Before I even lived in our fine city, I heard an album that instantly felt like a part of me. I’ve carried it with me ever since in my internal monolog and now, even in my iPod. It’s Bettie Serveert’s “Palomine,” and the Dutch band is playing Smith’s Olde Bar on Tuesday, March 8th. Doors are at 8:30 and advance tickets are $13.00 and available via Smith’s Olde Bar’s website, at the club or from Criminal Records.

I went with Atlanta blogger Travis to the band’s show at The Earl almost two years ago and it instantly shot into my top ten all-time greatest rock shows list between Psychic TV at 23 Parrish in Denver and Ed Hall at Midtown Music Hall in Atlanta (well, at least somewhere in the top ten. And that’s a ranking that comes from a guy who saw about an average of 4-6 bands per week all through his 20s.

Within moments of the show’s start, Travis and I were in the front row singing along and yelling like a couple of twelve-pack down shirtless rednecks on the Talladega overpass after the races. I held up my mobile phone to leave a recording of the sound on my buddy in Portland’s voice mail (as he does for me from time-to-time as a sort of “wish you were here” gesture) and the band took it from me and left him personal messages.

If you’ve never checked out Bettie Serveert, or you’re a longtime fan such as I, you should make the effort to damage your hearing, liver and lungs on a school night just to be a part of an amazing rock moment.

And one thing I want to note. Bettie Serveert singer and songwriter Carol Van Dijk is one of the only Europeans who can sing “R”s in such a convincingly American fashion that I was floored when I spoke to her and heard her fully Dutch accent. Only Mick Jagger and Carol can do those “R”s.