
Open Veins tour poster
Gig Review: Neuroot, Stresssysteem, Open Veins
Bands from Nieuwegein, Groningen, Seattle (USA) in Resistor, Leiden
(this review was originally intended for Punktuation)
The Resistor Leiden is a DIY space, including a small, intimate concert hall, in the Netherlands. Volunteers have used the coronavirus lockdown without gigs for refurbishing the place.

Open Veins, Stresssysteem, Neuroot poster Leiden
On 29 May 2022, three bands played there: Neuroot and Stresssysteem from the Netherlands. The headline band was Open Veins: crust from Seattle, USA. This concert was the last one of their Anti-War Tour in Europe this May.
Neuroot originally played from 1980-1988. After a hiatus, they restarted in 2012. Only the bass player is left from the original line-up, the guitarist and drummer are new.
Neuroot’s first song was Obuy and die!
Many songs by Neuroot were about the danger of fascism. Most are in English, some in German.
Bassist/vocalist Marcel announced their song American dream as: ‘It is rather a nightmare’.
As an encore, they played a cover of City Boy, originally by one of the first Dutch 1970s punk bands, the Flyin’ Spiderz. The audience applauded Neuroot.
Then came Stresssysteem, from Groningen.
All their songs are in Dutch. Singer Eva wrote them: recently, she said, the band is only a few months old; though Eva and other Stresssysteem people have been in other bands.
They started with Strijd zonder einde.
The audience reacted well, with boys and girls joining the moshpit near the stage. And also the back half of the hall moving, a bit more carefully.
The Stresssysteem music differs much from a band like Hägar the Womb, being more ‘hardcore’. Yet, Eva’s sense of humour even though her lyrics were about serious subjects, reminded me a bit of the Hägar singers Karen and Ruth whom I had seen last week in Leuven.
Their last song was Vrede die geen vrede is.
This video shows an earlier Stresssysteem concert, in Haarlem.
After a pause, the slam dancing restarted as Open Veins played.
The band consists of Brandy Rage – vocals. When she did not sing, she was behind the merch table. Rick and Pete – guitar. Dustin – bass, and Ryan – drums.
They opened with Death Dealer.
Stolen Sisters is about disappeared native American women.
Their last song, Cycle of Abuse, is about domestic abuse.
This video shows a 2021 Open Veins concert.
Brandy concluded the gig, and the Open Veins tour, by enthusiastically thanking the venue and the listeners.
The Resistor audience greatly liked the bands. A memorable night!