Paul O'Brien

Friday 24th  Dublin


I may have mentioned that my mother is a human dynamo.I swear to you that she does more shows than I do.and when she is not playing the fiddle or accordian in bars or for step dances , she goes into senior homes and entertains and stimulates anyone within a range of about 50 feet, whether they want it or not.

I feel quite lazy when I am around her, the other evening when we were in her home town of Rathdowney I was trying to persuade her to leave early.

So the plan today was to go the senior home that my mother works at and play at mass, and then do a show afterwards for the wonderful people who make this building their home.

The mass was great, father Seamus is an animated and eloquent priest, and despite the fact his flock are probably averaging 80, he gives it both barrels and makes everyone feel relaxed and a little wiser by the end of it.

The concert features friends of my mother, Tim, Greg and Pat Kelly, brother of the legendary Luke.

It all goes well, and my mother conducts the proceedings with the passion and ease of an orchestral  maestro.





Saturday 25th   Dublin

I spend the morning visiting a local community radio station.Marion butler has been a family friend for years and she now has her very own radio programme on the statin, which is located in Ballyfermot, my Dad’s old neighbourhod.

The interview goes really well, Marion is a total pro, one of the best interviews I have ever had.I sing three songs live, American Car, Walk Back Home and Plastic.

Great fun.

In the afternoon I had the idea to go into the city and do a little busking.many years ago my brother and I would often head into the town center and busk, mind you this was well before the city of Dublin welcomed tthis sort of carry on…to cut a long story we were both arrested and taken to a police holding cell.

I wanted to go back to that spot and see if I could sing a song without getting incarcerated.Dublin has changed so much over the past few years.20 years ago , coming from England would have been considered exotic..now Ireland is truly multicultural, Polish shop assistants speaking English with a Dublin twang, all very strange to my ears.

There were crowds and crowds of people, and sadly for me my old busking spot was already taken, never mind, I had a great walk around the city with my dad.We stopped for a coffee by the river liffey but unfortunately the celtic tiger didn’t bring any decaff, so I sat and watched my Dad drink his.



Had an old fashioned Saturday night [thanks Mike Silver] and watched match of the day, then off to bed and the best sleep of the tour.


Sunday 27th  Dublin –Hamburg


Caught the 11.10 flight from Dublin back to Luebeck , about 70 km outside of Hamburg.Ryan air really are an amazing company.I flew return for exactly 50 Euros, I know you have to pay for absaloutely everything else on top [it was even voiced that even a trip to the WC would be billed] but to be able to fly around Europe for the price of train fares is incredible


Got on a bus in Luebeck to take me into Hamburg.I had planned to go and stay in Hannover with Yasir in the wonderful kanapee, but because of being late into Hamburg I didn’t fancy getting another train and bus..I am starting to feel quite worn out, and I am really looking forward to going home, I have been away for a month now and I need to see the lou and the kids as soon as I can.


I love the energy of Hamburg, I love sitting on a bench at Landungsbrucke, where the ferries come in.I have to be near water, I know I couldn’t exist if I couldn’t live by water, I remember feeling bereft when ever the family would come home from holidaying in Brittany, the experience of leaving the ocean for land locked Birmngham still stays with me.

I spent a relaxing few hours walking around the city, but headed back to Uli’s place in Finkenwerder in the early evening.I got myself a veggie salad and veggie falafel from the local Turkish kebab [not kebob] shop.

Went back to Uli’s and ate on my own and then skyped Lou and the kids and went to bed.


Monday 28th Hamburg-Northeim

I headed into Hamburg on my own.Uli was using his studio and so it made sense to leave him to it.I got the great ferry from finkenwerder to Langdungsbrucken. I wanted to get round the city and see a few things.firstly I stoppedata little café and had some decaff coffee and a sandwich and read my book, I also listened to some old demos on the laptop.

