It’s just after midnight on Christmas Eve, I really should already be tucked up asleep, big day tomorrow. Well, I’m not, so just a few quick words; I meant to write something earlier but there was a good Christmas movie on telly, Die Hard, so naturally I had to watch it (oh yes it is). I did get some presents wrapped while I watched, not really last minute as they’re for relatives I won’t see until the 27th.
I’m back down in Yorkshireland, it was a long grey drive down, buoyed up by festive tunes from South Park and Michael Bublé. In fact that was the first time I’ve played my Bublé christmas cd this year, up until then I’d mainly been listening to The Piano man at Christmas by Jamie Cullum (the double cd edition). They’re both fine musical feasts, then so is Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics, honestly Eric Cartman’s version of Oh Holy Night is something else (once heard never forgotten).
On musical feasts, Blue Christmas on Sunday night was very sumptuous. Once again, Jed Potts and friends played through many old classics (23 in all); and how great to hear Christmas Island, it was one of my mother’s favourites. I’ll put up a couple of clips on Instagram, there is one already up in my Advent Calendar highlights (day 22). That was fun looking back over the year for favourite clips, needless to say Messrs Marah and Rough turn up a lot! The final one tonight was taken at the gig in Munich in May, it was a close call between the clip I used and Scotty throwing shapes to hardcore German techno. Maybe one day, I’ll show those!
Anyhoo, it’s even later now. Goodnight and have yourself a lovely Christmas 💛
So, that little trip I did – three countries, six gigs, ten stops, in twenty days. The postcard blog posts idea started well, then kind of, erm, but I did keep it going – with excuses. Next time I’ll do better. Oh yeah, there will be a next time, when the stars align again.
I’d only stayed one night at an Airbnb before this trip, and that was a BnB that advertised through Airbnb, so this was my first real experience of Airbnb-ing; and so many different experiences! Boy, my comfort zone felt terribly faraway at times! I also stayed a few nights in hostels, also very varied experiences from exceptionally good to godawful. More on all that later…
I did have some trepidation about how well I’d eat on my trip. Oh, not that I wouldn’t like the food, but how I’d figure out what things were and how to pronounce the words. My awkwardness and embarrassment almost swallowed me whole a few times! (that also includes being in strangers’ kitchens). Plenty of the time I lived off yoghurt, bananas, ham, cheese, and bread, bread, bread, ha, and individually wrapped pieces of Yorkshire Parkin I’d baked to take with me (for sustenance when I had nowt else). Oh, I did eat plenty from the food counters at all the train stations; so much bread – how I managed to misplace half a stone over there is a mystery!
Did you ever see a wurst croissant?
The whole Interrailling thing went fine, just a few blips. The app is extremely good (mind I was keeping things relatively simple, not bothering to reserve seats or any overnight journeys with sleeping requirements). Different options and itineraries can be looked at and saved until you’re ready to make a final choice and book it in, and then the app asks twice whether you definitely want to go ahead and book. Sometimes I was literally about to step on a train when I booked it – ok, so that was in case plans went awry.
My train travels were certainly enlightening! I’m happy to report that German trains are not as perfect as they are perceived to be, oh, not by much but how nice to see some flaws (it’s a British thing to unfavourably compare our train services in particular to Germany’s). You humans are so fascinating to observe, and yes, different nations do have different traits, or stereotypical behaviours (oo, that word stereotype does upset some folk). Train passengers were one thing, but pedestrians in Germany and Austria, wow, I definitely wasn’t in the UK (traffic still oncoming round the corner when the green man is on – I flinched every time!)
Linz, Austria.
My wandering feet did a lot of wandering and exploring. Some days I probably walked for five, six hours, just taking in the sights and sounds, admiring the different architecture. Statues and sculptures on walls became a thing for me, especially the ones flashing a knee (honestly, there were some many). Lovely parks over there too, I strolled through plenty between bed and venues. Venues, ah yes, the actual reason for being over there, Logan’s Close on their European Tour.
