Up-and-coming quarterbacks of the Utrecht post-punk scene in various formations
Sure, Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show is great, but we’d rather put our own spin on the Super Bowl, the annual final of the American football season. On February 9, it’s all about Bowl, the up-and-coming quarterbacks of the Utrecht post-punk scene. This elusive five-piece is, of course, the special guest of the evening, but its members can also be seen in various other lineups. Throw yourself into the scrimmage with hip-hop collective Schots & Scheef, shoegaze formation Part Garden, and DIY rockers Max Hell. And after dodging all the tackles and rushing toward the goalposts, there’s only one band that can score the final, decisive touchdown: Bowl!
Bowl
This five-piece band brings a fresh vibe that the post-punk genre is more than happy to embrace. Hailing from our beautiful city of Utrecht, the band delivers atonal, disorienting guitar riffs, critical lyrics, tight drums and bass, and above all: an incredibly high energy that fills the entire room. With their latest single ‘The Weight: 27 Tapes’, it’s certain that Bowl will end the evening with a… well, a touchdown!
Max Hell
Compact pop songs delivered with a pleasantly gritty edge – that’s Max Hell. Crowned ‘indie underdog’ by 3voor12, this Amsterdam-based musician indeed evokes the raw work of Velvet Underground and the poignant cries of the late Daniel Johnston. On the EP Who the Hell Is Max Hell?! (March 2024), Hell’s previous lo-fi sound gives way to more polished tracks, yet his unique style remains.
Schots & Scheef
With razor-sharp lyrics over their unique boom bap and old-school beats (produced by Slodder & Mokerjong), these guys know how to make the crowd jump. The Biltse Ginger, Missa, and Mokerjong join forces to create a boom bap sound reminiscent of MF Doom, Opgezwolle, and Brockhampton with an old-school twist.
Part Garden
The indie-shoegaze band Part Garden takes the listener into a trance with melancholic guitars and dreamy vocal lines. With lyrics about existential crises and nostalgia, they draw the listener into their story. Their debut EP ‘Can’t Feel Enough’ is about discovering who you are and want to be while navigating through life.
