So we played the casino in Hafen. An old trucker stop off that serves the kind of dinner you'd expect a trucker to expect. I got one. Potatoes, meat, veg and gravy. I had a drink with an ex trucker at the bar. He bought me a beer ("Grobes bier vom fass," okay....I used google, but just for the spelling. We were taught how to say that) and told me a story about when he was transporting illegal immigrants over the border ten years ago, was caught by "die polizei" (I'm trying) and was fined 4000euro for each one. So he gave it up. Then he recommended a prostitute. Nice guy.
Wasn't sure what to expect from the gig. The place was really small and it was like having a bar in the middle of an industrial estate. Heiko set us up outside and I handed around some cards. Normally Eric (who's on tour with us) goes on first, as we're a full set up and he just has himself. But tonight we swapped around and it was really nice to play our gig and have the opportunity to relax and fully enjoy his set with a drink after we played. Out of nowhere the place filled up and it felt like a mini little festival. Weather was nice and the atmosphere was great. Album sales were good too. I really got a hold on my understanding of Eric's material. I won't forget his songs. We played with him on stage for the first time and introduced him as an honorary Changing Band member. Main thing I remember from our show is looking at the sky a lot. That and the hooker trucker.
Off to Wilhelmshaven the next morning. On the way we stopped off at Weser TV for a live studio performance and interview. Had never done tv before. I liked it. We played "She Was an Adventure." Decided not to use the full band for it. Myself and Donal played guitar and mandolin and Cillian and Lorcan stood behind and harmonised. Eric had another radio interview somewhere else and took the car, so after our spot we had a few hours to spare before he came back. We walked into town and ordered a meal in German. If you ask for water here they assume you mean sparkling unless you say "stilles wasser." Lorcan and Cillian didnt say it. They hate sparkling water. It was funny.
The gig in Wilhelmshaven was, for me, the hardest one of the tour so far. There's always been something that frustrates me about playing a show where I feel forced to play only up tempo songs. I like to play sad songs sometimes. Maybe I get a kick out of making people feel bad. The Germans have a word, "Schadenfreude," which basically translates as getting pleasure from the pain of misfortune of other people. I hope I'm not subconsciously guilty of that. In my defence, I do like to end a show on a positive note! Dancing is important. Its just a tough gig when you feel like it's all you should do. But we met some lovely people, had fun, and I had my first authentic German sausage. Lorcan had been talking about them since we left the airport. Donal had an idea about a fish sausage. He thinks it can make him a million dollars.
Next gig, a school in Lange Reihe. My favourite of the tour so far. We dropped the gear off early in the morning and spent the day in the park. Read a little, had Tangle Twisters and got some sun burn. Turned up at the school and the setting made me a little nervous. I hadn't played a gig in a school since I was in school. Great stage and a full house. Album sales were great. We have to go back next week to do a workshop with the students. It's gonna be an interesting experience. For whatever reason, I felt happier on stage than I have in a long time. The vocal harmonies are sounding good to me right now.
I love Germany and I hope they win the Euros.
Love and all that jazz.
Paul
Wasn't sure what to expect from the gig. The place was really small and it was like having a bar in the middle of an industrial estate. Heiko set us up outside and I handed around some cards. Normally Eric (who's on tour with us) goes on first, as we're a full set up and he just has himself. But tonight we swapped around and it was really nice to play our gig and have the opportunity to relax and fully enjoy his set with a drink after we played. Out of nowhere the place filled up and it felt like a mini little festival. Weather was nice and the atmosphere was great. Album sales were good too. I really got a hold on my understanding of Eric's material. I won't forget his songs. We played with him on stage for the first time and introduced him as an honorary Changing Band member. Main thing I remember from our show is looking at the sky a lot. That and the hooker trucker.
Off to Wilhelmshaven the next morning. On the way we stopped off at Weser TV for a live studio performance and interview. Had never done tv before. I liked it. We played "She Was an Adventure." Decided not to use the full band for it. Myself and Donal played guitar and mandolin and Cillian and Lorcan stood behind and harmonised. Eric had another radio interview somewhere else and took the car, so after our spot we had a few hours to spare before he came back. We walked into town and ordered a meal in German. If you ask for water here they assume you mean sparkling unless you say "stilles wasser." Lorcan and Cillian didnt say it. They hate sparkling water. It was funny.
The gig in Wilhelmshaven was, for me, the hardest one of the tour so far. There's always been something that frustrates me about playing a show where I feel forced to play only up tempo songs. I like to play sad songs sometimes. Maybe I get a kick out of making people feel bad. The Germans have a word, "Schadenfreude," which basically translates as getting pleasure from the pain of misfortune of other people. I hope I'm not subconsciously guilty of that. In my defence, I do like to end a show on a positive note! Dancing is important. Its just a tough gig when you feel like it's all you should do. But we met some lovely people, had fun, and I had my first authentic German sausage. Lorcan had been talking about them since we left the airport. Donal had an idea about a fish sausage. He thinks it can make him a million dollars.
Next gig, a school in Lange Reihe. My favourite of the tour so far. We dropped the gear off early in the morning and spent the day in the park. Read a little, had Tangle Twisters and got some sun burn. Turned up at the school and the setting made me a little nervous. I hadn't played a gig in a school since I was in school. Great stage and a full house. Album sales were great. We have to go back next week to do a workshop with the students. It's gonna be an interesting experience. For whatever reason, I felt happier on stage than I have in a long time. The vocal harmonies are sounding good to me right now.
I love Germany and I hope they win the Euros.
Love and all that jazz.
Paul