Wow, I've almost caught up to myself, like Marty McFly...
Last night we played a great show at K4 in Nürnberg to a packed house. We played at the same venue last year to twenty or so people so I guess it's a good idea to keep coming back. It was probably the best merch sales of the tour so far, maybe that's why I got so incredibly hammered.
The power of money compelled me...
We played with a three piece from New York named Pterodactyl who were pretty good, they're on a couple of other shows on the tour as well which is good because they ran off with my kick pedal. After the show we headed back to our host Wally's place where we stayed last time but this time she and her husband were in town. Julia often tells the story of when we were there last time and I forgot to flush the toilet after my shower leaving a curl of poo on the toilet shelf. Ha ha ha...
Anyway, basically I continued to drink schnapps and eat pretzels while chatting with Wally. Then I skyped the family and they were actually able to hear me and I could hear them. Perhaps it was intoxication but I actually got a little weepy hearing their voices, it's easy to forget who's at the other end when there's seemingly endless alcohol in front of you...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Praha, Czech Republika
After driving through blank farmland for many kilometres we crossed the border into the Czech Republika and within minutes we encountered an insane theme park named EXCALIBUR CITY! A land where the song menomena of Muppets fame was blasting out of Kinderwelt, situated next to a restaurant located inside a full-sized jumbo jet (featuring an equally full-sized reclining naked lady air-brush painted in the style of seventies California vans.) These co-existed with giant medieval castles topped by dragons, streetlights with nude stark white maidens straight out of the Korova milkbar of A Clockwork Orange, and a gigantic globe with the slogan, "The world is yours!" on it.
Well played Czech Republika, well played...
And then, Praha itself.
You are a beautiful UNESCO heritage site destination and we didn't get to know you in the manner you deserve, and I apologize. Our desire was thwarted by many, many, many small well-placed villages in our path. So to be precise, we were running really late and basically loaded in, set-up and played. It was a good show and I managed to get nicely drunk, a highlight of which was the ride to the hotel when I looked out the window at the full moon hanging perfectly in the night sky and exclaimed, "the moon looks so beautiful tonight, it's hard to believe that one day it will be gone."
Insert long pause here.
The next morning we did manage a long walk through the city center and witnessed a tiny skeleton with moving parts ring in the changing of the hour at the astronomical clock. Paul, Phil and I ate super tasty chicken kebabs and then Marissa, Nick and I went to an Alfons Mucha exhibit. He's the artist who did the famous ad posters of the Moulin Rouge in Paris and I realized that the cover art of Blue Album by Baroness is styled after Mucha. Cool huh? I'm sad to admit that after that we hopped in the van and made our way out of Praha, a city we barely got to know...
Well played Czech Republika, well played...
And then, Praha itself.
You are a beautiful UNESCO heritage site destination and we didn't get to know you in the manner you deserve, and I apologize. Our desire was thwarted by many, many, many small well-placed villages in our path. So to be precise, we were running really late and basically loaded in, set-up and played. It was a good show and I managed to get nicely drunk, a highlight of which was the ride to the hotel when I looked out the window at the full moon hanging perfectly in the night sky and exclaimed, "the moon looks so beautiful tonight, it's hard to believe that one day it will be gone."
Insert long pause here.
The next morning we did manage a long walk through the city center and witnessed a tiny skeleton with moving parts ring in the changing of the hour at the astronomical clock. Paul, Phil and I ate super tasty chicken kebabs and then Marissa, Nick and I went to an Alfons Mucha exhibit. He's the artist who did the famous ad posters of the Moulin Rouge in Paris and I realized that the cover art of Blue Album by Baroness is styled after Mucha. Cool huh? I'm sad to admit that after that we hopped in the van and made our way out of Praha, a city we barely got to know...
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wien, Österreich
Last nights show in Wien, Österreich was rock and roll. The venue Arena is a rock compound with several venues, which seems common in Europe and the U.K. (and judging by the graffiti and stickers everywhere it seems if you are an English speaking group and are playing in Wien then you are likely at one of the spaces in Arena.)
Painted black? Tick. Graffiti? Tick. Smokey? Tick. Drunken? Tick. Super fun? Tick tick tick.
We played rough and ready and the crowd was enthusiastic, similiar to the last time we played here. I don't know why I'm surprised, perhaps because I expect this kind of response for a band that's been hyped, of which No Kids is not. The other high point of the show was exceptional merch sales. (Maybe it's just me but on tour nothing says I love you more than money and last night we did pretty well.) I was happy to see Bernhard, who put on our previous show here. He's pretty cool and easy to get on with and when I asked about his girlfriend Camilla he made a sour face and said "well, she dumped me, but she's over there with her boyfriend" and made an over the shoulder motion with his thumb.
