Kristen Sollee: May 28, 2006

Amsterdam

Top Ten from The Netherlands

1. Heavy Trash at Paradiso
   Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray of Speedball Baby’s new project. Sunday at Amsterdam’s venerable rnr venue, Paradiso. (Thanks for the tip Bobby!) Amsterdam Weekly describes their self-titled debut album as “a dark voyage into the world of psychobilly…slower, creepier and more discomfiting than you could imagine.”

2. Be Innocent

   A Gothic Lolita store in Amsterdam. The shop is tiny and adorable, just like the clothes inside. They import Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and others.

   Oude Spiegelstraat 9
   1016 BM, Amsterdam
   020-320 59 87

3. Independent Outlet

   A local record/clothing/skate shop that I found BTO in! Check ‘em out.

4. Canals

   After taking a lovely touristy ride around the canals, I learned that 1 car a week plunges into them.

5. Dutch manners

   Apparently it’s not polite to touch your food with your hands. Not even for sandwiches, fries or pizza.

6. Rijstafel

   And I thought Indonesian food in New York was good…

7. Diablo

   One of the local goth/industrial/punk clothing shops. Dutch goth rock on the stereo!

   Diablo
   Oude Zijds Voorburgvaal 242
   1012 GK Amsterdam
   020-623 45 06

8. Planet Rock Bar

   One store down from Diablo- plays all kinds of great rock videos, their selection includes NIN, The Cult, Jimi Hendrix and a lot of other, older rnr bands. Too bad the staff and vibe isn’t very rnr, though.

9. Local Fanatic

   Dark, Hot Topic-ish style, but all in brands I’ve never heard of, such as Poizen Industries.

   Nieuwe Hoogstraat 13 M
   1011 HC Amsterdam
   020-625 39 29

10. Goldfrapp Sells Out Paradiso

    Goldfrapp conquers The Netherlands!