Review Peir Oan Fest 2024
Today is a great day to be a rock and metal fan, and especially if you’re from the small town of Mol Millegem.
In the heavier music scene there’s a saying: “if you fall, we pick you all back up and get you back in shape for the next round of heaviness.” Well that is exactly what Peir Oan fest is all about. Putting in all the effort to make it a great event for the benefits of those that really need and deserve love.
This year the festival’s benefits go to a little boy, called: Levi.
This is levi,
He is such a sweet, always happy and grateful little guy. Why does he have to go through this? No one deserves this, especially not him.
Levi’s first years of life were not easy. His twin brother died just before birth. When this happened, Levi suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage. This is also called twin-to-twin syndrome. As a result, he will never be able to talk, walk or sit independently. In addition, there was also microcephaly, which caused his skull to close up too quickly’ strabismus (cross-eyed vision), for which he was operated on as a toddler.
Many tests later it turned out that Levi has a very limited vision. He cannot see further than 30cm. When his swallowing ability suddenly disappeared 2 years ago, wonderful eating moments that he enjoyed so much were replaced by only tube feeding. An operation immediately followed to place the mic button in his stomach.
He also has spastic quadriplegia, spasms all over his body. The next operation was coming up and a baclofen pump was implanted under the abdominal muscle. He became less tense and also got rest. A year later he had to be taken to the emergency room immediately after school. His mother had seen that the pump was literally coming out of his stomach, and his skin was about to crack. He was immediately transferred to UZ Antwerp.
His back was also damaged by scoliosis three years ago due to his spasms. He is still too small to be able to handle this heavy operation. In February, the professor reported that he can no longer be helped. This was the first major breaking point in years. In the meantime, his scoliosis has become progressive. (90*). Because of this, it is now only a matter of working towards comfort with as little pain as possible.
Levi is happiest in the fresh air. He loves all natural elements, such as cycling with the adapted wheelchair bike. This bike is in urgent need of replacement and that is the goal this year: to give Levi a new wheelchair bike, so that he can safely and comfortably go out into nature with his mother, his sister and/or his carers.
Needless to say that this event is the perfect way to bring people together and see them as a community that brings out their love to those who really need it.
What better way then to do this with 13 bands that bring out the best of themselves to make it a memorable weekend.
Friday:
Incult
Incult is the opener of the festival and they’re starting heavy to immediately open space for a pit.
Bringing a mix mix of raw Hardcore and Metalcore, combined with a part of deathcore in their songs, surely makes this an interesting opener for a heavy evening!
Introducing a breakdown coming from the depths of hell to make sure that the crowd knows what this band stands for: absolute brutality. It’s also the ideal way to honor their own name and the y are therefore the perfect opening squad.
Martyr
When Martyr joins the stage, they do so with an Intro in which they have figurant Munks combine with a child’s voice singing a backing track which introduces the band suitable to their music.
They’ve played gigs around the globe already, but tonight they’ve only had to cross just one border to play their show in Mol.
The band’s music combined with the vocals ensure the power and heaviness of the band. A great example of how old school metal stays alive through the ages and gets passed onto the next generations.
The child’s voice in the backing track comes back during the show on regular bases.
Ending the show with the grim reaper on stage who is more than willing to take one or more souls back with him into the depths of hell. This way the band has the opportunity to show their true identity.
After All
Starting with a powerful intro, After All goes all the way right from the start of their set.
The way they introduced themselves through their musically inspirational intro, which perfectly fits into their own play so that they can easily fall in with the music, Is a perfect example of a musical business card. Going straight forward from the start is definitely one of their trademarks. From their performance it’s easy to say that they are hard rockers/ metalheads in heart and soul.
Their band therefore also is good, oiled machine and they have no fear of pushing themselves to the limits.
Belgian Asociality
Belgian punk legends that don’t need an introduction. Belgian Asociality is a statement in the Belgian music industry. With many shows on their list already they have the right to be some sort of dickheads but in all the right ways of the sentence.
Their show is something unique which every punk fan should have seen at least once in their lifetimes. A first huge mosh pit then also becomes reality during one of their first songs already.
The song Bompa punk is introduced nicely in the form of a sexual lesson for us as if we’re kids. Let’s face the facts here: Anyone who’s now in their late-twenties, thirties or forties, and has experienced the alternative music scene widely, definitely knows this song. It’s not a surprise that the lyrics are audible even in the deepest cellars of Mol.
Don’t take their music too seriously because they bring their opinions about everything in the world in their songs, but with some sense of humor.
Temptations for the weak
This band has played at the bigger venues, and that’s surely notable. It comes as no surprise that they definitely have experience on their side. It’s a heavy band that goes all the way. Great guitars, straightforward drums and all that combined with superb vocals makes them sound unbreakable.
Their sound is perfect and suits their style so well that they definitely earned the respect they had already had.
Decay
These Dutch rockers are here for a reason and one reason only: Rocking out everything they have. It’s recently announced that they are going to do one last tour after which they are going to quit, so seeing them here for one of the last times live is a must do.