As for sight seeing, I've resigned myself to the depressing fact that unless we get to our destination the night before or have a day off we just don't have the time to wander around and break out of the tour bubble. Maybe if the family moves to Berlin next year we'll have an opportunity to come and spend a little time here.
Painted black? Tick. Graffiti? Tick. Smokey? Tick. Drunken? Tick. Super fun? Tick tick tick.
We played rough and ready and the crowd was enthusiastic, similiar to the last time we played here. I don't know why I'm surprised, perhaps because I expect this kind of response for a band that's been hyped, of which No Kids is not. The other high point of the show was exceptional merch sales. (Maybe it's just me but on tour nothing says I love you more than money and last night we did pretty well.) I was happy to see Bernhard, who put on our previous show here. He's pretty cool and easy to get on with and when I asked about his girlfriend Camilla he made a sour face and said "well, she dumped me, but she's over there with her boyfriend" and made an over the shoulder motion with his thumb.
As for sight seeing, I've resigned myself to the depressing fact that unless we get to our destination the night before or have a day off we just don't have the time to wander around and break out of the tour bubble. Maybe if the family moves to Berlin next year we'll have an opportunity to come and spend a little time here.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Budapest, Hungary und Zagreb, Croatia
Before I forget, after our show in Krakow we detoured and drove an hour or so to Oswiecim, better known by its German name, Auschwitz. There isn't anything I can say about the camp that hasn't been said before but what struck me dumb was how huge it was. As I discovered, there were three parts to the camp, with each successive section larger and less developed, until the Soviets showed up and the Nazis tried to tear it all down and flee, taking any prisoners who could walk and leaving the sick and crippled behind.
Not to be taken as a joke but afterwards, all I could think about was the present tenants who lived in the apartments located behind the gas chambers throwing a dinner party and giving directions...
So now I'm sitting in the green room at Arena in Wien, Österreich. Last nights show in Zagreb, Croatia is in the top five shows I've ever played. It reached such heights for many reasons,
1. The sound, both on and off stage, was excellent, kudos to the soundman who's name I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten.
2. It was a nice theatre style venue.
3. The crowd was enthusiastic and I couldn't see the audience and...
4. Our show in Budapest, Hungary was in the top five worst shows I've ever played. It fell to such depths for these reasons,
1. The sound was terrible on stage even though the soundcheck was really good.
2. Three songs in I had already counted sixteen people leaving the show, often mid-song. I know this as I could see everyone's face clear as day. I watched many people, including two young guys in the front row, talking on cel phones or texting.
3. In frustration I audibly called bullshit on the situation and Nick reprimanded me in front of the audience and...
4. We cut a third of our set out in order to get off the stage and I felt bad for the few people who were enjoying the show who weren't seeing us at our best.
Whatever. That's what touring is like. The lows are so low you feel like quitting playing music and the highs are so high it can carry you for weeks...
On the other hand Budapest is possibly the most beautiful city I've ever been in and we spent the better part of the day wandering both sides of the Danube river exploring both Buda and Pest (as it is one city with two parts, a fact I was unaware of.) The early part of the day was spent in and around Varosliget park watching children climb all over statues of gothic hooded figures. Afterwards we walked across the Szechenyi chain bridge and stopped for drinks. Nick and I ordered martinis and when the time came to pay the bartender overcharged us and when I questioned him about it he explained that we were charged for the martini part of the drink and then the vodka part of the drink. Separately! As if it were two drinks we merged together! Although I would have stayed and argued I didn't want to embarrass anyone so we left and later, when we told our hosts what happened they laughed and said we were ripped off.
It's funny now...
The latter part of the day was spent at Buda castle which overlooks the city and I must say I don't have words to describe the view, but when night fell and the city lights came on it was breathtaking...for reals...
Not to be taken as a joke but afterwards, all I could think about was the present tenants who lived in the apartments located behind the gas chambers throwing a dinner party and giving directions...
So now I'm sitting in the green room at Arena in Wien, Österreich. Last nights show in Zagreb, Croatia is in the top five shows I've ever played. It reached such heights for many reasons,
1. The sound, both on and off stage, was excellent, kudos to the soundman who's name I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten.
