Translated by Jeannie Minke

Venice is a top-group
Concert review from Nieuwsblad van het Noorden

The rumours were persistent.  So persistent that some of the audience were convinced that they had seen David Crosby the afternoon before in the centre of Groningen.  Unfortunately, the guitarist of Byrds fame was not present when the Amercan band Venice left an unforgetable impression behind in the "Oosterpoort."  With truly formidable west-coast rock, the band, to coin a cliche, brought the house down.

Presently, Venice can favourably be compared in many ways to "greats" as The Eagles, Buffalo Springfield and the old Fleetwood Mac.  Vocally, the four Californians, backed by a 2 person rythm section, rise above the majority of bands of this genre.  Clean cut, refined pop songs are their trademark.  Without bowing to commercialism, the country-rock numbers stay accecible to a broad audience.

Last evening, the "kleine zaal" (small auditorium) of the"Oosterpoort," with an audience of 750, was completely sold out.  The programmer, Peter Sikkema, realises that with a little good will, Venice could easily have sold out the "grote zaal" (large auditorium).  But unfortunately, at that moment, the larger venue was being played by Ilse de Lange, who added this concert to her tour by popular demand of the people of Groningen.  That de Lange also moves in the world of country-pop, albeit in a more commercial capacity, is a coincidence.  But it's clear that the genre is ascending in popularity.

The enormous praise for the most recent album Spin Art finally opened the doors for Venice to a broader public.  The four Lennons (brothers Kip and Pat and their cousins Mark and Michael, by the way not family of John Lennon), began writing their songs more than a decade ago.  This went virtually unnoticed in the Netherlands.  Here, the band caught our attention when six months ago, they played in the television and radio program "2 Meter Sessies," with special guest musicians David Crosby (then well!) and Jackson Browne.

On stage, Venice sounds very much like on Spin Art: wholesome and rock hard, even with their still semi-acoustic approach.  The vocal harmonies are wonderfully refined, the arrangements inventive and uplifting.  Venice is a top group.  Next time we will be more than pleased to hold a place for them in the "Grote Zaal."

Martin Groenewold.