Zaterdag:
Motley Krëw
Fully dressed they enter the stage to open up day two of Peir Oan fest 2024. Opening their set with a powerful song (we are we are the same) to bring back the crowd into the same atmosphere as they left it here the day before.
Bringing songs from the famous heavy metal band, which can be found in their own name, with much honor but with modern day technology.
These guys sure know how to perform on stage and give the crowd a good time. You can see the band having fun while they’re performing and that is a thing every band should have. Playing because you love it, not because of the fame and fortune.
Their on-cue performance during the entire set makes them a worthy Motley Crue tribute band.
With songs like Girls, Girls Girls, and Shout at the devil in their repertoire, they save the best for last. Of course, those are the Oldtimers that’ll never get out of business.
Monkey Punks
These fellas don’t need an introduction. They have played many shows this year, including Roxyfest and Jake’s Open Air, that are both in the neighborhood of this evening’s gig.
Opening their set with From Whom the Bell Thorns and Rose Tattoo. During Rose Tattoo the singer of the band brings out his own mandolin to bring the song in its full glory.
With these guys it’s always a party. They’re playing the good covers and bring them with joy and pleasure. Add a bit of humor to the mix and it’s a traditional monkey punks show.
While we all have heard the news of the return of Linkin Park, and rest to sure that everyone has their own opinion about their return and the way they did it, it must not be forgotten that after all those years, the band in its whole is still legendarily famous. Bringing an honor to former Lead vocalist: Chester Bennington, is something that must not be forgotten and these guys did so by bringing their own version of One step closer.
Ending their set with We are here to drink your beer by the other legends: Alestorm, it’s easy to say that they are really a band that can bring the level of partying to a next level easily.
Eruption
This Van Halen tribute band opens their set with a banger called: You really got me now. The singer has a flag on his microphone stand to represent what they’re standing for. The first guitar solo also comes to life early on, perfectly suiting the band and the atmosphere lingering around.
The singer’s voice also suits Van Halen perfectly, same as the drummer, who’s left-handed by the way, the guitarist and the bass player do. Together they are a great match to honor the real deal.
Not playing the song from which their name is born isn’t something you can’t do, but rest assure, these fellas did play it in honor of Eddy Van Halen himself. If he had been able to hear it, He would be a proud man.
The band in its whole is very talented and they show that again and again in many ways. For example, during the drum solo at the beginning of Hot for teacher is spot on and playing jump because that is one of the Van Halen classics that can never get lost in the music industry. It’s a solid classic rock theme and everyone needs to know the song.
Match13
They bring covers that sound like the original and its already hearable in their opener: Fortunate son by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Besides bring covers like A ton of love by the Editors or Highway to hell by AC/DC, they also bring mashups between songs, making those feel like you’re listening to a new version of it.
The singer’s voice combined with the other artists is a perfect match. Probably that’s what their name is all about. A match made in heaven. The five of them playing together is fate calling.
Lionesz
This Five headed Halestorm tribute band with a powerful front woman whose voice is perfect for honoring the real thing goes straight for the win.
The voice she brings to the crowd is almost exactly the same as the original. They then also have the ability to show themselves on stage as if they are doing a regular thing. Something we see in our daytime jobs. For some of us that’s walking 8 hours a day through a hall picking up stuff that clients need, some are giving advice about how to use your money correctly, this band is able to show how to bring your raw talent to the front and show it to the crowd.
Their sound is very similar to the contrast of watching a show of Halestorm itself. They also have a brilliant way of speaking to the audience: those who never heard of the band Halestorm before are able to get to know them, while the die-hard fans are able to go through the roof on their favorite songs.
Ghost Division
Ghost Division represents Sabaton in its full glory. Complete from the stage setup to the performance. Everything is there; from the voice to the guitars and drums and even the stage setup.
Starting their set with the song that started their dream of becoming one of the best tribute bands from the original legends. Even their band name comes from that song. It must have been a moment of inspiration that made them recognizable.
Already from the beginning of their show, these guys are ready and also not afraid to show their full potential. Easily recognizable from the guitar solo that came in early on in the second song.
An enrichment to all of the generations that love the heavier genres, and a reminder that everyone is still just all a human being.
This isn’t just a band playing random songs, they bring the songs from one certain band with care and love, and they do that with passion and precision. After all, that’s what a tribute should do: bringing honor to their heroes.
GrungeD
To finish off the entire weekend, GrungeD is the one who strikes the honor. Bringing 90’s grunge classics in their own unique way is a perfect fit for this great weekend and an equally perfect way to remind everyone that music will never die, as long as we remember to keep it alive ourselves.
Bringing songs of bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and so much more, this is the performance that makes people come together, have a blast and enjoy the little things. after all that’s what matters most.
Of course a special thanks is needed here to the organization of PeirOan Fest for putting all the effort to bring it alive every year again. They are heroes in disguise, just as there many of them out there.