2. It was a nice theatre style venue.
3. The crowd was enthusiastic and I couldn't see the audience and...
4. Our show in Budapest, Hungary was in the top five worst shows I've ever played. It fell to such depths for these reasons,
1. The sound was terrible on stage even though the soundcheck was really good.
2. Three songs in I had already counted sixteen people leaving the show, often mid-song. I know this as I could see everyone's face clear as day. I watched many people, including two young guys in the front row, talking on cel phones or texting.
3. In frustration I audibly called bullshit on the situation and Nick reprimanded me in front of the audience and...
4. We cut a third of our set out in order to get off the stage and I felt bad for the few people who were enjoying the show who weren't seeing us at our best.
Whatever. That's what touring is like. The lows are so low you feel like quitting playing music and the highs are so high it can carry you for weeks...
On the other hand Budapest is possibly the most beautiful city I've ever been in and we spent the better part of the day wandering both sides of the Danube river exploring both Buda and Pest (as it is one city with two parts, a fact I was unaware of.) The early part of the day was spent in and around Varosliget park watching children climb all over statues of gothic hooded figures. Afterwards we walked across the Szechenyi chain bridge and stopped for drinks. Nick and I ordered martinis and when the time came to pay the bartender overcharged us and when I questioned him about it he explained that we were charged for the martini part of the drink and then the vodka part of the drink. Separately! As if it were two drinks we merged together! Although I would have stayed and argued I didn't want to embarrass anyone so we left and later, when we told our hosts what happened they laughed and said we were ripped off.
It's funny now...
The latter part of the day was spent at Buda castle which overlooks the city and I must say I don't have words to describe the view, but when night fell and the city lights came on it was breathtaking...for reals...
Friday, March 26, 2010
Back in the saddle...
So here we are on the road to Krakow, Poland in our massive nine seat passenger van (with a sleeping bunk!) We arrived in Berlin three days ago and according to Manfred, couldn't have picked a better time for weather as there were sheets of ice covering the streets of Berlin just weeks previous. Flying out of Vancouver we took a red eye which we've never done before but worked out perfectly with the flight arriving at six thirty Berlin time, so, a few hours of socializing and then off to bed. It was so good to see Manfred and Amanda after so many months. I didn't realize how much I missed them and though I was tired on the plane, the joy of seeing friends rejuvenated me and after some catch up we walked over to the cheap Italian place on the corner of Bergmannstrasse and Mehringdamm for a late dinner. It is truly fantastic to be back in the hood, the streets familiar and comforting, the night skies clear, the air brisk.
So good.
Back at the flat I went to sleep immediately and for the first night in weeks didn't wake up until morning.
After breakfast we walked around the neighbourhood, stopping for drinks at the cafe on the corner of Möckernstrasse and Kreuzbergstrasse. While sitting there my former neighbour Rona walked by and the look on her face when she saw me was priceless, hopefully she and Josh can come to the show on the thirteenth.
Afterwards we headed over to Mitte and window shopped all afternoon which usually would be draining but was fun. Manfred was pushing for this veggie burger place for dinner but instead we headed over to east Kreuzberg to have dinner at Rocco und seine Brüder on Lausitzplatz. I ordered the truffle oil and arugula pizza and it was as good as I remember, maybe better...
The next day, after another deep sleep and breakfast of croissants and coffee we hopped on the train and headed to Treptower park. I think the gang was impressed with the over the top majesty of the Soviet memorial which is amazing still even without the greenery in bloom. Then we walked to Falckensteinstrasse and had lunch at the Spanish place Veda and I went to regularly. We ordered a platter of kartoffeln, chorizo, chips and avocado. Nick even ate a piece of chorizo! Conveniently, the Puschen office is located on Schlesischesstrasse across from Die Fabrik so we headed over and met with Andreas and Phil, Nicholas and Paul of Mount Eerie, who had just arrived. We picked up the van, loaded the rental gear and merch then ditched Mount Eerie (who wants to hang out with jet lagged people right...) and headed to Tiergarten.
The woods were really quiet and it was great to be out in the evening with the lights of the nearby buildings peeking through early spring branches. We walked to the Reichstag and then circled around to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe which is ominous at night. As I was walking through the monoliths shadows loomed around me, as well as the tail end of others making their way through the memorial. Just before I reached the other side a little boy burst out from behind one of the stones, scaring the shit out of me.
After that we met up with Manfred and his friends David and Will at a restaurant just off of Kottbusserdamm where I had the most amazing walnut and gorgonzola stuffed figs washed down with shots of grappa. We were talking about pet peeves and I was complaining about people who leave food on plates and then Marissa said it bugs her when people leave wine on their table as the couple at the table behind us did. David urged her to reach over and grab the leftover wine so she did but then a few minutes later the couple returned! It seems they had just stepped out for a smoke. Needless to say Marissa was very red faced when she found out and we finished up quickly in order to avoid a scene, but not before David bought a replacement glass of wine to be served after we left. It was very funny...