After my break I went to visit the most impressive landmark in Hamburg, St Michaels church.It is a stunning building that has been destroyed and rebuilt throughout the centuries. The tower of St Michaels is really quite impressive.I made the decision to walk up to the top [450] steps later , I was perspiring like a porker, it didn’t help that I  was carrying a 20llb suitcase …the view however at the top was spectacular, and the refreshing breeze dried me off. The church interior is undergoing major renos at the moment but it was easy to see the splendour and beauty, and when it is finished it will simply be breathtaking.the combination of the white and gold made the building seem heaven like [not that Ive ever been] but you know what I mean.


From there I wandered around and visited the stage school, which was once an old warehouse, unfortunately no vacancies, I then took the tube to visit Kristoff in his guitar store.The man is a walking encyclopedia of Irish music, seriously, there is nothing he does not know about the scene.He is friends to many of the good and the great. When he writes the book I said I would buy a copy.I had popped in to see him, because he very kindly asked whether Uli and I would lay in the store on the next tour in March…can’t wait!

Headed back to the ferry, and got myself a salmon sandwich [I must be getting homesick], great day, lots of walking , feeling good, and looking forward to going back to the Stockfisch-Records family in Northeim

Uli and I drive back to Northeim and meet up with Lars and Heinz in the hotel.

Tuesday 29th Northeim-Hamburg

The band met for breakfast in the hotel and then we went to see Gunther in the studio.The plan was to set up in the studio and record 5 songs live, and whilst we recorded the session would also be filmed…as usual the atmosphere and hospitality of Gunther and Evelyn was second to none.The band sounded fantastic and we are all eagerly awaiting the outcome.

When the session was over we drove back to Hamburg which took about two and a half hours because of the rain and also because it was 250 km.



Wednesday 30th Northeim-Hamburg

We spent the whole day recording in Uli’s studio in his house and also incidently my bedroom….we were trying out some new songs and having fun, God I love this band…all such great guys who care so much about the songs…I couldn’t be happier.

We finish up about 6 ish and I head off to the train station to catch a train back to northeim, I stayed in a hotel that night because I needed to be there bright and early for my video shoot…….yes, my video shoot




Thursday  1st  Northiem- Hamburg

I woke up early and looked out the window to check the weather, it was raining…not good, I had changed the schedule of the shoot to today because the band and I spent the previous day recording, the last thing I wanted was for the whole day to be ruined.

I walked to the recording studio with my bag full of all the clothes I had brought with me…now it might come as a shock to some of you, but I am not that experienced in making Blue ray videos….on the tour we had recorded 2 shows both audio and visual, and I had been recorded playing in Einbeck, solo.the band had also come down to Northeim to record live in the studio, so there was lots of music footage.But I still had no clue what to do..my entire film experience was playing Perchek in Fiddler on the roof, which was videoed by Mr Stevens the Head of woodwork.Now Mr Stevens could make wonderful salad bowls, but his talent in the direction department left a lot to be desired.I personally blame him for the fact that I didn't get to kiss Miss Hegarty , the French teacher, who was my opposite part…I’m sure that term isn’t correct..



Today was the day that the camera was on me, talking, walking, looking suitably windswept and interesting…I was petrified!

Thankfully the weather changed from truly dreadful to mildly awful, and the shoot was on.

Now I don’t want to spoil any of the big surprises that will be littered throughout the Spielbergesque production, but suffice to say, there is a water scene [influenced by the good bits in Kevin Costners Waterworld…were there any?] I definitely have a Cary Grant style stroll through the German countryside ..[you are already reaching for your credit cards aren’t you?]…the list goes on and on…it’s expected to be on sale in March of next year…why so long I hear you cry?Well , it will take that long to photoshop all of the facial, bodily, and hair issues I have..but that’s showbiz folks.

I finished up about 4 ish and then caught the train back to my beloved Hamburg.I have quite fallen in love with this city.It is London without the size and mess.The Elbe is majestic and I shall never forget seeing it for the first time.

I had arranged that night to go to see  lars’s show in Hamburg’s most famous live music venue..Fabrique.The Fabrique is literally an old wooden factory that has been kept exactly as it was, perhaps it made steel products or wooden components for BMW’s before aluminium.

