Diva Brett @ Leuven

The noisy Brit pop diva Brett Anderson was playing last week at Stuk (Leuven) in Belgium.
First of all, I would like to take the opportunity to give a word about this awesome place called Stuk.

Get there :
This is the new cultural center of the Marktrock town. Not badly situated, a bit further than the Old Market (Oude Markt), the Stuk is divided in several buildings : the front one seems old fashioned and this is where belongs its café. Then you enter an inside yard surrounded by newer blocks named like students classrooms : paviljoenen, labozaal... If you dig in a bit, you may discover that these buildings were the property of KU Leuven (university) in the past. Rebuild in 2002 as the new cultural center, the Stuk has many rooms to provide to many different artistic waves (concerts, exhibition, theather...).
The Stuk may have a bright future ahead, if only, yes, if only it could promote itself a little bit better. Being a music lover, I had heard about it, but so little that it was my very first entry there to watch and enjoy Brett Anderson.
Maybe Leuven wants to keep this treasure for his inhabitants, but I would personnaly find it sad... So... Stuk, please, export yourself and give the example to Brussels, Antwerp, Liège.

To the point :
Anyway, the wind blows and gets me back to my first subject:
The charming Brett Anderson (the famous Suede singer) gave last week a straight and well done gig.
The Labozaal was not so full (200 persons), and Brett's first impression on stage seemed to be disenchantment (compared to a full Cirque Royal a few months ago with Suede). But, after two songs, Brett and his delightful musicians gain confidence and prove us that they are real gentlemen. They're gonna give it, no matter what for 100 or for 1000 fans!
Just a small detail not to neglect : in this room, the temperature is high, almost sauna-like! A real stove, both for the band and for the audience. This heat does not bother Mister Anderson, singing and dancing around the stage, linking up tracks after tracks essentially from his last and brilliant LP Black Rainbows. Hats off to his musicians (stylish from the shoe to the haircut), working hard under this heavy heat and making no mistakes, especially to the very active drummer. May I not forget to mention the poetry of the lyrics, thanks to Mister Brett (Unsung, This must be where it ends).
However, it is difficult for our beautiful singer to hide a certain disapointment in front of this almost empty space. This happens when a sonorous issue occurs (larsens) and we can clearly see his wince at the end of the trouble making song. But, no, no, no! Brett and his agitators don't agree and give then suddenly three splendid songs, including the fabulous In the house of numbers.
One recall later, and Brett ends his show by a lovely ballad, followed by a much more punchy song which brings you back on track. In conclusion, I would like to say that this was a surprisinly good performance.
The next time, Stuk, that you invite such a guest, please, let people know about it!

post-scriptum to the groupies : no, despite the sauna effect, Brett kept his shirt on .