Fast forward and now we are driving to Budapest, Hungary after a good first show of the tour in Krakow. A few mistakes by all but nothing tragic and despite all the drinking, no hangovers. Besides ourselves and Mount Eerie there was also a band from the U.S. called Chain and the Gang featuring Ian Svenonius formerly of the Make Up. Veda's friend Reimar will be jealous, he's a fan of theirs. They were all really nice and the drummer was pretty good...
Later, Marissa and I stayed backstage to watch Mount Eerie who were awesome. Two drummers make for good visuals as well as loud, loud, loud and we had a good view of Paul and Nicholas flailing away. After the show we headed back to the hotel Alef where Phil accidentally scraped the side of the van trying to fit into a very persnickety space. It's a small scrape but noticeable and he's bummed about it. I guess he's thinking about how much it cost us for the last vehicle we rented in Europe. Perhaps we should have rented a fleet of Austin minis...
So good.
Back at the flat I went to sleep immediately and for the first night in weeks didn't wake up until morning.
After breakfast we walked around the neighbourhood, stopping for drinks at the cafe on the corner of Möckernstrasse and Kreuzbergstrasse. While sitting there my former neighbour Rona walked by and the look on her face when she saw me was priceless, hopefully she and Josh can come to the show on the thirteenth.
Afterwards we headed over to Mitte and window shopped all afternoon which usually would be draining but was fun. Manfred was pushing for this veggie burger place for dinner but instead we headed over to east Kreuzberg to have dinner at Rocco und seine Brüder on Lausitzplatz. I ordered the truffle oil and arugula pizza and it was as good as I remember, maybe better...
The next day, after another deep sleep and breakfast of croissants and coffee we hopped on the train and headed to Treptower park. I think the gang was impressed with the over the top majesty of the Soviet memorial which is amazing still even without the greenery in bloom. Then we walked to Falckensteinstrasse and had lunch at the Spanish place Veda and I went to regularly. We ordered a platter of kartoffeln, chorizo, chips and avocado. Nick even ate a piece of chorizo! Conveniently, the Puschen office is located on Schlesischesstrasse across from Die Fabrik so we headed over and met with Andreas and Phil, Nicholas and Paul of Mount Eerie, who had just arrived. We picked up the van, loaded the rental gear and merch then ditched Mount Eerie (who wants to hang out with jet lagged people right...) and headed to Tiergarten.
The woods were really quiet and it was great to be out in the evening with the lights of the nearby buildings peeking through early spring branches. We walked to the Reichstag and then circled around to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe which is ominous at night. As I was walking through the monoliths shadows loomed around me, as well as the tail end of others making their way through the memorial. Just before I reached the other side a little boy burst out from behind one of the stones, scaring the shit out of me.
After that we met up with Manfred and his friends David and Will at a restaurant just off of Kottbusserdamm where I had the most amazing walnut and gorgonzola stuffed figs washed down with shots of grappa. We were talking about pet peeves and I was complaining about people who leave food on plates and then Marissa said it bugs her when people leave wine on their table as the couple at the table behind us did. David urged her to reach over and grab the leftover wine so she did but then a few minutes later the couple returned! It seems they had just stepped out for a smoke. Needless to say Marissa was very red faced when she found out and we finished up quickly in order to avoid a scene, but not before David bought a replacement glass of wine to be served after we left. It was very funny...
Fast forward and now we are driving to Budapest, Hungary after a good first show of the tour in Krakow. A few mistakes by all but nothing tragic and despite all the drinking, no hangovers. Besides ourselves and Mount Eerie there was also a band from the U.S. called Chain and the Gang featuring Ian Svenonius formerly of the Make Up. Veda's friend Reimar will be jealous, he's a fan of theirs. They were all really nice and the drummer was pretty good...
Later, Marissa and I stayed backstage to watch Mount Eerie who were awesome. Two drummers make for good visuals as well as loud, loud, loud and we had a good view of Paul and Nicholas flailing away. After the show we headed back to the hotel Alef where Phil accidentally scraped the side of the van trying to fit into a very persnickety space. It's a small scrape but noticeable and he's bummed about it. I guess he's thinking about how much it cost us for the last vehicle we rented in Europe. Perhaps we should have rented a fleet of Austin minis...
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