Due to me arriving late , I missed lars’s show but still met up with the whole band in the Fabrique.Heinz met me at Altona train station, and we stayed to listen to the two other jazz acts.Top of the bill that night was Ameriacn vibrophone legend [yes there are vibrophone legends] Mike Mannieri.What a player, he has played with , Zappa, Hendrix, Clapton….see , I told you!

After the show we went back to Lars and Steffi’s flat where I was going to be spending my last few days in Hamburg.
 

Friday 2nd Hamburg

The tour is winding down,  but ther is still some work to do in the studio with Uli.Before that, we all agreed to meet for breakfast one last time as a group.Lars and Steffi were there of course, but we were also joined by Heinz amd his wife Manuella, and Uli also made the treachous journey from darkest Finkenwerder.

What a great time we had, the feelings I have for this group of people are quite beyond my capabilities to adequately put it down with words.My friends have supported and cared for me this month, and come what may, I will never forget their kindness.I was given gifts, and  I said a goodbye to Heinz who I wouldn’t be seeing again on this trip.

Uli took me in his car back to Finkenwerder, but before that we stopped at a wonderful guitar store that he used to work in..check out the pics!

Back to Uli’s to finish recording the vocals for the three tunes we recorded…I love working with Uli, he reminds me so much of the wonderful Joby Baker, whom I owe everthing.

We head back into Hamburg because Uli is playing in Tarzan, as well as as Lars.I call Kirsten, who I had met previousy on the tour, because she is a good friend of Steffi, and we talk aut the music biz..she is a music lawyer.We had a great chat, once again I am reminded how lucky I have been in this, the most incredible month in my professional life, to meet people who are not only sensitive and kind but also extremely knowledgeable and pofessional.

We meet Lars after the the Tarzan show and go for a bite to eat at a wonderful Turkish restaurant.I was carrying my guitar with me, because I didn’t want to leave it in the car…so imagine my response, when Lars asked me where it was , on the way home…I legged it back to the restaurant, and there it was , looking at me as if saying…idiot!

During my conversation with Kirsten, I told her about my busking experiences…the germans don’t know what busking is, they don’t have a word for it, they just call it Street music…which is totally accurate of course.i had the idea then of saying to this high powered lawyer [whom I knew played sax and flute] come on lets go busking tomorrow in Hamburg….to my immense surprise she said yes.so 12 oclock , the Burger King by Altona station it is!



Saturday 3rd  Hamburg  [Busking day]

Saturday the third of October is a huge day in the German calender.It is the day Germany unified. 20 years ago the Berlin wall came down and the East and West became one. So, every store is closed, but the plan was still to go busking.

We set up outside a big mall called Mercado, and got the trusty guitar case out.The plan was to make enough to have lunch and buy a couple of books I had told Kirsten she should read.Well, we had a blast, there were lots of people around despite the bank holiday, and after about 3 hours of playing some of my songs and covers we counted up 90 Euros..and packed away the instruments.In Irish culture there is an expression …the crack was 90, and so it proved to be the case on the street in Hamburg that day.

We had enough for Sushi, and the books and a blueberry smoothie each, I know your not interested in what I had but it was a particularly tasty smoothie.

Kirsten went off to clean her flat and I went to see lars at the theatre where he was playing in Tarzan.We went for dinner and then I had arranged to meet up with Kirsten again.

As I mentioned Kirsten is a specialist showbiz lawyer.One of her clients is a rather famous comedian/ventiloquist/magician called Sasha Grammell.Sasha was playing at the most famous comedy clubby that night in Hamburg.the venue is situated right on the Reeperbahn, and is called ….well it begins with the letter Q and is the German word for nonsense.

We got there a little late and headed for the back of the theatre, which personally I was quite glad about.Not being able to speak German in a comedy club, where potentially you are canon fodder for a sharp tonge of a comic, didn’t appeal to me, so I was happy to be at the back….not so Kirsten…she went off and came back a few minutes later saying she had found two seats…right at the bloody front! Oh my, now, someone was going to take the piss out of me and I would just have to take it, and my big retort or defense would be…sorry I’m Canadian…..not good.

I tried laughing in all the right places, thought about laughing in all the wrong places to, so my fellow members of the audience would think I had some superior understanding of the jokes, but let me tell you, there are better ways to spend a Saturday night, than being almost front row in a comedy club not understanding a word.

