The special IAMX event in Maastricht

On March 29th, a very special event took place at the Muziekgieterij in Maastricht, a city in the south of The Netherlands. IAMX, the solo musical project of Chris Corner, played a very last-minute ‘hybrid-acoustic’ show in the old factory near the city centre. The band described the show as ‘a one-of-its-kind addition to the Metanoia tour, with Chris playing some of his favourite IAMX songs on acoustic guitar, integrated into the full band live performance’. Tickets were only €15 each, and to top it all off they announced that they had a couple more surprises in store for the lucky fans who were able to attend the show. The main surprise turned out to be an official after party with the entire band that followed directly after the show. Fans were not only able to experience a one of a kind IAMX live show, they also got the opportunity to meet Chris Corner, Janine Gezang, Sammi Doll and Jon Siren!

The Muziekgieterij is an old industrial monument that was transformed into a unique kind of venue for all types of events. The building has an ‘underground’ feel to it which really added to the unique setting and atmosphere of this particular show. Apart from that, the stage was covered in candles and candelabras to make the acoustic performance feel even more special and intimate. Even the two screens in the background projected images of candlelight. When fans entered the room, the band’s live gear was already set up. However, these instruments would remain untouched for a little longer, since we were about to witness Chris his special acoustic performance first. For this part of tonight’s show, fans were asked to only film the very first acoustic song of the evening. The reason for this request was the fact that Chris really wanted the show to be a ‘present’ to some of his most dedicated fans, the ones who came from all over Europe just to come and see their hero. “Youtube did not make the journey!”

Shortly after the clock struck 9, a dressed in black Chris entered the stage with a glass of red wine in hand. His presence instantly changed the atmosphere in the room, and after greating him with a heartfelt applause it got so quiet you could almost hear all the racing hearts in the audience : we were ready! First, he broke the proverbial ice by mentioning how ‘good’ this  silence was. He then made a joke about the fact that several people started filming him right away, before reminding us that he’d appreciate it if we only filmed the first song of his set. Thankfully, his fans respected his wishes and kept the filming to a minimum. Chris sat down, grabbed his acoustic guitar, and clumsily wiggled his foot in “tambourine” (which in this case, is really just a fancy word for “christmas bells”). Without much further ado, he then rejoiced us by playing a track from his most recent album Metanoia, ‘Say Hello Melancholia’, for the first time ever. He then continued this acoustic set, which featured some new songs, some older songs, and some favorite songs. While all of these songs were very well received, one in particular stood out and caused many fans to lose it for a moment.  The well beloved fan-favorite song from second IAMX album The Alternative, the beautiful This Will Make You Love Again, was one of the highlights from that night’s setlist. Just the thought of hearing this song alone led to loud claps and cheers from several people in the audience, much to Chris’s surprise. The performance was both moving and enthralling.

After finishing the acoustic set, Chris then left the stage- only to come back after just a little while, this time accompanied by the eccentric and exciting group of people that form his live band. A wave of excitement slowly but surely spreaded through the crowd. We couldn’t wait for the madness to begin! The screens in the background that had previously shown a calming image of a burning candle, now contained strong visual content that was created by Chris himself to support his musical performance. The band started off their main set with their hit ‘I Come With Knives’ from their 2013 album The Unified Field. The song caused almost everyone in the audience to cheer and dance, and set the tone for the rest of the night. Not only Chris, but also the two women in his live band visibly enjoyed being on that stage and really managed to convey that energy to the crowd. During the sexy and highly energetic performance of ‘Aphrodisiac’, keyboardist and background singer Janine Gezang almost appeared to be possessed by some kind of animalistic spirit. Rarely have I ever seen an artist let go and enjoy a performance quite like her. She’s incredibly fun to watch and a great asset to the band. Almost just as energetic was Sammi Doll, who danced as if her life depended on it and eventually even crawled across the stage while screeching into a microphone. What a night!

The special IAMX event at the Muziekgieterij is honestly one of the most amazing gigs I ever went to, if not thé best. Chris did not only prove to be an excellent musician, but also a very captivating and incredibly charming man and performer. He managed to grab ánd hold the full attention of his audience, and created a very pleasant and relaxed atmosphere that lasted throughout the night. The show felt intimate and personal, even during its crazier moments. One thing is for sure: nowadays not many artists know how to connect to their fans quite like this man does. I think I speak for all people who made it to the show when I say this special IAMX event wasn’t just another gig; it was an experience. Chris and his magnificent group of bandmembers took us all through a rollercoaster of all kinds of emotions within a timespan of 2 hours and left us hungry for more. If you ever get a chance to see this amazing band live; do yourself a favor, and go!

Setlist:

(Acoustic)
1. Say Hello Melancholia (live debut)
2. Sorrow
3. The Stupid, The Proud
4. President
5. This Will Make You Love Again
6. Running
7. Wildest Wind (live debut)

(Main set- whole band)
8. I Come With Knives
9. The Alternative
10. Happiness
11. No Maker Made Me
12. Insomnia
13. North Star
14. Aphrodisiac
15. Your Joy Is My Low

(Encore)
16. Sailor (acoustic)
17. Missile (acoustic)
18. I Am Terrified
19. Mercy

To support IAMX, you can now buy the latest album 'Metanoia' on iTunes or the IAMX website. Also make sure to follow IAMX on their social media accounts.

Website: http://iamxmusic.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/iamx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAMXOFFICIAL
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamx

Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamx/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/iamx-official