Wednesday 9th Bucholz
We headed out early for Boucholz,the journey took about 4 and a half hours.the weather again was fantastic, and I’m really enjoying the Mercedes Benz sauna, I should be about 20 pounds lighter when the tour is finished!
We get to Bucholz and to be honest I’m feeling a little bit car sick, what with the late nights and the traveling, but it seems to pass after I sample the local dish…bratkartoffeln, fried potoatoes, and I had eggs with mine.I gave up meat a while ago, and to be honest I think I picked the wrong country for vegetarianism..the Germans LOVE their meat, and I am seriously tempted to try some, I just don’t think it will agree with me….thats probably too much information!
This is by far the biggest venue we have played on the tour…I noticed that’s Moya Brenann from Clannad is playing there in November…gulp!
We have a great soundcheck, amd rehearse a new song, ‘Looking for Dakota’, I am really enjoying working with Uli, Lars and Heinz, everyday we spend together brings us closer together, I haven’t felt this way since playing back in Birmingham with Joe, Aidan, Karl, Sean , Dave and Will, and all the other great mates I had whilst working on the Irish bar and wedding scene.Someday I want to throw a big party ad invite all the players I have ever worked with.I calculated that I had over 50 players come through the band. Some have gone on to wonderful things.Karl Brazil my drummer for over 5 years got the job working with James Blunt, but well before that he was playing with the likes of Elton John and Lionel Ritchie…and Sean Barry on Keys, who has toured with Duffy and Girls Aloud, amongst many many others.Dave swift who was my first bass player and best man at my wedding is perhaps the most viewed bass player in England, he has played with Joolz Holland for over 10 years now, and has played with everyone from BB King to James Taylor…..quite the faculty!
The concert in Bucholz was a wonderful evening, I really enjoyed myself, I spoke with some people who had been to Victoria, and we reminisced about whales and bears.
The drive back to Hamburg only took an hour or so, I was pretty tired but managed to skype with the family when I got back to Uli’s house. Cormac started high school yesterday, Fin also started the day before and Millie is also back at it…I am really sorry not be there for their first day at school, but my wife is more than capable, they also got new phones..which of course is all they wanted to talk about…Phones….a necessary evil, at 12 years of age I had an action man, times they are a'changing…..
Thursday 10th Rotensburg
Got up early because I was invited to do an interview for an internet radio station. I took the ferry to Landensbrucken and met Lars, he very kindly agreed to take me to the station. I am constantly humbled by the kindness shown to me by the guys in the band, and all of the people I have had the privilage to meet on this tour.
I had no idea what to expect from the station..somehow I had thought it was going to be a small computer in a guys apartment…WRONG!....I was greeted by the receptionst…offered a drink and then shown into the studio, taking careful note of the signed picture of Sting on he wall taken from that very same studio….gulp! It was like the BBC, I was introduced to Helge the station manager, Lena and Thorsetn, all very very professional.Helge aksed me would I sing live, I said I would try..He brought me into the studio and there was a Maton guitar from Australia.I knew this guitar company because of Tommy Emmanuel, arguably the greatest guitar player in the word..I have some dvd’s, books, of Tommy’s music [which I dream of being able to play one day] , he is a spectacular player.
The guitar sounded great, and I had a really good interview with Helge.
They asked me to pose for a picture and to sign a frame, perhaps I’ll be next to Sting??
We drove to Rotensburg from Hamburg and met my agent Michael Behr at the church where we are playing. Michael and his family live in Rotenburg and so he ws really excited about the show and so were we. We had another good soundcheck and then headed out to a restaurant in the centre of town.I had eaten far too much the previous evening before the show so took no chances and just ordered some dust…very tasty, not very filling though. Michaels wife Ena and his daugter Emke also came to the dinner.
The show went really really well, The church was packed with people, and they all sang so beautifully right from the very start. I will never forget the wonderful people of Rotenburg for making me and the band feel so welcome.
Vielenl Dank an das Publikum in Rotenburg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
