Attagirl," (Palomine/Minty Fresh) exchanged for a modern, almost mainstream-friendly sound with drum machines, contemporary R&B harmonies (especially on the title track) and lush, layered arrangements. What remains are the melodies and THAT voice.
However, on Sunday, all the gloss was gone and van Dyk and Visser could have been a folk duo with only their guitars and their voices. In fact, "The Greyhound Song" and "Dust Bunny" -- from an older disc called, "Dust Bunnies"-- had a folky sound not even hinted at in their original incarnations.
Afterward, band members greeted fans and signed autographs.
Sure, we'd have loved to hear the whole band and there are plenty of tunes we'd have liked to experience live -- both from "Attagirl" and the band's other discs -- but we'll hang on to the intimate vibe of Sunday until Bettie Serveert comes around to give us some more.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
