'Ohhhh..Vienna..' yes..we all know that song.
All very tired. We had an enormous travel day, then off to FM 4 Radio for 3 live songs and a chat with Eva. A taxi ride back to the venue through the beautiful city..half an hour later, we are on stage performing. I'm trying to boost my energy levels. The choice of fuel available is red wine, white wine, beer, ham, cheese, bread, chocolate ooo and water .
mmmm...I choose .....red wine and chocolate...and I am back! The classic combination.
Again, Robert was in top form and we all played well.
The tour is over.
We celebrate.
We have news we have been asked to perform 'All Tomorrows Parties' shows in Australia, January 2009 and have been nominated for an ARIA for Best Adult Contemporary Album of the year for 'The Evangelist'. We feel excited, as we know we have reached another level within this band and we are very happy as we get to play together again in 3 months.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Switzerland. Winterthur. 7th oct..Salzhaus
We had the morning off as we drove all day yesterday.Tis a very still, warm day here. We have walked to the Venue as its just around the corner from the hotel. We are awaiting soundcheck..nibbling on the usual bread, cheese and sliced meat. Robert is busy working on his new song ...we have come up with a groove that is sounding a little like a 'Spanish Stomp.' This is our 2nd last show and I am feeling a little cheated as we are just now playing like 'Spicey Demons'...it,s really great fun. Robert is in fine voice,Glenn has now mastered his transistion from The Go Betweens Drummer to Multi Instrumentalist and lovely Matt has settled into this world of touring, live radio and big shows like an old pro...even though he is only 21...The Engine Room is steaming ahead, the throttle is open and temperature needle has gone off the dial.
Cologne. sunday 5th oct...Gloria
Could this possibly be the best show we have ever played this tour?
I await those who were there to give feed back.
I have to apologise for my blogging..daily free Internet can be hard to find on the road, and i,m too tight to put my visa card number in to every hotels hot spot...i,m sure you all understand.
We love playing at Gloria. The sound on stage thumps!
I await those who were there to give feed back.
I have to apologise for my blogging..daily free Internet can be hard to find on the road, and i,m too tight to put my visa card number in to every hotels hot spot...i,m sure you all understand.
We love playing at Gloria. The sound on stage thumps!
Berlin..The Passionkirche.oct 4th
Ah yes....One big hangover in the morning.
Too many weiss beers and, of course, the 'The Long Island Ice Tea'.....a favourite of the band.
We had a super night.
Tonights show is in another beautiful church.
More fudge arrived too...thankyou to our special friend. Does life get any better, i ask..?
Too many weiss beers and, of course, the 'The Long Island Ice Tea'.....a favourite of the band.
We had a super night.
Tonights show is in another beautiful church.
More fudge arrived too...thankyou to our special friend. Does life get any better, i ask..?
Monday, October 6, 2008
3rd October
Day off – Berlin.
We have our first real day off today and we are not having to drive anywhere..
We are in Berlin. The sky is blue and there is a funky vibe is in this town that we are off to explore. It turns out to be a big day and night out...
We have our first real day off today and we are not having to drive anywhere..
We are in Berlin. The sky is blue and there is a funky vibe is in this town that we are off to explore. It turns out to be a big day and night out...
2nd October
2nd Oct. Dresden.
It’s a public holiday here today. All is quiet on the Eastern front. Again, we don’t have time to explore this city. We play in a beautiful church which is still used by the famous Dresden Orchestra to record their albums. It’s a special sound here.
A natural reverb that blows you away.
We play quietly. I’m glad we are able to do this as the audience still captures the urgency and drive of the rock songs and the intricate playing and story telling of others. We are turning into a very versatile band who can now play Libraries, Churches, Rock n’roll venues with sticky carpet, garden and house parties.
What next I ask??
I wish I could have explored this city. We are all intrigued by the history and ask many questions to our German friend ‘Pe Pe’ who is our driver and general helper. He tells of the bombing that happened her during the war. The city was flattened, but is now being rebuilt beautifully.