However all was made well by Sasha.He was top of the bill, and rightly so! His act comprises of using a puppet, the one he worked with that night was an eagle, or maybe a vulture called Frederick..I think. Sasha is a star, and he finished his spot with some hand silhouette shapes..I’m sure there is a name for this but it escapes me now….We have a chat after the show and I ask him if he would consider being in the video for the new song [more on that later] he said yes he would consider it…which isn’t a no.

After the show , Lars meets us in the venue and we decide to go and meet up with Uli one last time.The rain is torrential and we get soaked , but it doesn’t tke the edge off, what has been a really fun day.

Got to bed around 2.30am, next day would be the long journey home.


Sunday 4th  Hamburg Frankfurt Calgary Vancouver 

Woke up at about 9am. Packed the bags, however both had broken…this was going to be a long day. Caught the 11.15 train from Hamburg to Frankfurt. The train journey is about 4 hours long, I actually remembered to bring some food for the journey, I have learnt from bitter experience , that whilst German trains run on time, their choice of food is terrible and you pay dearly for it into the bargain.

From the train station I trudge to the bus to get to terminal two..guitar, and two bags .I decided  to leave my Alphonso bodhran in germany because of bringing back my new guitar.The bus from the station takes 10 minutes and then I head over to the check in. 3 hours before take off.

The plane journey is ok, but is very long, 10 hours  to Calgary, then a stop over for an hour, before we fly another hour to Vancouver. Due to a piece of spectacularly bad planning I manage to miss my last ferry by 30 minutes. I stayed in an over priced Best Western in Vancouver..but made sure I got my moneys worth on the breakfast and free shampoo. Had a lovely bath, first bath in about 6 months actually.Had a fitful sleep.




Monday 5th  Vancouver – Victoria…Home

Got up early as the jet lag so decides.Walked to the Skytrain and ended up at Canada Place, where I caught the 8.45 am Helicopter home.

Lou met me and boy was it good to see her.

So now as I sit here in my own front room, with a cosy fire and the music of Anna Depenbusch playing, I try to reflect on what has been quite the most exciting, demanding, wonderful month of my life.

I travelled over 7000 km, slept in 18 beds and a sofa, ate veggie meals, still haven’t touched a drop of alcohol in over a year [though how I didn’t start back after the first two days of rehearsals I’ll never know]…used two sets of strings, washed my entire set of clothes 4 times, lost an iron [boogleeisen?], got it back again, lost a soldering iron…..still looking for that one.Brought four  pairs of jeans with me,although one pair was louises…sorry Lou but I did pack at 5am.Went through one and a half jars of hair gel, 2 tubes of Colgate, cut my beard twice, tried to cut my own hair once [well once is enough for anyone I feel]Got a new guitar, wrote a new song in Dublin.Went for long walks with my Dad.Sang and played with my mom and my Uncle Danny, got to see my Grandmother [92] again.Met a new cousin for the first time in Wicklow, got my nails done once [unfortunately not very well done and rather expensive], caught 7 long distance trains, had a sauna in a Merceedes, travelled 12 times on a ferry, fell in love with the Elbe, went on two boat trips of Hamburg, sang on a boat trip with Anna and Steffi, made 90 Euros busking with Kirsten, ate sushi twice, seen a German ventriloquist, got myself 4 new brothers, a saxophone playing manager and a blue ray dvd.Flew on a helicopter twice, and aeroplanes 5 times.Took about 1100 photos and about 4 hours of video, recorded 5 new songs, recorded at least 3 shows, lost 2,500 euro then found it [most dramatic moment of the tour], celebrated Arthurs 250th anniversary. Tried to go busking in Dublin and failed, sold 3 cd’s in Rathdowney and 50 in Rotenburg.  Kept a diary, became a fan of St Pauli, climbed 450 steps up St Michaels…but cheated on the way down.

There are other things , but I figure you all deserve a rest..

Thankyou so much for reading this.

Oh by the way, I start a new tour this week, perhaps you might care to join me again?