At Bob Vylan, the public and artist find each other, in musical enthusiasm but also in conviction

Bob Vylan has more sides than recently entered the media, it turned out on Saturday evening at the performance in Paradiso, Amsterdam. The London duo Bob Vylan is not only radical and activist. Singer Bobby Vylan (the drummer is called Bobbie Vylan) opens the concert with a series of yoga exercises and was already in the hall to talk to fans and take a picture. He is pleasant and funny. For example, after a series he seems thrown -in Palestinian flags, sincerely surprised by four shiny bras that land on stage (“I’m going to fit them later”).

The London duo recently grew into ‘scandal success’. They almost unnoticed in June at Pinkpop, a week later they became world news because of their-controversial-pro-Palestinian attitude during the Glastonbury festival. Through the slogan ‘Death to the IDF’ (Israel Defense Forces) they saw their American visa withdrawn, performed performances, and labeled ‘anti -Semitic’.

When it became known that Bob Vylan would perform in three Dutch pop halls – in addition to Paradiso also Doornroosje and 013 – that led to large -scale protest and (death) threats. That is why Paradiso had turned into a castle for the second time in one week in one week (last weekend there was also controversial Irish trio Kneecap). For the first time in history, the room was secured with police, metal detection and three times as much security than at other concerts.

More grievances

But Bobby may go to Palestinian demonstrations since he was fifteen, his gaze extends further. He has hardly any songs for all the grievances, of rogue landlord and police violence, homophobia, big pharma, poor food, economic inequality, gentrification, poisonous masculinity to racism. In particular, the latter topic often sings of the Jamaican Bobby origin, for example, in the raging We live here.

In the meantime, the duo also makes a musical statement: with only a live drummer, stuttering guitar and beats from the computer, a mix of grime, punk and hip hop is created. In his raps, Bobby puts both perfect timing and an edge of panic: this is how the Furie is kept in check by Stiling.

Sometimes the anger poked through everything. Although he had not said it since Glastonbury, now it happened: Bobby let the room chant the words ‘Death to the IDF’. By that he means “death at the institute,” he said earlier. It is similar to his – played here – Gyagor Get Yourself A Gunnot to be taken literally either.

The duo provided a balance between entertainment and message this evening. Knee -religious and jumping around, Bobby was the generously smiling singer who effortlessly let the room dance and crowdsurfing – and did it himself. But just like him, the supporters are angry. About the anti-immigration bars that had been held that day in London, about hate-sowing people such as Charlie Kirk, about the genocide in Gaza and the accusation of ‘anti-Semitism’ when it comes to antizionism. For example, the public and artist found each other, not only in musical enthusiasm but also in their conviction.

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