It’s a public holiday here today. All is quiet on the Eastern front. Again, we don’t have time to explore this city. We play in a beautiful church which is still used by the famous Dresden Orchestra to record their albums. It’s a special sound here.
A natural reverb that blows you away.
We play quietly. I’m glad we are able to do this as the audience still captures the urgency and drive of the rock songs and the intricate playing and story telling of others. We are turning into a very versatile band who can now play Libraries, Churches, Rock n’roll venues with sticky carpet, garden and house parties.
What next I ask??
I wish I could have explored this city. We are all intrigued by the history and ask many questions to our German friend ‘Pe Pe’ who is our driver and general helper. He tells of the bombing that happened her during the war. The city was flattened, but is now being rebuilt beautifully.
1st October
1st Oct 2008.
Here we are on the ‘autobahn’ 172 km from Regensburg. Tonight we play Munich but before Munich we must spend a few hours in Regensburg. Robert has a photo shoot there. So while he is off posing and preening we shall be running around town drinking coffee and seeing the sights of this wonderful city.
We are now deeply in tour mode. The days and nights blur. What is real and what is not, and days in the van and lack of sleep and one petrol station after another and it is all getting a little crazy. Our next day off and chance of rest and stabilization for
ourselves is in Berlin. Till then we swing with the circus and the shows we play are all the better for it. Frankfurt last night was a winner. Hamburg amazing.
New songs are coming into the set and we are also developing a ‘visual’ style on stage. Robert is telling the lighting operators at each show to only use 6 white lights and no more. This is causing controversy and the lighting operators keep talking of washes and colour wheels and backdrop lighting and Robert gamely rejects all of this insisting on only 6 white lights. It is a battle.
Celebrity Watch. Still no one.
So Munich tonight. Rumour has it that it shall be recorded for local radio. Robert is working on a new song that has developed over the last week or so – we play snatches of it in soundchecks. It sounds a little like ‘Song From Under The Floorboards’ by Magazine I think. Robert says lyrically he is aiming for T. S. Elliot circa 1909 – a sick inner city malaise captured in music. There is a bit of early period Franz Ferdinand (circa November 2004) about it too. The title seems to be “I Am Not What I Seem’. But then I could be just mis-hearing him.
That is it for now.
Post Munich Show.
Very happy with our performance. The songs are shinning.
The beer is flowing and we get to meet some fabulous folk.
Here we are on the ‘autobahn’ 172 km from Regensburg. Tonight we play Munich but before Munich we must spend a few hours in Regensburg. Robert has a photo shoot there. So while he is off posing and preening we shall be running around town drinking coffee and seeing the sights of this wonderful city.
We are now deeply in tour mode. The days and nights blur. What is real and what is not, and days in the van and lack of sleep and one petrol station after another and it is all getting a little crazy. Our next day off and chance of rest and stabilization for
ourselves is in Berlin. Till then we swing with the circus and the shows we play are all the better for it. Frankfurt last night was a winner. Hamburg amazing.
New songs are coming into the set and we are also developing a ‘visual’ style on stage. Robert is telling the lighting operators at each show to only use 6 white lights and no more. This is causing controversy and the lighting operators keep talking of washes and colour wheels and backdrop lighting and Robert gamely rejects all of this insisting on only 6 white lights. It is a battle.
Celebrity Watch. Still no one.
So Munich tonight. Rumour has it that it shall be recorded for local radio. Robert is working on a new song that has developed over the last week or so – we play snatches of it in soundchecks. It sounds a little like ‘Song From Under The Floorboards’ by Magazine I think. Robert says lyrically he is aiming for T. S. Elliot circa 1909 – a sick inner city malaise captured in music. There is a bit of early period Franz Ferdinand (circa November 2004) about it too. The title seems to be “I Am Not What I Seem’. But then I could be just mis-hearing him.
That is it for now.
Post Munich Show.
Very happy with our performance. The songs are shinning.
The beer is flowing and we get to meet some fabulous folk.
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