Yes, ostensibly it was for a friend’s party andLC, but really it was almost like a cover story that excused me also romping around Germany. Then, sadly, the party had to be cancelled; my journey to Bremen was quickly rearranged. Somehow it seems that our friendship was cancelled too, not a peep since – not that I haven’t tried! Okay, so be it, but, if I had known, then I might have forgone the Munich gig and headed off for Logan’s Close’s next gig in Trento. Hmm, Ingolstadt to Trento, then two days later up to Vienna just for my flight home – bet that’s some stunning scenery! Bloody humans!
Oh, the Munich gig was good, the guys were on fine form, but, there’s a certain hostel I’d not bother with again (later). Sure, I would have missed Eurovision, but then, Logan’s Close or Eurovision? No contest! The gigs I did get to, Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg, Prague, Ingolstadt and Munich were amazing. Time and time again, just little touches would blow me away, the attitude, the grand swirls, the spaces in their sound, the sheer exuberance, the obvious joy and shared smiles – all of it together, so potent, such an incredible high!!
God yes, I’ll be doing that again, just next time a little more aware! I shall leave you with a few aftershow pics in Ingolstadt…
Sorry, no postcard from Munich, either. I had one chance to buy one, but left it intending to do it later, oops. Instead here’s a pic of the venue sign ….
Munich is alright, I didn’t see much of the city to be honest, it was a quick in, suss where the venue was, meander back to the hostel, eat, head back for the gig. There is a whole other story about the hostel, but I’ll tell you about that another time. Oh, and there’ll be some very interesting vid clips from that evening on Instagram later (when LC came up against German techno!)
Wow! The Prague gig was something else and what a great venue! Cafe V lese is definitely a place to check out, see a band, when you’re in Prague. A cool bar on street level, hot sounds below, sweet.
It’s Ingolstadt this evening at Neue Welt. My penultimate gig this tour, tomorrow morning I’ll head to Munich for one final continental blast at Live.Evil. Folk may wonder at the excessive folly of this trip, but hey, I won’t be sitting in a rocking chair at 85, wishing I’d done it! When music is this good, c’mon!!
I should have written and posted this card a couple of days ago, but well, erm, I was busy?! Not really, hey ho. Dresden is sooo nice. I would definitely be happy to go back again, maybe see in some of the museums next time (especially the one of military uniforms).
Once I’m home and can sort through everything, no doubt deleting half the photos I took, then I shall collect together my thoughts and put them down. Oh, and the photos will find their way on to Facebook and Instagram.
Currently in Prague, a very wet Prague today, but I think the rain should be easing soon. The lads are playing at Cafe V lese tonight; I wonder how they’re holding up? How smelly is the van by now? Are they all still mates or is there murder being plotted?! I might find out tonight.
Just a few choice pics for you….
I’d tell you where this is, but all I’ve got is Dresden They all begin with the letter C?!A bike for a family of three, seriously!
Just a quickie (oo, matron). A postcard from Hamburg. Honestly, I will tell more once I stay still long enough to catch myself. Yes, I know there’s been no postcard from Berlin, look that was the shortest visit and things did not go to plan – buying a postcard was the last thing on my mind. I shall expand on my woes at a later date.
Meanwhile, my postcard….
Well. What else did you expect?! A guy in lederhosen?
Oh lordy, what a sweet, crazy evening! Oh, yes, last night in Dunbar was as well, but I’m referring to this evening in Stramash. I trotted up there at the back of seven to see The Scat Rats, it was fairly quiet as it usually is at that time, folk just sitting watching the band. Then a couple got up to dance, and how!
I’m not sure who we were all applauding after the number, but the Rats were very appreciative of the dancers; a bit of banter was definitely called for, they were Australian. Well, once Carl started he decided that the group on the other side of the room should show off some dance moves, haha. They didn’t oblige ’til much later but were clearly having a great time.
