a versatile and colourful artist that has been full of surprises these past years. In 2011 he got proclaimed as Serious Talent at 3FM, the biggest Dutch radio station for fresh music. Gerhardt sold out Paradiso with his CD releaseparty of ‘All is There’. The album will be released independently and was recorded with musicians from Triggerfinger and producer David Poltrock who previously worked with bands such as Hooverphonic and Arid. The songs were recorded in the famous JET-studio in Brussels. Black Pete, who also mixed songs for Peter Fox and Joe Jackson, has worked hard in Berlin to make sure that the songs come to full bloom when blast from your speakers. The first single “A brand new heart” for which an extraordinary video was made, has been played on national radio stations such Radio 1, 2 and 3FM as well as on all regional stations. His remarkable live performance even brought him to the very popular Dutch TV show De Wereld Draait Door.
In the past Gerhardt played at sleazy, big, small, odd and rickety stages in Moscow, Cuba, Portugal, Finland, Germany, Lapland, Belgium and the Netherlands. He plays his music in Japanese looking cocktail bars, 16th century courtyards, steamy living rooms, toy stores, prisons and rock stages.
Gerhardt also has a prominent inflaming role in Beans & Fatback playing the piano, singing the backings and slaughtering the cowbell. With performances on Oerol, Great Wide Open, DWDD, VI Oranje and promos on stations such as Radio538 and 3FM, the year 2010 was very successful for Beans & Fatback which has made Gerhardt decide to postpone the release of his album. But the moment has finally come: the mini album ‘All is There’ is available.
Gerhardt organised a ‘All Hearts Revue’ in Paradiso on 31st of March. A freakout caroussel performance night. From electro to singer songwriter, Stand Up Comedy and the band themselves. After that he will tour the country with the All Hearts Revue and play in Eindhoven, Hoorn, Tilburg and Leiden amongst others. He and his band will also perform at the Bevrijdingsfestival Haarlem, bevrijdingsfestival Amsterdam and various other festivals this summer.
Imagine going home after a show with the echoing sounds of songs in your head..
Gerhardt, artist.
For you, precious listener
Especially for you.
What people say about 'All is There'
"All Is There is the mini-album created by Gerhardt –quite literally a piece of art. And you could have expected nothing less of Gerhardt – musician, writer and all round creator of things.
The opening track to the album, ‘Firewalk’ is ambiguous. Not only by name, but by it’s sound too. It opens with an infectious drum beat...slowly building up and adding in an equally infectious bass line and then that almost eerie sounding keyboard and distant guitar. It really builds up a pressure, keeping you held on just long enough to be broken out of the trance by the sound of Gerhardt’s voice joining in– atmospheric too, in it’s own special way. And so, ‘Firewalk’ turns out to be something completely unexpected. This is the little hidden gem of the album in my opinion and definitely the perfect opening track, as it gets you set in a gentle way for all that’s still yet to come. The chorus will immediately get stuck in your mind as you feel like the song has almost been written entirely for you. It’s mesmerising, it’s captivating and it seems to be calling to YOU directly – calling you to Firewalk.
Slightly more uplifting and upbeat is ‘A brand new heart’. A brand New Heart is like a call to lovers, fighters, haters and pessimists. A Brand New heart seems to be written directly to a lost love in a sudden plea for a second chance to give their love a 2nd go. But it’s not a sad love song. On the contrary, anyone on the receiving end of this song would only be filled with hope and ambition. ‘I want to be You’ is reminiscent of a wacky, crazy carnival or an Acid Rock band of the 1960’s. Maybe it’s the keyboard, maybe it’s the vocals, maybe it’s the funky drum beat. Either way it’s a song filled with various different themes, reflecting Gerhardt himself perfectly.
The more sombre, heartfelt song on the record would be ‘Lady, Drive Home’. Showing just one of the many other faces of Gerhardt. It’s interesting to see how he can move from one genre to the next with such ease. We have the Bowie-esque ‘Firewalk’, the bright lift of ‘A Brand New Heart’ and the almost Lennon like ‘Lady, Drive home’.
Not only is Gerhardt a true musician, but he’s also proved to be a flourishing poet and lyricist. I remember some time ago reading some poems of Gerhardt and it’s easy to see how his talent as a writer has been transferred into his music with ease. The words flow easily, fitting the sometimes deep, sometimes soaring, vocals of Gerhardt himself and the music fits perfectly with the touching, well crafted lyrics.
This is truly a man of many talents, faces, experiences and ambitions who seems hell bent on taking over the world with his refreshing melodies and poignant words. Let love in! open up your heart! take the Firewalk and let ‘All is There’ into your world."
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