Toronto's expanding headband
Aug 29 '08
After loads of sleep and some fine pieces of fish I made my way to the gig in the bus, John had bought himself two new guitars so we raved about them, they were bargains. At the venue we pulled into the parking lot to see a wonderful black bus, it was Aimee Mann and her crew. Eyes of jealousy popped out of heads, her bus has a living room that extends, and satellite TV at both ends of the bus. It was good to see her again, she stayed mostly on the bus all of the time, coming out only for show time. As you would. Her band are really good, nice people too. The show was neat. Our show was neat too, but in a more English way. I felt relaxed and happy to be alive. The last time I was in Toronto was ages ago so it was nice to be back, a city where I once saw Mink De Ville, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers Rogers Waters and Super Tramp. Not all at the same time of coarse. Back in my room after the show and I was desperate for some food, but sleep got the better of me. I dreamt I was in a country pub and I had ordered a half of real ale and a pie. Outside people were dancing and building things out of wood, I wanted to stay but I had to go, as you do in dreams. So I left longing for the pie I had left behind. I had seen other people eating on another table and it looked so good. Next time the pie gets it!
Comments (0)
Foxy Showcase
Aug 28 '08
Showcase live! A real catchy name for a venue don’t you think, up near Boston but not quite. The room has only been open a few months and it felt all nice and new, the dressing rooms very posh and comfy. Before we played I watched and hung out with tonight’s support, Crazy James, they hail from New York and are all linked to Road Recovery, check them out on the web site. A very nice bunch of people and Gene who puts it all together is so great to be around.
And a fan writes about the show. - Chris I hope e-mails from fans aren't an annoyance, but I just had to tell you that my wife and I are still on a high from last night's Foxborough show. Thanks for the great energy and a serving up the best way possible to wind down summer. I thought the deluxe version of Argybargy would be the closest I'd come to hearing "It's So Dirty" live. What a treat to hear it six feet from the stage. I've always wondered how performers, particularly those with such a voluminous catalog from which to choose, craft their set list. I'm guessing it's a mix of what the fans demand and what you yourself find enjoyable to play...I'm curious if it's a challenging process, particularly in a group dynamic. (so am i) Anyway, thanks again for a memorable night, and I wish you and yours a happy and healthy tour. Hope to see you back New England way sooner than later. -
The drive after the show was a mammoth 13 hours, over night to Toronto. I drove all the way and feel lucky to be alive. My head was full of stuff on the drive, stuff that makes your head spin, and in the end its not really worth it, but stuff is sometimes all we have in life to pass the time. I'm glad I have stuff to mull over, and I'm pleased to be sober and on the road to recovery with all of my friends. Some road....thank God for Tom Tom.
Cd
Comments (0)
Torrington
Aug 26 '08
Warner Theatre
Leaving New York is always sad, picking up the extras on the room, driving out of town, saying goodbye to the big daddy. Today I drove myself to Torrington for the show at the beautiful Warner theatre. Torrington is such an old town, no malls that I could see just red brick houses and stores on Main street. The back stage food was great tonight, it makes a big difference to the frame of mind. And the promoters were very welcoming. Our show was sluggish compared to other nights, but good nevertheless, and the audience were on their feet most of the time. My old friend from Microsoft came along to see us, it had been awhile, Erik has retired but he must be only about 35 years old, a lucky and bright guy. Also at the show Ron Sexsmith. His panda eyes tell me everything about him, he tours none stop and records albums seemingly like they are going out of fashion, and they are all great, as he is too. In the vantastic and off to Foxbourgh for the night, a three hour drive listening to World service radio and dodging the police radar. Sleep for the just.
Cd
Comments (0)
Amphitheatre 60 miles from New York
Aug 25 '08
After a large breakfast at Bubbys a simple drive today out to Long Island, I fell asleep on Glenn's bus for about 20 minutes as I felt tired from a busy morning. Emma and I were on I chat which is a great way of keeping in touch, cheaper than mobile phones, cheaper than airmail. It was good to see her there in her house on the hill in Brighton. I felt old as I saw myself on the small screen at the bottom of the page, i had slept well, but I had aged. Only another four weeks until I fly home to see her in the flesh, so to speak. My girls are getting ready to go back to school, I only wish I was there to see them all dressed up ready to embrace another year of Brighton Collage. How exiting for them both. Its so sad that I wont be there, but I have to work, I have to tour, and tour I am. Tonight we tool to the stage with wireless packs so we could roam the stage without wires, John was like a dog let off a lead, he was all over the place, which was great to see. Another good show to a really loving audience, the security people were a bit boring not letting people get up to dance, so I said something to them and it changed. We had a police escort so we could dodge the traffic off the site, this meant we were back in the city before midnight on a very noisy bus full of singing and drinking, cheese sticks and the voice of a new sat nav guiding us home.
