Concert review
After a demo a few years ago, new Dutch prog/goth band Illumion recently released the critically acclaimed debut Hunting
For Significance. For the first time live with new keyboardplayer Gerton Leijdekker (S.O.T.E.), the band formed by guitarist
Eveline van Kampen, went on stage in Alkmaar.
Unfortunately not too many people found their way to De Victorie, but luckily there were more than when the first show
(Ignoramus) began. A bit nervous she was, the good looking, rather slender guitarist of Illumion, in a tasteful and rather
sexy outfit. Singer Esther Ladiges thought for a moment she was fronting her other band Unicorn, but she corrected her slip
of the tongue instantly and sang with more power and confidence as on the CD so it seemed, also because now she had only one
voice instead of multiple recordings of her on the album!
Bass player Peter Boer (also from S.O.T.E.) proved to be a very reliable and stable factor in the band, keeping his balance
and playing his bits perfectly. Newcomer Gerton Leijdekker also did a good job and considering he is a guitar player, he must
have practiced a lot to be able to play his parts!
Another familiar face on stage was Emile Boellaard on the drums and backing vocals, who played with S.O.T.E. until recently.
Boellaard is a professional drummer unlike the other musicians who all have "ordinary" day jobs next to making music. He is more
than capable to play these often 7/8 time signatures Eveline composed.
Although the band has to work a bit more on their stage performance, there's no doubt all musicians are well trained and
perfectly capable of bringing the music from their debut album live. The only way to get the experience needed to perform at
a professional level, is to play live regularly. Hopefully the venues will recognize the talents of Eveline van Kampen and her
band mates and book them for more shows: they deserve it!
