Uncle Arthur + Competition
Tonight, in Merleyn a terrific double-bill: two guitar bands that have a number of well-known faces from the Nijmegen music scene!
Uncle Arthur is a collaboration between members of Cavolo Nero, Queen’s Pleasure and State Power. The band came about through a shared love for quality guitar pop from the nineties and zeroes. After writing songs as a duo for some time, members Pim and Jelle decided to go into the studio in 2003 with Jan Schenk to record their first EP, “UA-001”. This EP features five power pop songs that are short and snappy and deal with breaking off unhealthy relationships and the struggle to open yourself up again for something new afterwards. The band consists of the two songwriters Pim Cruiming and Jelle Crooijmans on vocals and guitar, bassist Jelmer van Os, and a guest drummer.
From the creative melting pot De Basis in Nijmegen, the band Competition was formed. The band has roots in Thaïti, Waltzburg and Foxlane. With a love for DIY ethics, the quartet builds up their music from a bare-bone structure. The end result sounds like a turbulent mix of nu gaze and art-punk, with surgical precision contrasting with inflammably catchy refrains. With front men Guus Timmermans and Sam Cuppen, Competition handles themes like alienation and perpetual haste in society in songs that invite repeating listening.