Back in the hotel its mini burgers and bed.
Cx
Comments (0)
Keswick Theatre
Aug 23 '08
Our first journey on the tour bus today from Washington to Philly seemed to go on forever, you would think that we would have sat nav which would help us find our way to the Keswick theatre but it was printed paper and directions that lost us. On the bus we relaxed and took in the first 100 miles of our marathon drive around America. The show was good fun, on a nice big shiny stage, good for slipping around on, and everyone seemed in good spirits, the jet lag now subsiding. We could have played a lot longer as the audience seemed to really enjoy our presence and the songs in the set. We signed a flood of posters and records and general memorabilia that people had brought to the show. And then back in the bus for the last two hours to New York and our hotel, where my head hit the pillow and I just flew away.
My son Riley and my eldest daughter Natalie were with us today, they hardly ever see each other as Riley lives in the UK and Nat lives here. I dreamt of a house going up for sale, it was a dream house in the country with a great big lawn, but it was 2 million pounds, I thought hard about where I would get the money from. I woke up and reality came swimming through my window, the sound of men digging up the road 7 floors below my window. Nuts!
Comments (0)
The wheels on the bus...
Aug 23 '08
The wheels on the bus...?Aug 23 '08
The Olympics are almost over, but now the real games can begin, here on tour in America, our first show in over a year will be in Washington where blue sky and heat are the order of the day, unlike the dull grey of home. We have just arrived from some great shows in the UK playing at V festival's this last weekend, where we rubbed shoulders with The Zutons and Hot Chip, Glenn's new pals, The Feeling and Lily Allen. It's a great festival and our 40 minute slot worked well. Back stage we enjoyed good food and a good company in our little village of pop stars, some friendly some distant, some not there at all. I loved watching The Feeling from the side of the stage and yawned at some of the others, Amy Winehouse was fascinating to watch. Not sure if I enjoyed the show but it was worth a peak, her talent is like a flame, you can't grab it in the hand you just have to watch it flicker. Over my shoulder stage side was Peter Kay who turns out to be a big fan, we talked all through the Lenny Kraviz set and swapped phone numbers. We missed nothing. He is a lovely chap with such a warm personality. My girls Grace and Cissy had a great time hanging out back stage, Grace took pictures and Cissy helped me around the dressing rooms, in her new wellington boots. The festival girls. I flew to the states after the festival and went around the shops for a few days in New York before embarking on a train ride to Washington for the first show at the 9.30 Club, where Sting once got up and sang Tempted with us. How we rub shoulders, we rub the very best. My manager Matt worked hard during the festival shows and earned himself some flying colours. He managed to make sure we rubbed even more shoulders and did all the right things treating us like VIP's. We have it covered really well these days with Matt and Glenn's manager Suzanne, who has always done a great job of keeping things ticking over and bringing Glenn and I ever closer together. They are our managers. ??Emma was sad at the festival, it was like being on the dock side as the ship was about to leave with the soldiers going off to war. John's wife Sara was in tears too. Our mission, to play for five weeks around America in the hope that we reignite some old friends and sell a few ticket's, and maybe CD's too. Who knows, you play you leave, you wake up and you play again. You get home and the tour ends, and life begins again. Today's reality is here in Washington, but the real stuff is at home, as we shall see in the coming weeks. ??So our first night was good I thought, we played well and the crowd seemed to love the show. I saw some old faces out there tonight and that's always nice to see. Some returning with their children, which is lovely. Sadly Glenn had a bad show, I think jet lag took over, but for me the mix was good and the set seemed to work, the back stage Sushi and the wonderful crew made the day swing. My hand played up half way through the set, but I gave it a shake and the cramp subsided. In my hotel room I have an exercise bike, and naturally I have been stuck on it most of the time I have been here. In Glenn's room he has a ballet bar and a mirror, I think we got the wrong rooms. Riley, my son is here for a few days the last time he was on tour here in the US he was four, now he is 25. Its scary how time flies. ??Keep coming back ??Cd
Comments (0)
Handy facts
Aug 05 '08
my hand has a broken bone in it from playing too many chords on tour...it will repair in time but for now its a pain.... im sticking to minor chords from now on!
my web site has the builders in which is like having the painters in but not as dark and it will be back in action all singing all dancing very soon!
Cdx
Comments (0)
|
