Poppodium Boerderij, Zoetermeer [NL]
Saturday, 15th March 2025
After releasing their latest studio album In Murmuration in 2024, and the live album Live at Tavastia, it is now time for a short tour through Western Europe for Finland’s Von Hertzen Brothers (VHB). The most recent album In Murmuration marked a turn towards shorter, tighter and especially jagged songs compared to its predecessor, the thematic and especially proggy Red Alert in the Blue Forest from 2022. I was curious how this would be received by the loyal fan base, especially during a live show. On top of that there’s also a new keyboardist and drummer. So, off to Zoetermeer, the temporary place of residence for the Finns this Saturday night.
Kristoffer Gildenlöw
There is a support act this evening: half an hour has been set aside for Kristoffer Gildenlöw, the congenial Swedish giant. In almost perfect Dutch he announces the songs, mainly taken from his latest album Empty released in 2024. The music comes from a box of tricks and guitar, accompanied by the great singing voice of the man himself. It’s melodic music, slow in tempo with somewhat sombre lyrics. Gildenlöw has a pleasant stage personality and works his way through the repertoire with gusto. Even small technical glitches are overcome, as in the best song, Saturation, which are excellently integrated, as he remarks himself.
Von Hertzen Brothers
At just around half past nine, the main act kicks off this evening’s proceedings, with The Relapse from the latest album. The saxophone solo cuts straight through the sharply concise but infectious noise that the band produces. This is followed by Somewhere In The Middle from 2008, while War is Over dates back to their ‘positive period’ in 2016, according to singer Mikko. The deafening song concludes with a Queen-like ending, while Angel’s Eyes has a slightly Eastern vibe. Crowd favourite Flowers and Rust is from Nine Lives and according to singer/master of ceremonies Mikko von Hertzen is exactly 12 years old. Markus Pajakkala steals the show with an old-fashioned ripping alto saxophone solo. Another new song, Starlings, also from the latest album is played at Ramones-like tempo and with another cracking soprano sax break. Now it is common knowledge that there’s a lot of snow in Finland and Snowstorm is inspired by it. The ‘dialogue’ that guitarist Kie starts with is hallucinatory and he is completely immersed within his instrument.
Three brothers literally and figuratively form a front, the three of them at the front of the stage with Mikko and Kie, true stage animals. The latter in particular just cannot stand still for one second and moves like a maniac across the entire stage. But the multi-harmony singing is also something to behold. Mikko Sirén, ex-Apocalyptica, is the new man behind the drum kit, what a great drummer he is. The beats he delivers from his low seating position and modest drum kit sound like shots from a cannon. The versatile Markus Pajakkala also leaves a great impression on keyboards, saxophone(s) and flute.
It’s not that difficult to stay awake during Insomniac, the volume is high, but neatly contrasted by All of a Sudden, You’re Gone, a beautiful semi-acoustic ballad topped by Markus Pajakkala’s soprano sax. This versatile musician is an absolute asset to the band as he claims the leading role, with his flute-playing, next to the guitar duet of the brothers on Kiss a Wish – without a doubt the most proggy number of the set. Fantastic drumming by newcomer Mikko Sirén during Freedom Fighter, Let Thy Will Be Done is pure madness. Fortunately there is The Willing Victim, a ballad with lots of keyboard work and a characteristic guitar solo by Kie.
The band briefly leaves the stage to quickly return for Sunday Child. The audience participation that is requested by Mikko von Hertzen and is continued during New Day Rising. Is it now really over, or isn’t it? The fantastic Peace Patrol from Red Alert in the Blue Forest is the encore tonight. Including saxophone, of course, and with the ultimate guitar solo by Kie von Hertzen – a true prog epic. The excited audience rewards the band with a deafening applause.
VHB shows are a real experience, almost like a party, whether you like the music or not: it is intense, energetic, fierce, noisy and humorous. There are few bands that give themselves as much as the Finnish quintet, I could hardly suppress the smile on my face. The gentlemen musicians could be wrung out at the end of the evening, drenched as they are in sweat. The fact that there was only a relatively limited number of attendees present, about 150 tickets were sold, doesn’t seem to have bothered them at all.
The set features a nice cross-section from the band’s oeuvre and taken from their six albums, but the focus logically lies on the most recent album In Murmuration and is represented by four tracks. Unfortunately only two songs from my personal favourite Red Alert in the Blue Forest, so no Day of Reckoning, Blue Forest or The Promise, but there is plenty to enjoy. As this was the final performance in their short European tour the Zoetermeer rock temple audience were treated to an extra-long show which lasted about two hours and fifteen minutes. The next day the band would embark on their return trip to Finland.
The theatre and it’s staff was showered with compliments by Mikko. That was especially valid for that one particular employee who requested the band in multiple emails not to skip Zoetermeer during the tour. Just as well she did 🙂
[Live photographs used with the kind permission of Richard Winkel (Poppodium Boerderij)]
SETLIST
The Relapse
Somewhere in the Middle
War is Over
Angel’s Eyes
Flowers and Rust
Starlings
Snowstorm
Insomniac
All of a Sudden, You’re Gone
Kiss a Wish
Freedom Fighter
The Change
Let Thy Will Be Done
The Willing Victim
Sunday Child
New Day Rising
~ Encore:
Peace Patrol
MUSICIANS
Mikko Von Hertzen – Vocals, Guitars
Kie Von Hertzen – Guitars, Vocals
Jonne Von Hertzen – Bass, Keyboards, Vocals
Mikko Sirén – Drums
Markus Pajakkala – Keyboards, Saxophone, Flute
LINKS
Von Hertzen Brothers – Website | Facebook | YouTube | X | Instagram