A few tunes later and Carlos got chatting to the crowd again, the group were from Brazil, as were another table, next two he asked were from Glasgow (oh well, never mind). At the back were a French couple from Paris, but they won’t be there when the Close are playing. Ah yes, that news I knew before – after Logan’s Close play Trento in Italy they’ll be heading to Rome and Paris to support Kula Shaker!!
Now on a definite tour plug, was there anyone in from Germany? Yes! Ah, Frankfurt, not on the tour but not that far from Mannheim where LC are playing on May 5th. No Danes in, he didn’t ask about Italians, how remiss! And back to the music, the aussies were still up to nearly every song, I must say, it is truly a joy to watch a couple dancing and enjoying themselves as much as they were. Oh, to dance like that!
As usual it was John Mackie on sound and lighting, he got a few mentions from Carl. Actually, come to think of it, Carlos may have been a tad drunk, hmm, yeah, he was on the beer tonight (usual for Scotty but not Carl); and there was the shots from the Glaswegian guy. Not that it would ever impair his playing, Paint It Black was particularly excellent tonight. Well, it’s all great but some shine brighter. It all came to a bittersweet end with the usual Bo Diddley cover, of course, the beauty of live music, there’s always sweet little differences and nuances to the playing ❤️
After a spirit deflating day that was a wonderful hug for the soul. I’ll leave you with a lovely pic taken this morning as I headed home from a walk in the park…
It’s Good Friday tomorrow, well, it’ll be good if it doesn’t rain again!! It’s been a very soggy week here in Edinburgh with only short bursts of sunshine to tease us. Sunday is egg-rolling day, but just how far will they roll on the sodden ground? Or maybe more eggs will make it to the bottom without being smashed to smithereens? I shall report back on Monday, okay, maybe sometime later depending on the weather.
It’s been a quiet few weeks on the music front – I was away again and managed to miss my favourite dynamic duo not once, not twice but thrice! They’re playing Stramash on Sunday night but as it’s the graveyard set I’ll probably miss that too. Oo, but it will be a good Friday evening, Jed Potts and Nicole Smit (my second favourite duo) are playing Whistlebinkies at seven, sweet, haven’t seen them there in ages! And according to Binkies website Jed and Nicole will also be back there in a couple of weeks (so it says).
I’ll catch The Scat Rats next Thursday (4th April) at Stramash but only for one set, a pre-gig warm-up before I pop round to the Mash House to see Ol’Times. Yes, the boys from Galway will be back in town! Hallelujah! I’m looking forward to that big time. Hmm, is there something in the air? Two more long-time-no-sees within the following week! Nicole and the Back-up Crew and The Buccaneers are back in Stramash and at reasonable times (am I getting old?!).
It’s all go in April on Sunday evenings too; there’ll be the usual Handsome House Jam on the 7th, but l may save heading out til later for the Harry Higgs Trio in Binkies as I rather enjoyed them last month (rock with a twist of blues and a dash of funky jazz). Yay, The Scat Rats are back in Stramash the next two Sundays in April. Yup, living in the Old Town part of Edinburgh really does have it’s advantages, times like these I feel quite spoilt.
It’s still up in the air about Bremen on the 30th. What do you mean, huh? Go back and read my last post! Missing seeing Logan’s Close at the Heartbreak Hotel in Bremen wouldn’t be too much of a disappointment as I’ll have already seen them twice in April. Oh hell, yeah!! Saturday 13th sees the lads back home in Dunbar for a rare acoustic performance, oh my heartses! That is gonna so amazing. Here’s hoping for good weather so I can make a full daytrip of it.
And there’s more! On April 23rd Logan’s Close head over West to play McChuills in Glasgow, of course I’m bloody going! Then with their sweet sounds still swirling round my head I’ll leave Ol’Blighty for Österreich, before catching up with them again seven or eight days later in Bremen or Berlin. It’s all a tad exciting!
Bruce on the Fringe 