BELOVED REVEALS ITSELF
I am on my way to Japan after spending 12 days in South Africa. My time there opened my eyes to many things and I met and enjoyed the company of so many people. I can only say I was deeply moved. In the course of my visit my heart was warmed, broken, moved, and my thoughts were filled with many questions; answers on many are still cloudy. I was impressed by the devotion that people I met there have for their country. I think no situation is without hope but it will take some head scratching from a series of benevolent geniuses and the passage of a few years to lift the lots of those who have yet to fully benefit from all the changes that have taken place. But it?s certainly a country that is fueled by much optimism.
My show last night, where I played an hour's worth of songs in the middle of two excellent sets by local youngin's the Bang, was very well received the joint (the Blues Room, with a very kind staff at every level) was packed, and the Saturday nighters and REM curious were very patient considering I was presenting the mellow sounds of KS--hitherto unknown in ZA. Anyway, I also lightened up my vibe by hopping up with the Bang and banging away on Replacements and REM covers! It sounds corny but by the time it was happening, ample lubrication made everyone slippery enough to accommodate my sliding up there...ahem
Many thanks to Rob C. and all the Sheer folks for putting together my solo press and show activities there, as well as showing me some of their town (incl. Soweto and Wandie's Place! Thanks to Kenny for directions and company) and to DJ Barney for his Posies and KS enthusiasm! And to the Warner Music Dist./Big Concerts folks who were very friendly on the REM side.
The REM shows themselves were incredible...really, you could feel that people were ecstatic that this band had arrived at last--we played to about 50,000 people over the course of 5 shows--15,000+ a night in JoBurgyes, it blew our minds. The Durban fans standing in the pissing rain and loving it. It had been since REM's show in Irvine Meadows last Oct. that we had played outdoors--I forgot how much I love it.
Listen folks, I am just nailing down one more date and I will announce the Australia KS tour; in the meantime, I am heavy lidded and ready to take advantage of the remaining 7 hours of flight time for some hush eye.
Love
KS
On Cathay Pacific flight from Johannesburg to Hong Kong
Mar. 14
ADDITIONAL ROBATA YAKI AND AUSTRALIA TOUR HOCKEY
I never did get a chance to send the above post, so I will just add a quick note, several days into REM's tour of Japan. I Tuesday in the offices of Video Arts, who distribute Soft Commands (as they will the upcoming Posies and Big Star rec.'s) here, which comes with a total of four bonus tracks: the covers of Neil Young's Down to Wire and the Association's Never My Love, which are on the European (and other outside the USA spots, excepting Spain) edition--plus a cover of REM's New Test Leper and Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me Off My Feet! Seriously. www.videoartsmusic.com is the website, it's mostly in Japanese however. I did look around on amazon.com and found you could buy the Japanese edition even tho it is listed identically as the int'l version (Soft Commands + 2 Bonus Tracks, even tho' there are four). But, it's about $41 bux, or $30 used. Damn, it's worth it tho?!
I am thru with 'tho''s for now.
REM played to a delightful (and quiet, I think Japan might be the ultimate place for me to perform my solo material) sold out show at the legendary Budokan in Tokyo last night. I was trying to count the number of places I have played where the Beatles played: Budokan, the Hollywood Bowl, Maple Leaf Gardens and Red Rocks with REM; Seattle Center Coliseum (now Key Arena), Festival Halls in Melbourne and Brisbane with the Posies. I have played L'Olympia in Paris, but it was moved some years ago from its original location. When we opened for Teenage Fanclub at the Royal Court in Liverpool, they were under the impression the Beatles played there, but I only found evidence of gigs at the Cavern, the Empire and some other theatre or other, but no mention of Royal Court. Ah well.
Love
KS
Nagoya, JAPAN
